Somewhere That's Green

Barbie's Barbecue Transformation !

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The Midge Factor

Is it just me, or is Barbie furniture getting better ? Well, the sofas are often too low to the ground, and Mattel insists on including puppies and kittens with everything, but still, we've come quite a ways from the pink fantasy princess castle furnishings that were so prominent not long ago.
 
Still, though, it's not at all hard to find great looking stuff, especially in today's 'My House' line...but it's still pink ! But, hey, that's fairly easily fixed. If you like the shape and design, non-pink is just a can of Fusion away ! Just today, I redid the 'My House Barbie Doll and Barbecue' Beloved Hubby bought me as a get-well gift. Since interest is always high in customization, I took photos for this page. Wanna see the progress ? Let's go !

Won't you join us on the patio ?
winterpatio.jpg
We're gonna do some renovations soon...

Here's the set, pretty much out of box. Shinobu and Inaba enjoy drinks by candlelight, with a silver 'iPod' providing music from the 'docking speakers'. Meanwhile, their son Michio loves snacks and burgers, and his R2D2 (sold separately) is never far away. The green and purple thingie is a light-up toy, but in my little diorama, it's a patio heater.
 
It's a really nice set. Retails for about $20., comes with a blonde doll (donated !) and drinks, food, and a few props - tongs, an ice bucket with lid, a cardboard box of ice cream, the 'iPod' and speakers, ketchup and mustard, a candle on a dish, four tropical drinks (two pink, two green), a pink 'bag' of chips, a plate with a burger affixed to it, and another plate with...some sort of food, I haven't identified what it's supposed to be yet. The sink part of the grill has spigots that turn, and it even lifts out for extra storage. The chicken on the spit is brown on one side, pale on the other, so you can position it for fun. And it's easily removed. Unfortunately, the burgers and hot dogs under the chicken are permanently attached to the grill, even though they're shown separately in the included leaflet.
 
I swear, though, the grill looked more burgundy in the store. Once I took that photo, I came to the realization that it'd just have to be painted, no two ways about it. Too pink !

Your shopping list !
paint1.jpg

I've painted some stuff before, so I'm gonna jump right in. If you're new at prop painting, you may wanna snag some cheap, meaningless-to-you furniture from yard sales or thrift stores to practice on first. That way, you've developed 'the touch' without potentially wrecking stuff you love.
 
Here's what you'll need :
 
The pieces you're gonna paint
Fusion paint for plastics, by Krylon, in your favorite color and texture
A small bottle of paint thinner or mineral spirits
A rag or two
A tarp or old clothes to paint on (newspapers will do if you don't have fabric)
 
Optional :
 
Masking Tape
About 14 inches of yarn or string.
 
For painting plastics, nothing beats Fusion. It's more expensive than regular spray paint, but if you follow the directions, it won't chip or flake on you, ever.
 
Masking tape is, of course, for shielding the parts you don't want painted. It's designed to adhere well, but peel up cleanly, and you can find it most anywhere. It's also called 'painter's tape'. Depending on the project, you may not need it.
 
The string is my idea. Y'see, I wanna get up-close to the stuff I paint. Which is a bad idea. Get too close, the paint gets applied too thickly and runs. Or it takes forever to dry. So I tie a string under the spray button, measure it off (Krylon recommends an 8 to 12 inch distance), cut it, and let it dangle as I spray. If the string touches the item or surface, I know to back off.
 
First thing to do is to read your can of Fusion. You need good ventilation - outdoors is best - in low humidity, with the ambient temperature between 50 and 85 degrees F. If your prop is new, you'll need to give it a quick wipe-down with the paint thinner, on your rag. This gets it nice and clean for the paint, and helps it stick better.

It always amazes me, how easily it comes apart !
paint2.jpg

Now then. Time to tape stuff up, and take stuff apart. The legs to the table and benches click in, so that was easy. The grill's silver door handles, condiment tray, grill hood, and sink come off easily. So the whole grill will get a good coat, inside and out, the doors were removed, too.
 
Only thing that wouldn't come off is the silver part of the grill. And since I want that to remain silver, it's time for the painter's tape. Wrap it up good, and make sure pieces overlap, because the slightest gap will allow paint inside. Don't worry about a bit here or there - the paint thinner will clean it right off, but you wanna avoid it if possible. Here's my mummified grill, ready for paint !

When you have to tape off, you use yards of it !
paint3.jpg

Wind picked up, so I had to take my project inside. Opened up the doors and windows - remember that you need plenty of fresh air if you're indoors on this project. I'm using a painter's tarp to paint on - you may wanna use newspaper or scrap fabric.
 
Any spray paint works best when you're applying several thin coats. Dries faster, and doesn't run. Shake your Fusion for two minutes, then paint in a sweeping motion back and forth, making sure to keep that important 8 to 12 inch distance. End each sweep off the side. Fusion dries fast - about 15 minutes or so - then flip it to paint the other side. If you need to do several coats, do so within four hours, or you'll have to wait 24 hours.
 

The white spots are texturing - I forgot this
paint4.jpg
Fusion paint had shiny bits in it !

Here's mine, waiting to dry. It's up for handling within an hour of your last application, and fully chip resistant after 7 days. I've done some doll shoes and other furniture before, and it really does honor its promises. Only times it's ever screwed up on me is when I didn't follow the directions !
 
Here's a final cheat tip you probably shouldn't take. On just about any project, there's this one spot, tiny but glaring to you, that didn't get painted. I've been known to spray the paint right onto an inexpensive paintbrush - like what kids use with paint-with-water books - and brush the paint on, very, very carefully. It's better, of course, to get it when the rest gets painted, mask parts off carefully, etc. But sometimes, ya just gotta cheat a bit.
 
And, here's the final version :

Ahhh...a nice day on the patio !
paint5.jpg
Don't need the heater anymore !

Much better ! I just did a coat on each side, then touch-up when pink was showing through. I also got some Testor's model paint for the dials. Or you could use a Sharpie or Magic Marker. I'm gonna be gentle with it until the week's up and it's fully bonded. But I really like how it turned out.
 
For the curious, I used 'Decorator's Touch Textured Shimmer' in dark green on this one. I like how the orange table top and green legs look together. Plus, orange is Beloved Hubby's favorite color, and green is mine !

For Michelle