Custom bobbleheads are becoming more and more popular not just because they are unique and creative, but also because they always look funny and interesting.
If you're like most people, you'll always love a bobblehead each time you see one. Of course, it's refreshing to see a miniature model of your friend (or someone else) popping its head when tapped?
Getting a custom bobblehead is no rocket science. You choose either of two options: make it on your own, or order it from a vendor. If you always enjoy getting your hands dirty with craftwork, then you'd most likely favor the DIY option.
Making a custom bobblehead on your own is actually much easier than you think. If you can get the required materials, then you can have your bobblehead crafted within a few hours. Here are the steps involved.
1. Gather all the materials you'll need
Your first step is to gather everything you'll need to make your own bobbleheads. These include a set of paint brushes, polymer clay, a wooden base, gauge wire, oven, acrylic paints, epoxy glue, pliers, aluminum foil, and drill. Be sure to have all of these materials must because you can't go ahead without any of them.
2. Study the picture of your subject
Having gathered all the required materials, your next step is to carefully study the picture of the person you want to make bobblehead of. The more you look at the defining characteristics of the person, the better your chances of making a bobblehead that resembles them subject strikingly.
3. Mold the body and head
Using polymer clay, start molding the lower parts of your subject's body such as the legs and feet. You'll need to use pieces of wire gauge as "skeleton". The two long pieces running through the legs should extend beyond the feet. Run your fingers over the clay to smoothen it until you get a nice-looking lower body. Then push the wires extending beyond each foot into a wooden base to fix the lower body on the base. At this point, start adding more clay to mold the upper parts of the body—shoulders, neck, arms, and hands. Feel free to sculpt details like clothing and shoes—unless you're sculpting a naked body.
After molding the body, mold an oversized head and sculpt it carefully, keeping the facial features in mind.
4. Bake and paint
After molding, your next step is to bake both the head and the body in a 250-degree oven for about one hour. This will help to dry the clay. Next, dip your paint brushes in acrylic paints and paint both the head and the body appropriately. On the head, you'll have to pain the hair and cheeks. And on the body, mark details such as buttons, shoelaces, etc.
5. Connect the head to the body
Your last step is to connect the head to the body using a small spring made from a double length of wire twisted around a pencil. Be sure to push the spring deep at both ends after using your drill to make deep holes in each. Then tap your bobblehead to see if it nods its head severally.
And that's all there is to making a custom bobblehead. Now, you'd agree that it's a very simple process. But unless you're a great artist, your bobblehead won't look as cute and real as those made by custom bobblehead vendors. So, if you're planning to present your bobblehead to someone as a gift, you’d be better off with a professionally-crafted one.
, 
