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How to Make a Cloth Doll Stiff

Floppy cloth dolls are hard to place in display cases because they will not stand up. In order to make the preservation and display process easier, you must stiffen the doll so that it will stand up better. The process of stiffening a doll without damaging it can take as many as three days because you must wait for one side of the doll to dry before continuing on to the next side. Otherwise the doll will stick to the surface it is lying on while drying.

Things You'll Need

Liquid arabic gum -- amount varies by size of doll
Distilled water
Hair tie
Measuring spoons
Spoon
Cereal bowl
1 Inch paint brush
Towel -- must be large enough to lay the doll on

Instructions

- 1
  Remove all clothes and accessories from the doll. Lay out the towel on a flat surface that you will not need to use. Tie back the doll's hair with a hair tie and lay the doll down on its back on the towel.
- 2
  Mix three tablespoons liquid arabic gum and one teaspoon water in a cereal bowl. Stir the mixture with a spoon. If you need more because of the surface area of the doll, double or triple the mixture as necessary.
- 3
  Dip the paint brush into the mixture in the cereal bowl then wipe excess on the edge of the bowl. Gently paint the front of the doll in a vertical motion dipping the brush back into the mixture as necessary. You should just be painting a thin film. Paint the bottom of the feet as well. Avoid contact with the doll's hair. When finished let the doll dry for 24 hours. Do not allow any painted portion of the doll to touch anything including the towel the doll is laying on. Wash out the brush and bowl with water.
- 4
  Touch the front of the doll gently with your fingers the next day to make sure it is dry. Then flip the doll over and make the mixture of arabic gum and water again.
- 5
  Paint the remainder of the doll with the mixture. Wash the brush and bowl out with water and wait 24 hours for the doll to dry. Once dry, you can redress the doll and untie the hair.

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