Creating a Reborn Baby: The Essentials
I created a painting tutorial series, which is available on my YouTube channel.
Amazon Storefront (artist's supplies etc):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/rebornsofjess
RebornsofJess Recommended Products (Pixie Kissed Babies Boutique):
https://pixiekissedbabies-boutique.com/collections/rebornsofjess-recommendations
See below for a list of all the products I use when reborning. (Please note, some of these are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them).
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Here is a list of trusted kit dealers:
USA
https://www.irresistables.com/
https://www.dollsbysandie.com/
https://www.bountifulbaby.com/
https://hunnybunsrebornsupply.com/
Europe
https://www.puppen-traumland.de/ (Germany)
https://www.tinkerbellcreations.co.uk/
https://www.fairytalesrebornnursery.co.uk/
https://www.boutikreborn.com/ (France)
(Please note, this is not an exhaustive list)
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Puppy Pads OR painting mat - Many reborn artists use puppy training pads under where they work, as these absorb paint and spills. https://amzn.to/4r9Ltl7
Bright Light - You’ll need a good light to paint under, any bright ‘daylight’ light should work fine. I use this one: https://amzn.to/3MIt14A
Magnifying lamp - If you are rooting, or you have poor eyesight, you may want a magnifying lamp, such as these: https://amzn.to/4c43kpB (clamp version) https://amzn.to/4s20whj
Air Purifier - Not essential but can help with the constant battle against lint. This is the one I have: https://amzn.to/4tMwHTG
Ceramic Paint Palette - These are so much easier to clean than plastic palettes. I use this one: https://amzn.to/3OmcNyR
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Paint supplies:
I mainly use air dry paints, so all recommendations in this section will be relevant to air dry paints.
Waterborne Paints (Most cost-effective option) Buy them here in the US.
Ultimate Fusion Paint (What I personally use)
Buy them here in the US.
Buy them here in the UK.
Buy them here in AUS.
Heat Set Paints
Alva and Go paints have been taking the reborning world by storm, and are considered the closest alternative to the original Genesis Heat Set Paints. Alva and Go are what I personally use.
Powders
E-borns powder nails - These are brilliant.
E-borns creases - I haven’t tried these personally but if they’re anything like the nail set, these will also be brilliant.
Watch my Youtube Tutorial here for how to use these powders.
Hair Painting
Brush - Christine Woolley’s hair painting brush is the best you can buy.
Tutorial - Christine’s tutorials are what I use. You can buy her book here.
Paints - Ultimate Fusion have a range that matches Christine’s tutorials here. Even if you’re using heat set paints, I recommend using the ultimate fusion air dry hair paints over the top, they’re unbeatable in my opinion.
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Mop brushes - these are essential for blending. I like the Daler Rowney Goat Mop Brushes. You can get them on Amazon here but I often find them cheaper in craft stores such as hobbycraft
Detail brushes - invest in a set and you’ll get a lot of use out of them, such as these .
Nail art brushes are also very useful.
Flat brushes - for washes of colour. I use these
Basic Makeup Sponges - I use these for mottling (plucking them with tweezers), applying varnish, texturing, all sorts! Get as many sponges as you can. Examples: https://amzn.to/3MB9XW7
Mottling Sponges - You can get specialist sponges like these and these. Alternatively, you can buy a pack of makeup sponges like this and pluck them with tweezers. (I find, the more sponges, the better!)
Skin Texture Sponges - I like these ones best. Used with texture medium. Technically optional, but in my opinion, essential!
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Christine Woolley’s Texture Medium - basically the best medium money can buy for air dry skin texture. Find it here.
Liquitex Matte Gel Medium - I use this for skin texture. Buy it here.
Americana Ultra Matte Varnish - this dries with a satin finish, not super matte. Buy it here.
AK Ultra Matte Varnish - this dries VERY matte, and usually negates all the skin texture you created, so I only recommend this if you want a very matte finish with little texture. Heads up, this does yellow over time. Buy it here.
Watch my skin texture livestream here
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Rooting supplies:
Prismacolour Pencils or erasable marker - for mapping the hair. Watch my Hair Mapping Tutorial here.
Magnifier lamp (I use this one: https://amzn.to/4c43kpB)
Heat lamp (I use this one: https://amzn.to/3OtIFl0 - it is for a salt lamp and has a dimmer function)
Needles (these are down to personal preference, but the higher the gauge number, the thinner the needle). I’d suggest trying some multi-packs of needles to find ones you like.
Heidi Feathers supplies needles here: https://www.heidifeathers.com/ourshop/cat_1535519-Mixed-Felting-Needles.html - I like the yellow and gold tip ones.
Alternatively, for mono-rooting, I recommend 46G and 43G crown needles, available here. - Please watch my Rooting Tips video alongside using these.
Hair straightener (this can be useful for straightening the end of curly hair - straighten the part you are rooting into the head, this makes it easier to root! I use these mini ones: https://amzn.to/46lw5dK)
Tacky glue - essential for gluing the hair inside, I use Aleene’s Tacky Glue. Buy it here.
Watch my Rooting Tutorial here.
Watch my Eyelash Rooting Tutorial here.
Hair
Hair type is definitely down to personal preference!
I enjoy JuNa and HP Babylocks, personally. The more expensive the hair, the easier it will be to use and the better your result will be. Trust me, I have learned from experience!
DO NOT use human hair on babies, it is far too thick. You may use human hair on toddler dolls.
DO NOT use any kind of dog/cat/random animal hair (except goat/alpaca).
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I buy all my materials from Peacock Fibres in the UK: https://peacockfibres.co.uk/fillings--weighting-1-c.asp
If you don’t want to buy in bulk, most reborn supply shops (i.e. kit dealers) have smaller amounts you can purchase.
Steel discs (For weighting the body and head) - you can also use glass beads, however I prefer steel as it is heavier, so your weighting pouches can be smaller.
Glass Beads (For weighting limbs/body) - I prefer glass beads to glass granules as the granules are similar to sand and will get everywhere (you have been warned).
Polyester stuffing (stuffing!!)
Poly Pellets (For cuddle baby limbs)
Tights - I use a thick denier tight to create my weighting pouches. You want light coloured tights ideally so there is no chance of them staining the vinyl in the head. These are the ones I use: https://amzn.to/4tQEcZE
Watch my Weighting Tutorial Video here.
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Regular bodies
Many kits will come with a body, however if yours does not, you can find them online to purchase. Most kit dealers also sell bodies, and you can find them inexpensively on ebay and Etsy.
You need to know what type of body your kit requires, e.g. full limb, ¾ limb, ¼ limb etc, along with the size. Most kit descriptions will state what kind of body is required on the kit dealers websites.
See my Youtube video all about different body types.
See my ¼ limb assembly tutorial video here.
Cuddle bodies
I like bodies with snap/popper fasteners, such as these: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1600963043/quality-reborn-doll-doe-suede-snap
But if you can afford it, Reggie Ann cuddle bodies are hard to beat. You can find them here in the UK https://pixiekissedbabies-boutique.com/products/reggie-ann-cuddle-pose-body-prestuffed-uk-stock (you can also buy the unstuffed version which makes it significantly cheaper, and stuff it yourself!)
Watch my Cuddle Body Assembly Tutorial here.
