The Grubby Doll Look

sewcute · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 58

The Grubby Doll Look

“Grubby” is the word I kept hearing around the craft circuit. To me grubby meant grimy. So I decided to get to the bottom of this and find out the big deal with grubbing a doll and what it really meant in crafters terms. So I decided to ask a fellow crafter “What Is Grubby? To my surprise I found out that it’s another word for aged or old and that it gives your dolls that dirty look. Now at first I thought to myself “Why would I want to make my dolls look dirty”. Then I did a few of my dolls and realized they are not really dirty looking but a bit more primitive.

So to get “The Grubby Doll Look”, you can use a tea mixture, coffee or Walnut Ink. I decided to go with Walnut Ink, since I seem to drink too much coffee or tea to keep any left over for my dolls. 
Where do you purchase Walnut Ink? Try various craft sites and also E-bay sells them. Now this does not mean to go out and make all your dolls look grubby, has you may or may not like the look. Trust me; I was skeptical in the beginning so it’s best to start out with 1-2 dolls at a time.

Once you have grubbed up a few dolls, try selling them at your next craft show. This is a great way to introduce a new doll to your customers and also find out if they are acceptable. It is always good to test your market before going overboard with a new product.

Now of course I don’t listen to my own advice and have done well with making these sort of dolls. I even sold a few on Ebay. So if you decide to jump in and just go nuts with making grubby dolls, remember I warned you. Smile

Also know that each target market area is different and some people may not know what grubby is so be prepared to answer the question “What is Grubby”?!

Author: Talena Bacon tdsewcutedoll@gmail.com
Bio: © 2008 –All Rights Reserved~~~Talena Bacon is the owner of Sew Cute Dolls & More and Mulberry Creek Mercantile She is a doll maker, pattern designer and advertising specialist. Talena specializes in Primitive/Country dolls, home décor and low-cost advertising for all businesses.
http://www.sewcutedolls.com
http://www.mulberrycreekmercantile.com

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Talena

http://www.sewcutedolls.com

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Anita · Posted: February 22, 2008, 8:57 am Post subject:

Okay, curiosity was killing me too, rofl! Is your Apple Annie Doll considered "grubby"?

- Anita Razz

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P.S. You have to check this out:
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sewcute · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 58

Bev · Posted: February 22, 2008, 9:03 pm Post subject:

How interesting! I featured your article on my Easy Crafts blog! I'm having trouble making pictures work right now... but if I can get it to work, I'll post a picture too.

Bev
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sewcute · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 58

Anita · Posted: February 22, 2008, 11:43 pm Post subject:

sewcute · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 58

Aha ... I see now. Looks like the grubby look is a bit darker than the tea stain.

- Anita Razz

[/quote]

The darker look is obtained if you use the Walnut ink and mix it with water and cinnamon.
But you can also get that same look with coffee or tea but you will have to brew it alittle longer.
I have often wondered what look would I get if I mixed my coffee and tea together but I drink too much to find out.

Oh, you can also get the same tea stained look with walnut ink but you add more water and no cinnamon.

Grubbie is an interesting thing to do with your dolls and I am still learning the different ways.
You can also make your dolls scented. But have yet to try it. Smile

Ok, I think I talked enough...I need to lay off the starbucks coffee. LOL
_________________
Hugs & Blessings,
Talena

http://www.sewcutedolls.com

http://www.kraftersprintingpress.com
**Business Cards*Brochures*Flyers & More

http://www.willowberrycraftshop.com

***Download our "FREE" Issue Today***

Anita · Posted: February 23, 2008, 4:41 am Post subject:

ROFL ... I'm not a crafter ... well I guess you could say I'm a retired crafter ... haven't done anything like that in years! Yeah, the creative side of me misses it at times. And every once in a while I see something and think COOL I could do that easily. But that passes fairly quickly considering I HAVE NO TIME anymore, rofl! If I could just learn to live w/out sleep ... I'd be fine!

Thanks for adding a bit of "crafting knowledge" to the boards! You and Bev should get along just fine Wink

- Anita

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P.S. You have to check this out:
COMPLETE Business For Sale - All Ready to Go!

sewcute · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 58

Bev · Posted: February 23, 2008, 8:04 am Post subject:

I totally agree! You can never be a retired crafter! lol! You may put it off for a bit, but you'll jump right back on once you have more time Wink

lol!

I don't mind the link at all! In fact, I very much appreciate it!!!!

Bev
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Anita · Posted: February 23, 2008, 8:06 am Post subject:

LOL! Okay ... so I'm semi-retired. Someone who just doesn't have the time to do it anymore, lol!

I used to do a lot of cross stitching. That by far is my favorite. Another favorite is working w/ plastic canvas. Although I did just bring some of that out not too long ago .. right before the holidays I started teaching my daughter that. She really enjoyed doing that.

I also used to make wreaths - my favorite were the grapevine wreaths. Love the looks of those! I decorated them with ribbon & flowers. (ooh, now you're making me a bit nostalgic, lol)

I dabbled a bit in baskets - not necessarily gift baskets. Although I had often thought about doing gift baskets. I could have had a lot of fun w/ that!

I used to decorate the "fish bowl jars" and things like that.

Just pretty much whatever hit me at the time.

Take care,
Anita Razz

_________________

P.S. You have to check this out:
COMPLETE Business For Sale - All Ready to Go!

sewcute · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 58

Anita · Posted: February 23, 2008, 8:33 pm Post subject:

Oh and the "lighted baskets" reminds me of something else I used to make ... as a matter of fact, I made a lot of Christmas shopping money one year because fo these, lol. They were Lighted Potpourri Jars.

I used to take quart jars and fill them w/ potpourri and a small string of white lights. Then I would put a doily on top with a ribbon around the neck of the jar. They were absolutely adorable if I do say so myself, lol!

I sold them for something like $8 or $9 a piece and then sold like crazy! Hmm ... I really enjoyed making those too! Easy? Wow - beyond easy, lol! They made great, inexpensive gifts for teachers, co-workers, the mailman ... you get the idea.

Maybe I'll have to do that again this Christmas! I'll just have to remember to start earlier this year, lol! I did do very well however, I started a bit later than I should have. This year I could do up some samples and take orders.

Ugh, did you have to get me thinking about crafting again? ROFL! The jars are so easy to make ... I could see my daughter and I doing them together.

Oh yeah and I did do a couple other sizes too but the quarts did the best.

Ah, I remember one of the things I had a problem with ... I had a hard time finding the doilies. I didn't have time to search out a wholesaler or anything like that. I'll have to do some research this year, Wink

Anyway ... enough rambling about that, rofl!

sewcute · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 58

Anita · Posted: February 25, 2008, 10:19 pm Post subject:

Awesome! Glad you're enjoying it!

And I went ahead and put up Crafty Corner! I think it'll make a nice addition Wink

You can see it in the Around The Home section or right here:
http://mommyshelpercommunity.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=169

Hope you enjoy!

Oh and by the way ... I haven't gotten back to the other posts that I wanted to yet so before I forget AGAIN, I wanted to make note of your magazine you have. Shocked

WOW! It looks absolutely awesome! Very informative and so beautifully put together! Great job!

- Anita Razz

_________________

P.S. You have to check this out:
COMPLETE Business For Sale - All Ready to Go!

sewcute · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 58

Anita · Posted: February 26, 2008, 12:30 am Post subject:

Anita · Posted: February 26, 2008, 12:39 am Post subject:

Oooh! Very important note here ...
Maybe I missed this on your site but you don't have a place for visitors to actually subscribe to your magazine, do you?

- Anita Razz

_________________

P.S. You have to check this out:
COMPLETE Business For Sale - All Ready to Go!

sewcute · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 58

Anita · Posted: February 26, 2008, 2:54 am Post subject: