How to turn Barbies into Doctor Who Weeping Angels

Guest post by anthropolywog

Weeping Angel Barbies

I don’t like Barbies and I pre-apologize to those who do, but I took an inordinate amount of pleasure in hacking up, hot gluing, and morphing Barbies into something that causes horror: the Weeping Angels from Doctor Who!

All told this, project took: six Barbies, two cans of primer, two cans of Stone paint, four bags of feathers, less than half a yard of fabric, miles of hot glue (get the big bag of hot glue sticks), and a shit-ton of patience. However it was so worth it!

Here’s how you can hack your Barbies into Weeping Angels…

Weeping Angel Barbies a

You will need:

Step one: Undress your Barbies.
Undress your Barbies.
My Barbie's arms did not  bend, this meant I needed a cutting tool…
My Barbie’s arms did not bend; this meant I needed a cutting tool…
…and something to hold said Barbies. And a wicked sense of humor!
…and something to hold said barbies.
And a wicked sense of humor!
And a wicked sense of humor!

Weeping Angel Barbies h

Then I made doll stands, using these little round plaques…
Then I made doll stands, using these little round plaques and dowels cut to size.
I drilled a hole in each plaque, then filled it with hot glue and stuck a stick in it.
I drilled a hole in each plaque, then filled it with hot glue and stuck a stick in.
Then I used hot glue to mold the hair buns to match the hair of the Weeping Angels on the show. Here they are lined up with their hair buns drying.
Then I used hot glue to mold the hair buns to match the hair of the Weeping Angels on the show. Here they are lined up with their hair buns drying.
Then glue the dolls to stands to make them easier to work with. I found it useful to glue both their bums and their feet to the stand.
Then glue the dolls to stands to make them easier to work with. I found it useful to glue both their bums and their feet to the stand.
Attach arms in a variety of poses: weeping, just opening up, and stretching out for someone…
Attach arms in a variety of poses: weeping, just opening up, and stretching out for someone…

Weeping Angel Barbies n

Then dress them up!
Then dress them up!

Weeping Angel Barbies q

Weeping Angel Barbies r

To get that carved and depressed look of the Gothic statues, I used a bottle with 50-50 water and Elmer's glue and sprayed them down. The one on the left is dry and the one on the right is sprayed.
To get that carved and depressed look of the Gothic statues, I used a bottle with 50-50 water and Elmer’s glue and sprayed them down. The one on the left is dry and the one on the right is sprayed.
The wings were the single biggest time suck of this project! It took five people hours of work to put them together with feathers and cardboard. Other folks have simply used hot glue on card board cut outs to make the feather look happen. It's up to you. I think mine came out creepier and a little more real looking due to using real feathers.
The wings were the single biggest time suck of this project! It took five people hours of work to put them together with feathers and cardboard. Other folks have simply used hot glue on card board cut outs to make the feather look happen. It’s up to you. I think mine came out creepier and a little more real looking due to using real feathers.

weeping angel barbies wings

Then it's time to apply the primer. I highly recommend a spray box to catch the overage!
Then it’s time to apply the primer. I highly recommend a spray box to catch the overage!

Weeping Angel Barbies y

Weeping Angel Barbies z

Eventually I was convinced that enough primer could be applied without making them look like Adipose and I hot glued the wings on.
Eventually I was convinced that enough primer could be applied without making them look like Adipose and I hot glued the wings on.
I finished the priming and started spraying them with this natural stone look paint.
I finished the priming and started spraying them with this natural stone look paint.
Because their faces kind of faded out, I used an ultra fine tipped Sharpie to bring their mouths and eyes into sharper focus.
Because their faces kind of faded out, I used an ultra fine tipped Sharpie to bring their mouths and eyes into sharper focus.

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There were a boat-load of pics taken with the angels — everyone had fun moving them around.

Our photographer went to use the restroom, and came out saying, “That’s not right — you can’t watch what you’re doing and keep an eye on the weeping angel at the same time!”

And so they began to move…

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Comments on How to turn Barbies into Doctor Who Weeping Angels

  1. I adore this and have just messaged my Whovian brother in all caps on Facebook with my blessing to do this to any Barbies of mine he may find remaining in my parents’ house. Also, I love your handle, anthropolywog, and will totally be checking out your etsy store because you are clearly amazing.

    • I don’t know what era of Barbies you may have lying around your house from your childhood, but you might do well to research them before you deconstruct them, even if they are in less than great condition. Lots of older Barbies are pretty valuable, and I would hate to see valuable dolls ruined when they could be sold to someone who will love them, and with the money you could buy cheapies to be creative with AND still have cash left over, or at least make enough to fund the project. Just a thought.

      • Some times here in CA USA you can find old barbies in yard sales or junk(antique) stores. But thies kid’s toys are not expensive even from Target and sometime they go on sale! I think an Angle is worth a Barbie any day folks! If you get real crazy a company in UK has permission from producers to mold and re-create life sized Angles. But to ship from UK to me here in the states is $$$$$ so I had to give up. These are great! Wonder if there is a larger sized doll to work with like this?

  2. This is, hands-down no-kidding, the scariest post I have ever read on the OBE. Doll surgery AND Weeping Angels!?! Um…I’ll just be here, peeking over the back of the couch…

    But it’s a super awesome tutorial! Thanks, anthropolywog. Your Etsy shop has pretty clothes, too. I’m coveting that waterfall bustle you made. 🙂

  3. Very cool project! Those are NOT Barbies though, just cheap similar-sized dolls (not collector or even Barbie lover will ever cry for those). ;D

    I would add aside from not ruining a good toy, buying a cheap dollar-store style doll like you did might be better as material – Barbies are made of more resistant rubber and plastic and probably harder to cut and carve!

    However…. should you get your hands on baity (so beaten up they are craft-grade) articulated dolls like Barbie Fashionnistas, Monster High, Liv or the newer Bratz, you could have skipped the arm modifications and just posed them the way you see fit.

    • Oh I know they aren’t real barbies. But they are pretty close. Honestly there is one other tutorial out there that my google fu turned up. Even the bendy arm Dolls have to be dismantled because they don’t tend to bend in the right direction(s). Yeah I’m considering if I can offer these in my shop as some sort of accessory/home decor, but realizing the copy right issue. Meh. I can simply share the tutorial far and wide so folks can make their own. I often have trouble focusing on just one kind of art as I’m silly crafty in lots of ways and lots of things tweak my interests.

      • If you soak the arms in hot water for several minutes they become pliable and you can bend them. After bending in to position you want, plunge them in cold water (ice water) to re-harden the plastic.

      • Regarding sales on Etsy as far as copy righting issues are concerned, I see people selling prints and car decals and such all the time on there, and it seems all they do is credit the character to its franchise. I think you’d be good to sell these on the shop site (and I’d be a definite customer!)

  4. I am totally making one of these and using it as an “Elf on the Shelf” for my daughter. I feel like that will be amazing, and give her plenty to talk about in therapy down the road 🙂

  5. Good job but…These are not Barbies they are cheaper teen dolls. I think it is a good use for them. Barbies are a much better quality although if they are plyed with.op.shop dolls… why not. I collect Barbies. 🙂

  6. had you thought of getting some kind of putty or something to fill in the elbow cuts? I really love the looks of these and was thinking they would be hilarious to put into my friend’s kids doll house.

  7. I think I love you !!!! ——— what a great use for those *leftover * Barbies that just aren’t in good enough condition !!! ——– I have soo many pieces and parts this will be a craft for my Gran-daughter and I !! Thank you !

  8. Just wanted to let you know that next time…if there every is one, you can use boiling water to re-mold the arms into a different position. Basically you hold them in boiling water till they are flexible and then put them into the shape you want and hold them there while they cool off. When cool, it will hold the new shape. Cool idea though…maybe I should make a few and leave them around my daughter’s room. When she finds them she will freak…buahahahaha…oh..sorry.

  9. You have nothing to worry about, these aren’t real Barbie’s these are dollar store knock offs so your cool. lol and these are awesome.

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