Great group on Yahoo search groups for "homemadelovedolls"
Silicone will stick to just about everything, and nothing sticks to silicone but more silicone. This silicone cannot be painted, color must be added when mixing. The silicone that works the best is GE Kitchen and Bath Silicone Rubber 1 Clear. This comes in a tube and is dispensed with a caulking gun.
VM&P naphtha, sold at hardware stores, is used to thin silicone and make it possible to add color. The less VM&P you add, the thicker your skin will be, this is best for the first coat. The more VM&P you add, the thinner your skin will be, this is best for your final coat. Colors used are acrylic craft paint sold at craft stores for about 50 cents each. Many different colors are available, including some that glow in the dark.
All 3 ingredients are mixed at the same time in a dixie cup using a craft stick (Popsicle sticks) found at craft stores. Use a new cup and stick every time you make a new batch of skin. When making a multi-colored toy, colors must be mixed in separate cups with silicone and thinner. Then both colors can be applied to the toy at the same time.
MAKING SKIN
When I make skin for my toys, I never measure the amounts of all three ingredients. This mixture is very forgiving and easy to do. I will give you an amount to start with, but after you make a few batches of skin you'll know why I don't measure the amounts.
First, add color. Squeeze the color in a dixie cup for about 1 second, about half a teaspoon. Then add VM&P thinner, just enough to cover the bottom of the cup, about 1 teaspoon. Use twice as much silicone, about 4 squeezes from the caulking gun.
MIXING SKIN
Stir well, this is very important. As you stir, scrape bottom and sides of cup. Scrape skin off both sides of craft stick and continue stirring for about 40 seconds or until everything is smooth and one color. The skin should have the consistency of a sticky creamy peanut butter.