Faceless Doll

$10 - $15 (based on 2017 prices)

Makes one doll

2017’s haunt explored the legend of La Llorona. To expand upon the element of prolicide prevalent in the folklore, I drew inspiration from La Isla de las Muñecas and filled the haunt with dolls to represent the specter’s drowned children. Although the process of transforming dozens of dolls into macabre monsters eventually became rather tiring, the final results were well worth the time and effort.

• One vinyl doll roughly twelve inches in height
• One sheet of black craft foam
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat black*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat gray*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat white*
• At least four tablespoons of dark roasted coffee grounds
• One pan large enough to soak the doll’s dress
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat brown*

1. Cut out the doll’s face. For visual interest, create jagged edges. To make this process easier, purchase a doll made from thin vinyl or cheap plastic. If it helps, trace the outline of your cut with a marker first.

2. Cut a piece of craft foam large enough to fit inside the hole and glue it in place. Although you can skip this step by painting the entire cavity black, I chose to create a false backing for the opening to cover the mess created by the hair’s roots.

3. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give the doll three even coats of gray paint and the facial cavity three even coats of black paint. The number of coats, of course, depends on your desired coverage, so you may apply more or less.

4. Use a brush with splayed bristles to create a stippling effect around the doll’s joints and the edges of the face’s opening. I found that working from dark to light (i.e. black to gray to white) produces the best results.

5. Boil enough water to completely submerge the doll’s dress and pour it into the pan. Add the coffee. The longer you allow the coffee to brew, the darker the stain will become. Likewise, greater amounts of coffee will produce a richer stain. Submerge the dress in the coffee mixture and soak it until it reaches the color you desire. I soaked mine for four days and scattered the coffee grounds over the top of the fabric to add spots. Remove the dress from the water and allow it to dry. Once the dress had dried, smear its surface with black and brown paint to create the illusion of dirt and use a pair of sharp scissors to shred the fabric. Concentrate your actions around the edges of the collar, skirt, and sleeves.

6. Add additional grime to the doll by muddying her hair with black, brown, and gray paint. If you don’t mind the mess, spread the paint onto the palms of your hands and use your fingers to brush it into the tuffs. Do not worry too much if the hair becomes matted and tangled during this process (it will only enhance the appearance).

7. Clothe the doll and, if you want, apply further details, such as additional tears and holes to the dress, dried leaves and bits of debris to the hair, or small teeth inside the facial cavity.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.