Tumgik
tiffyfoundsomething · 3 months
Text
Doll Hair Repair Tools
Updated Jan 05 2024 (because I got a new flat iron and I’m excited!!!!)
For a while, there, I was using this Conair flat iron (you can see when I bought it):
Tumblr media Tumblr media
It’s here: https://amzn.to/3tL8Qtt
This one has 30 heat settings, though it doesn’t tell you what they are, exactly. They’re just labeled 1-30.
Kanekalon - 1
Nylon - 10 through about 15
Polypropylene - 10 through about 15
Foil and plastic tinsel - 1 to 10, choose whichever matches the hair fiber
Saran - 5 - 10
Brushed acrylic yarn - I know I have used this to flatten brushed acrylic but I don’t remember what setting it was on. You’d have to start at 1 and work your way up to figure it out, but it’s doable with this iron.
It was ok, but I found it difficult to get close to the scalp on a lot of dolls and ponies with my flea comb, which gives the smoothest flattening. The Conair also had a problem where the plates only really touched each other at the very tip, and that’s not very useful, honestly. It’s difficult to get a good flattening unless you’re committed to doing ¼th inch sections at a time.
I started seeing really narrow flat irons on Instagram, and went looking for one to try.
I found this one:
Tumblr media
Now this one, which is here:  https://amzn.to/3S7jLqA
I am so impressed!!!!!
It tells you the actual temp (in Fahrenheit; important to know), but not only does it show you the temp you’ve set it to, it shows the temp it actually is! You can watch it count up as it heats up! That’s super handy and makes it easier to know if it’s malfunctioning.
it also beeps at you when it’s ready.
It’s lowest temp is 120F which is far too cool to even do anything to Kanekalon, meaning this flat iron works for many 80′s and 90′s Barbies that are otherwise difficult to smooth out without melting their hair. I haven’t tested, yet, whether it’ll work on Creata hair without melting it.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
I found 200 is right around when I could feel the hair starting to stick to the plates, so for Kanekalon I recommend 190 and no higher than 200.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
For nylon, 250 is where it started to feel a little sticky, so 240 to 250 is about as high as you’d want to go. Nylon is pretty hardy and may tolerate a slightly higher temp. Go higher at your own risk.
Polypropylene needs a temp right about where Nylon is but I didn’t test it to find out the exact right setting.
Regardless of which flat iron you’re using, remember to wash and condition the hair first, to get the best results.
Ironing damp hair works best, but you don’t want it dripping wet. Dripping wet hair can result in boiling hot drops in your lap, or water getting into the flat iron and causing an electrical short. Towel the hair off, first.
Tumblr media
To get the smoothest hair with the flat iron, I use a handled, metal flea comb to lead the iron.
https://amzn.to/3S5ICv6
You do want metal tines. They aren’t going to snag on or tear the individual hair fibers the way plastic tines can. Though avoid any metal combs that are punched from a sheet rather than made of individual wires. Those will destroy everything with their sharp edges
This comb having a handle lets me keep my hands away from the heating elements on the flat iron without needing to wear heat-resistant gloves.
Tumblr media
These dog combs are excellent for detangling prior to making your final passes with the flea comb.
https://amzn.to/41UpX8U
The wire tines are smooth and gentle with hair, but it is also unyeilding so you do have to be cautious that you’re not ripping or tearing through tangles.
Tumblr media
If you have a lot of knots that are difficult to remove, try a cat slicker brush.
https://amzn.to/47mw4DT
Again, the wires are metal and won’t shred your hair fiber. Using a cat slicker over tangled hair will make an awful noise, but that noise isn’t the hair tearing like it would be with the metal combs above, it’s the sound of the wires being pulled back and then springing up again.
A slicker brush yields to the tangles a bit and doesn’t pull.
You do have to be careful with a slicker, though, because the wire bristles are very fine and will stab you.
Tumblr media
I do work with older Barbies sometimes, and sometimes they have Kanekalon hair that’s supposed to be crimped. Kanekalon can’t take much heat and melts easily, so again, you need a variable temp tool.
This multi tool works:  https://amzn.to/3S5aT4W
I haven’t tried using it to flat iron because it’s rather wide, but I have successfully recrimped Kanekalon on the lowest heat setting, and nylon on the second or third setting.
You can see that this crimper combo tool is the same brand as the new flat iron mentioned above, but I think this one is in Celsius. I’m not 100% on that.
Tumblr media
I do NOT gate-keep tools or supplies so if you have any questions, let me know.
147 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 4 months
Text
More Shopstivus items:
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Searched the Black Friday sales for Miniverse
and got very little, but there are some of the Mini Bratz listed and the Miniverse Make It Mini All You can Eat mega set.
Tumblr media
which I would be interested in, but I already have it! My S.O. surprised me with it for my birthday earlier this month.
I was surprised to discover that the cute, colored backgrounds in the different segments are just bits of printed paperboard laid in there and not attached at all.
If you want them where they are, I suggest opening the whole thing very carefully and using some double sided tape
(I like this one)
Tumblr media
to tape the panels in one by one. Mine all fell out and I am not sure I got them back in there where they were before.
Tumblr media
There are lots of Mini Brands deals, like the advent calendar for $15.
Tumblr media
and 2 for the price of 1 for a few of the balls (link is to the whole search)
There are more Shadow High and Rainbow High deals than I found yesterday, though I think they're just matching Target's current prices.
9 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 4 months
Text
It's Shopmas....
There are quite a few deals on dolls for Black Friday on Amazon: https://amzn.to/40UItgA
The one's that have most caught my eye are
Tumblr media Tumblr media
LOL OMG Fierce Collector Cleopatra for $32 - https://amzn.to/3QVQk94
Tumblr media
Draculaura and the Gore-Ganizer for $25 - https://amzn.to/3Gcl1Sv
Tumblr media
and Cleo's Boo-Jeweled Beauty Case for $30 - https://amzn.to/3sPYB6H
Tumblr media
Not much for Rainbow High, unfortunately (and not actually good prices....) - https://amzn.to/3MYDCFH
22 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 6 months
Text
Maybe not my usual thing but this did legitimately make me laugh out loud when I saw it.
Tumblr media
Affiliate link here: https://amzn.to/3LYQBqt
The reviews are mixed. If you're a TMNT fan and/or a sucker for a bad pun, the Cheese Shredder might be fun to have around the house or just sitting on the counter top to perplex and annoy guests.
I've ordered the pizza seasoning. We'll see how it is.
11 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 6 months
Text
These are the most popular thing on the blog right now.
Looks like the Celestial Ponies are now available on Amazon for $15 each.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Here's the link for all four: https://amzn.to/45lQufQ
I don't know why but I can never get the links to work from a certain blog. It gets hung up on the hrefli script I think.
Either way, the Celestial Ponies are a G1 concept that never made it to production way-back-when, and now they are being produced.
A lot of people are excited.
119 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 6 months
Text
MGA's Miniverse is expanding rapidly (which is very MGA of them). In addition to the Lifestyle and Cafe/Diner balls, there is the kitchen and two new play packs: Ice Cream Social and Pizza Party.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/45QLNva
They're on preorder for about $20. There are about 4 items to complete in the Ice Cream Social pack, but they share components and there are only two bottles of resin between them all and I think you get two pizzas, so I'm honestly not sure this is a better value than getting individual balls. The bonus? is a cardboard box.
Tumblr media
The multi-pack is still a decent value vs individual balls, though, at $30 for 5 complete sets. This is a great option if you want to try out lots of different types of the food kits without having to risk dupes.
Link here: https://amzn.to/467dKhK
@cosmomoore found this on MGA's website and I'm very excited by it:
Tumblr media
Except for the price, of course... Oof.
That hasn't hit Amazon, yet, so no affiliate link there.
I can't really tell how many food kits you're getting to make a comparison of value vs the balls, but you do get a really cute display and storage case and look at those little crates!
I have to admit, though, that I don't understand the black and white furniture thing they're doing with miniverse.
You could probably DIY something similar with a bead storage box.
35 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 8 months
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
I was looking for Berrie Skies and didn't find her, but I did find that some of the older Shadow High dolls are on sale on Amazon right now: https://amzn.to/3DYlMNY
60 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 8 months
Text
I've been working on a doll house. Sort of. It's an old Barbie house that was missing a lot of parts.
One of the things I've done is build new parts out of paperboard and foam board, and then cover them in paper.
You know, and I know, that when you get paper wet with glue it wrinkles. There are a few ways to get around this.
One is Tombow Mono Multi glue.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Which is here: https://amzn.to/3OU5tbv
The trick to using this glue for wrinkle-free paper application is to squeeze out a bunch of glue not on the paper, but on what you want to put paper on, smooth it out as well as you can (make sure you get the surface you're wanting to apply paper to completely covered) and then let it dry until it's transparent. It'll stay tacky.
Then apply your paper and smooth it out.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
That's how I applied scrapbook paper directly to the plastic wall as wallpaper, and colored printer paper (which is very prone to wrinkles when wet) to both paperboard (recycled food box) and foam board to create the refrigerator door and a curio cabinet.
I find the Tombow Mono Multi is less prone to wrinkling than glue sticks, too, as long as you let the Mono Multi dry fully before applying paper.
Tombow Mono Multi can also be applied to the back of plastic-coated stickers that have lost their stickiness, like the ones that are default to this doll house, and then those stickers can be reapplied.
It's worth noting that you don't get a second chance with this glue. Once you've stuck something, it's not coming off cleanly. If you put the paper on wrong it'll tear to bits if you try to peel it off again. Tombow Mono Multi is very good at sticking.
-
Another option is double sided tape. If you're going to be doing something like gluing shelves to the paper covering, then full coverage adhesion is better, like with the Tombow.
If you're doing a decorative or small item (in this case, the faux drawer fronts on the curio cabinet), then double sided tape is a great option with no drying time.
I like this one, because it's the same width as the foam layer between the sheets of paper on foam board and because it's easy to remove from plastic toys.
Tumblr media
And that's here: https://amzn.to/3s8BELl
I like to use this to stick small decorative items to the shelves, too. It's easy to remove from plastic surfaces, but it can rip the paper like I have on the curio cabinet.
Every deco item in the doll house has a little bit of this tape on it to keep it in place but I can remove and reposition those items as I wish.
I learned about both of these products watching people make those little room box kits years ago. You know those little bitty fabric things you're supposed to sew or use a wet glue to adhere and then wait for it to dry? This tape is an excellent alternative to that, too.
Tumblr media
Like this kit, for example (https://amzn.to/3YCLz7Z), I would use Tombow Mono Multi to apply the wallpaper so it would go on nice and smooth, then use double-sided tape to put the fabric on the chair, adhere the table cloth, and make the little pillow.
81 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 8 months
Text
Looks like the Celestial Ponies are now available on Amazon for $15 each.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Here's the link for all four: https://amzn.to/45lQufQ
I don't know why but I can never get the links to work from a certain blog. It gets hung up on the hrefli script I think.
Either way, the Celestial Ponies are a G1 concept that never made it to production way-back-when, and now they are being produced.
A lot of people are excited.
119 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 8 months
Text
Just got a tipoff that the MGA Miniverse (UV resin kits, use at your own risk) Halloween sets are up on Amazon (thank you!).
Tumblr media Tumblr media
They're available here: https://amzn.to/45i4SFD
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Series 2 of the Diner: https://amzn.to/47ranEa
And Cafe series are also available: https://amzn.to/3Otfjzl
And Series 1 of the Lifestyle kits are, too: https://amzn.to/3s4hWQZ
I have 2 more of the Lifestyle kits on their way.
40 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 8 months
Text
In a follow up to this post.
I had already discussed it a bit on my main blog, but it should go here, too, for consistency's sake. This will basically be c+p (though leaving out my silliness 😬. I try to maintain SOME semblance of professionalism, here).
Tumblr media
This is comparing the stranded DMC color card: https://amzn.to/43Nw5yP
To the printed DMC color card: https://amzn.to/3OzTQFl
Tumblr media
Right off the bat the blue/purple segments on the covers do not match. Another price raising feature is that there is embossing on the swatched book’s cover.
I do appreciate how they make it very obvious they’re different resources by the image of threads and font they used on each book.
Tumblr media
First quick glance and yeah the printed samples don’t match the swatched samples exactly. A lot of them are very close but then there’s like 3328.
Tumblr media
350 (I don't know why, but that number wants to be enormous if I don't add text to the line. I'm not a fan of the "new" post editor.)
Tumblr media
3801 and 666 all of which are more different to my eye in person than on the screen.
I think for the purposes of matching doll parts the $10 printed book would probably be fine and is a lot more accessible to collectors, but for IDing mystery threads and planning custom threadwork the $40 swatched book is a must. There’s just too much difference in some of the samples.
5 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 8 months
Text
My S.O. brought home his pepper-in-a-can last year after it grew for him, made a few peppers, and then started to struggle.
He hadn’t put any effort into learning about the needs of a pepper plant and had no idea they like to get big.
After some treatment and care on my part, including loosening the tightly bound roots and repotting with room to grow, the plant started to recover
Tumblr media
(This picture was immediately after repotting where it had already started to perk up after getting its first good drink while I was rinsing old dirt from and massaging the tight root ball loose again. Some of that green is a poinsettia in the background.)
grew
Tumblr media
and bloomed.
Tumblr media
It’s produced a decent amount of peppers but recently it started to falter again, dropping leaves at an alarming rate.
When I sent him to buy new dirt, he’d bought a high-nitrogen brand that’s meant to be mixed into your top soil outside instead of dirt for a pot.
It helped the plant grow, but wasn’t the right kind of nutrients to sustain it.
As soon as the first peppers started to ripen, many of the leaves turned sickly yellow and most of them fell off. Again
So, I had to save his plant again.
Though really, at this point, it’s my plant since I’m doing 100% of the work. He still thinks of it as his.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
I went looking online for potting soil since that’s the most accessible option for me, and came across Foxfarm brand.
https://amzn.to/473Zqbc
Looking at the summarized details it seems pretty well balanced to someone that doesn’t know anything about growing vegetables. That’s me.
Tumblr media
The biggest draw for me, though, was that people who grow pot indoors seem to really like this dirt, and serious pot growers are very picky about their soil.
That seemed like a good option for Peppe dePeppa, the Maybe Carolina Reaper in Distress. I’m not sure this is a reaper. The peppers aren’t wrinkly enough which makes me think it might be a hybrid between a reaper and a red habanero.
It’s certainly too spicy for me regardless.
I ordered 24 quarts and ended up using a lot of it on other plants before tackling Peppe, though I honestly forget which and whether they’re in containers outside or some of the inside plants.
Either way, Peppe is recovering again, and is feeling so good that he has a second bloom going on While already being covered in ripening peppers.
Tumblr media
He’s growing in sub-standard conditions being too cold (our AC is set around 76F) and not enough sun (only direct sun in the afternoons), and is producing rather well, all things considered.
The leaves are darker again, and not falling off constantly.
Tumblr media
The existing fruits are ripening fine and I’m interested in seeing how new fruits produced with the new soil compare.
Tumblr media
Everywhere the leaves had fallen off has exploded into thick clusters of new, dark, hardy leaves.
This dirt’s alright.
8 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 8 months
Text
I don’t usually do beauty reviews because I don’t care about beauty.
I am a gremlin.
I do sometimes do beauty reviews when I get something that catches my interest in a Walmart Beauty Box, though, and this is one of those items.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Amazon link here:  https://amzn.to/44KMANG
I got a box of 24 patches in a Walmart Beauty Box, and had been curious about these.
I’m 42, have more pimples now than I did as a teen, and it’s frustrating because I pick at my skin when the textures are wrong. I can’t help it. I’ll scrape my whole face off with my fingernails if there is a wrong texture, especially feeling a compulsion to clear out any visibly fluid-filled pimples.
Anyway, these patches aren’t invisible by any means. They stand out, really. Not as much as Starface, which I’ve also tried.
Tumblr media
Link:  https://amzn.to/44N6Bmz
Starface aren’t trying to hide that you’re wearing a pimple patch and may be ideal if you want cute little shapes on your face. There are lots of colors, different shapes, many brands, etc. I find the star shaped stickers with [rounded] points to bother me if I touch them, leading to me picking at the stickers.
The Rael invisible patches are not invisible. The perfect circles look weird and the unnatural texture does, too.
I wear these around the house, though, because they stop me from picking at my face. It’s not about the appearance for me, but the feel. The smooth, rounded edges of the stickers lay almost flush with my skin and I don’t feel a need to get my fingernails up under them. Though the center is raised a little bit because it’s thicker where the hydrocolloid stuff is.
The smooth surface texture also staves off the desire to dig with my nails. Make no mistake, they are not perfectly smooth. There is a bump, because there is a pimple under there.
It’s not a perfect solution to prevent picking and I do find myself constantly touching them (and then it’s like “right, I put that there” and I don’t pick at them, just keep touching them), but they have the added bonus of keeping my fingers off of my pimples, keeping them cleaner and letting them heal better.
As for the hydrocolloid properties where it’s supposed to suck the grime out of your pimples? I’ve had that happen maybe twice out of the ten patches I’ve used so far. It can only get gunk out of surface pimples that are ready to go on their own. I don’t notice much difference on deeper pimples (other than that I haven’t been digging at them all day, which is good!), and it can’t do anything at all on a firmer pimple, only really wet ones.
Another sensory issue I have is sticky things, and things stuck to my skin. These patches ARE sticky and peeling them off is just as bad as peeling off a bandage, and I can feel that there is Something on my face when I have these on, but it doesn’t fee like there is Something Sticky on my face and I’m able to leave them on whereas a bandage I will remove immediately because I can’t stand the feel of it on my skin. I have at times put these on before bed and when I woke up, forgotten they were there at all until I looked in the mirror.
2 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 8 months
Text
I am a doll collector with BJD and buying parts or making hybrids can be a pain to color match. Just like playline dolls there’s not much consistency between brands. Some resins age differently, too.
The most reliable color matching source would probably be something like Pantone color cards, but those are FREAKING EXPENSIVE and it’s not reasonable to expect everyone to have them.
BJD collecting is an expensive luxury hobby and there are some of us that do need to keep our spending as minimal as possible.
Tumblr media
This skintone chips set (https://www.pantone.com/products/fashion-home-interiors/skintone-guide-limited-edition) has an excellent range of skin tones, but seems to be lacking the pasty pale practically white colors a lot of Asian BJD come in and costs as much as a lower-priced BJD.
Tumblr media
This set (https://www.pantone.com/products/plastics/the-pantone-matching-system-plastic-standard-chips-collection) seems ideal for color matching plastics, which resin is, at first but it’s polypropylene chips which will degrade in a few years, and not all colors of urethane or epoxy resins can be replicated in polypropylene. It’s also NINE THOUSAND FREAKING DOLLARS.
We all know I’m always looking for something functional and accessible and $9k that’s going to discolor and maybe even crumble in a decade is not my idea of accessible.
-
@maleficentmrsofallevil​ suggested a digital resource (https://redketchup.io/color-picker) which is free and accessible to most collectors that have an internet connection and using HEX codes is consistent across devices, however there are a few problems that we might run into.
Tumblr media
Everyone’s monitors/phone screens and cameras would have to be calibrated exactly the same, and everyone’s lighting when making comparisons would have to be identical for this to be a viable resource. The hex chart being backlit could also skew the way it looks compared to a tangible resin sample.
That’s frustrating. Free and easy for most people to get a hold of is the ideal.
The main benefit of a physical vs digital resource for color matching is that the color sample and the doll are both subjected to the same lighting conditions, monitor settings, and camera settings so even if those factors vary between users, the comparison will still be relatively accurate.
-
A bunch of us sat around discussing different options. International hobby paint brands like Vallejo or Mr. Color, international makeup foundation color cards, etc. etc.
I’ve decided to give DMC embroidery floss color cards a try.
Tumblr media
There are two versions.
One has samples of the actual floss in the book and costs about $40.
https://amzn.to/3Oq8G2f
Tumblr media
The other has printed color blocks that presumably match the floss colors and costs about $10.
https://amzn.to/3Q2H8Bb
Tumblr media
DMC are sticklers for their colors being the same across dye lots. Sometimes they change the numbers on colors and sometimes they discontinue colors all together, so we do still run into the issue of whether everyone’s looking at the same color cards or different versions.
At $10, needing to replace or update the color card every few years isn’t nearly as daunting as a $9k plastic samples set falling apart in your hands once a decade.
(Can you tell I hate polypropylene when used in conjunction with dolls?)
Other variables that will affect the efficacy of using DMC color cards are the conditions under which the color cards are kept like sun exposure, temperature, humidity etc. affecting either the color of the thread samples or the quality of the printed samples.
Another factor is consistency between printed samples.
I have not received these, yet, but my plan is to first compare them to each other to see how well the printed samples match the swatched samples, and then proceed from there.
20 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 8 months
Text
Just saw this on Amazon:
Tumblr media Tumblr media
https://amzn.to/43t1vuu
5 sets for $30 is actually a decent price, though these do look more like the smaller sets which run a little less expensive ($6.97) than the larger ($9.99) sets.
And you can see what’s in them, mostly. Good for people that don’t like blind pack toys.
30 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 9 months
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Barbie Extra Fly Ken is on sale if you have Prime: https://amzn.to/3PUJzWn
11 notes · View notes
tiffyfoundsomething · 9 months
Text
Lots and lots of doll sales on Amazon today:
https://amzn.to/3XOgBJu
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
67 notes · View notes