Upcycled doll heads into angel ornaments

Sorry, I only have “after” shots.

Whelp, maybe I shoulda done some before photos? Or can you picture a vintage doll whose head has been pulled off? Because that’s where these begin. She was a stuffed dollie, in Dutch clothing and wooden shoes. No one bought her as is, despite this lovely face. So, off with her head, and hair. The hair had been a glued on, braided wig that came off easily and was replaced with angora goat curly locks. (If hair doesn’t come off by peeling it back, I used pliers for a better grip and give a good tug) Next, a bundle of trailing lace and ribbons were glued into her neck cavity where the body was once attached. Feathers got curled and glued to the back of her, and a cluster of old millinery blooms were clustered and adhered around her neck. (This project works well with stuffed body dolls whose heads have been glued or sewn on. When you remove the head, there is typically a neck or neck and shoulders that are hollow.)

Actually, I might have gotten a little bit out of order, because the hair comes after the ribbons, flowers, and feathers. If you add the hair first, it’s in the way. You need the other pieces in place so the hair can cascade over them.

On a few of the heads, I subbed a blossom in place of the trailing ribbons. The main consideration is to fill in the hole where the torso was once connected, and camouflage it with something pretty- lace, flowers, jewels, etc.

After each is complete, I glue a ribbon loop to the top of her scalp as a hanger. Some dolls have a rubbery head, and you can also secure the hanger with a pin. I try to either hide the spot with another curl over it, or a bit of bling.

Remember, anytime you glue something, the glue is only as strong as what you’re attaching it to. That is why, with these, I get the ribbon down through the curls, onto the scalp itself. If it were glued only to the hair, when hung on a tree, the hair could pull away from the head. Gluing the hanger directly to the head, not the hair, is much more secure.

Aren’t they sweet?

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