Monday, July 15, 2013

Frozen Charlotte Doll - Fun Alternative!

I was in search of a couple Frozen Charlotte Dolls last week - trying to find a reasonable price (doll + shipping) and man I tell you they are frickin EXPENSIVE.... Anywhere from 8.00 up...and I really mean UP (25-37.00 each).  Shoot, even the cheap plastic ones aren't that cheap - 4.00 for 2 tiny dolls. 
Yes, I'm cheap and don't like spending 50.00's on a single project but that doesn't mean I don't want to use some of these neat embellishments.  Well, the Art Gods were looking down on me and smiled.  I stumbled onto this awesome Frozen Charlotte Mold at Articus Studio Design.  It's only 11.95 plus shipping.  That's about the price of 2 dolls!!!  I had purchased things from Corrine before but it had been a long time since I visited the web-site so I knew it was someplace I could order from with confidence.
The description of the mold says you can use polymer clay, paper clay, metal clays, craft soap, waxes, Ultra thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE), and more.
dollmolduse.jpg
I ordered it right then and there and it arrived on Saturday (she's in Ohio so it only took 2 days to arrive) and I started playing right away.  So, this is the package it comes in....  The circles gives you an approximate sized ball that you will need for each size doll.  I didn't fuss with that, I just guessed and it worked out fine.
The dolls measure as follows:
Tiny - 1 1/8" tall
2nd Smallest - 1.5" tall
Medium - 2.25" tall
Large - 3 1/8" tall
Tall - 3.5" tall
I am using air dry clay.  I originally bought the stuff thinking it would be an o.k. alternative to paper clay because that's all the store had.  I'm not thrilled with it but it does work.  I wanted to use it with my MS molds but everything I made was so brittle I ended up tossing them all.  BUT I figured I've got a big tub of it I might as well use it.
I pushed the clay into each of the cavities and let them dry for about an hour or two.  I then removed them so they could finish drying.


When they were about 50-60% dry I took my exacto knife and scraped away the excess clay from the edges.  Again, this stuff is pretty brittle so I ended off breaking a couple feet and a head off...which is o.k. because real Frozen Charlotte Dolls have all sorts of body parts missing ;)

Here they are cleaned up...

When they were completely dry I painted them with various mediums just to see how they would turn out.  I have to say I am really tickled with them.

I used the following mediums left to right:

Large Doll (L) - Bisque Liquid Pearls w/ touches of Dark Brown Liquid Pearls
Smallest Doll (top) - Left Plain for comparisons sake
2nd Smallest Doll (below smallest doll) - Black Acrylic Paint with touches of Gesso over top.
Medium Doll - Painted w/gesso, smudged on Distress Ink then covered w/Crystal Lacquer (gives an authentic porcelain look!!!)
Tall Doll (right) - Painted w/ white acrylic paint then Copper Distress Paint over top.

Different angle...


I am sooooo excited!
I LOVE how these things turned out.
Next I'm going to try some paper clay in the molds.  Paper clay holds up better and is more durable than the air dry clay.  It will allow more handling and less breaking ~ making it possible to paint them with more detail.

I can think of all sorts of projects that I can use these little devils.

So, while I'm not a salesperson or spokesperson or anything else for Articus Studio Design I HIGHLY recommend this mold.

Would you like to win a set of these fun little dolls to incorporate into your art?
All you have to do is post a comment telling us how you'd use one of these little gems and you'll be entered to win!

You have until 7-24 to comment to be entered to win!

28 comments:

  1. Hi Roni, thank you for the chance to win.
    I would like to put this frozen Charlotts into the back of a canvas for a Steampunk-artwork.

    Have a lovely week

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  2. I dropped by to find out what a Frozen Charlotte doll was! These look interesting. Looking forward to seeing what you do with them

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  3. Oh my! What an amazing resource:-) My basket fills as we speak. That you SO much for sharing this!!

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  4. your my kind of girl. I would much rather buy a tool to make what I need than to buy the finished piece. Can't wait to see what you do with these dolls.

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  5. I had never heard of a Frozen Charlotte doll. I really have no idea how I would use one, but I'll certainly stop by to see how you do!

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  6. Those are so awesome! I would love to use one or more of them in a shadowbox that I have in my "upcycle" pile. I think I will have to place an order soon.

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  7. These are so freakin cool! Have to go check out this mold. Would love to use these in a shadow box or inside one of my clocks! Paper clay, huh? Guess I'll go Look into that too. :)

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  8. Yes, yes, yes. I have wanted one of these dolls since FOREVER, but, like you, found the cost too prohibitive. I have a pincushion on a paper mache box I've been wanting to finish. All it needs is the Frozen Charlotte.

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  9. Your dolls look fabulous, and especially authentic with the missing limbs! I have a Tim Holtz Configurations thingee that I'm collecting vintage doodads for. I was thinking a frozen Charlotte doll would look great in one of the taller cubbies.

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  10. Love this mold! I have a few Frozen Charlottes which I hoard because I don't want to buy more, but with this you could have as many as you wanted! Thanks for the chance to win one.

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  11. Interesting post. I never heard of them before. I admire your approach to the problem and I look forward to what you'll be doing with them. I wonder what the girls who played with the originals did with them. Make little dresses that covered the arms? I can't think of a thing to do with them, so count me out. Whoever wins can send a photo in to show us what she does with it, OK?

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  12. Would just love to use one or to of these dolls in my configuration box that I am making, they would really stand out,thanks for sharing!!!

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  13. I have been debating on buying this mold for months. It would work wonderful with all the mixed media art I do, especially with my canvas panels.

    Marilyn

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  14. Wow love the dolls, if I don't win I will have to buy the mold. I love the frozen Charlotte dolls and would use in a shadow box or even mixed media journal book on the front cover or an altered doll. Thanks for sharing,
    Denise

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  15. Just fabulous! I think I need that mold! I have some shadow boxes in need of these guys!

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  17. I have the perfect shadow box for these dolls....I just may have to order the mold..thanks for your wonderful ideas..

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  19. Hello I am visiting you for the first time from Elizabeth and Bleubeard (Altered Book Lover)
    I found your Frozen Charlotte sharing SO very interesting
    and then what an extra nice surprise to see you are offering a generous giveaway...

    Having a flat back makes the dolls extra useful in my opinion ...
    one would look great on an altered book cover, on a canvas, as a necklace or in an altered tin ...

    Thank you very much for the chance to be the lucky winner
    Patty in Virginia, USA

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  20. I love these girls! I would love to try incoorporating them in to a plaster/fabric piece, a technique I recently learned from Kate Thompson at a workshop. I think they would emerge beautifully from the plaster. I love you post and opportunity to enter the give away too!
    thanks :)

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  21. Well, let me tell you if I don't win I am buying this mold! I have a bunch of real frozen Charlottes, but as you know they are SO expensive I don't want to use them. I would use the molded dolls in shrines (I'm thinking angels), jewelry (that tiny one would be AWESOME), steampunk stuff (dressing these dolls would be fun!) and SO much more - thanks for the giveaway :)

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  22. This is amazing, thank you so much for sharing. I would love to make these dolls to put in my compendium of curiosities which I am slowly filling with a variety of little dolls. A totally fabulous post, thank you once again! X

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  23. what a brilliant post you made about these fun dolls! I would use one of the dolls if I won by entering a doll matchbox swap over at Vintage Dragonfly...it is the first matchbox swap I have not entered in because I do not have any dolls! So you see, even if I do not win one of your amazing creations...I will try to get myself a mold....many thanks again
    XOXO Karla

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  24. We have til 7/24, Happy Birthday to me-----7/24, great day..... I love these molds for the fx dolls, I am always looking at antique stores for them, loving them but you are right, too fricken expensive........ Love the idea u can color them the way you want, have the parts more brokened and distressed lookng..... Thank you.....

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  25. I have been looking at this mold for a couple of years now. Thanks for showing the possibilities!

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  26. Hey from SC!
    I would definitely make one little fc doll into a pendant using polymer clay, very thin wire, and a little tulle and lace. Then I would use one in a 3D collage with plaster and joint compound, alcohol inks and tissue paper, maybe some pastels or colored pencil. I'd use another in a free standing sculpture - maybe a clay or paper mache miniature castle, I keep seeing a hat - so a hat embellishment with miss fc doll and some fiber and feathers to make a cool hat embellishment... and that last one... I'd need to see her to know where she needs to be and what needs to accompany her....... (BTW, a frozen charlotte is a dessert, right? How is the little doll connected, if at all? :)

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  27. Love, love this mold! The little dolls are absolutely amazing!
    Thanks for the opportunity to win!

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  28. Just a thought. Check out the Frugal Crafter blog. She came up with an alternate clay mix comparable to the MS one. I have used it and am quite happy with it. It is very cheap to make and I stored my clay in a Tupperware container. It's been in there for several months and is still good. It seems fairly sturdy, too.

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Thanks for your thoughts and comments!