virgo’s alchemy ultimate Tools & Supplies list!
Here it is! My comprehensive list of ALL the personal Tools, Supplies, Must Haves, and even “Wish List” items for Doll Eye Making, Doll Customizing, Sculpting, and Creative Studio Space!
Please know, some of these links and codes are “affiliate” meaning they will generate a small commission if you make a purchase - but TRUST me, these are things I personally use and stand behind 100%. Amazon is where I get the grand majority of my tools and supplies, and over the years I’ve managed to test out quite a few things. Not everyone will have the same experiences, and not all items are available in all regions of the world…and for that I’m so sorry! I will always try to provide alternative options if something isn’t available in your area.
I’ve divided this list into sections to make it easier to navigate and I’ll be updating and adding to this list regularly, so please be sure to keep it bookmarked and check back often 💗
Safety first! Always!
Nitrile Gloves
Glove up and save your hands from exposure to chemicals and other nasties. I keep these stocked always! https://amzn.to/3Ow4jSJ
Respirator!! MUST HAVE!
I cannot STRESS the importance of using a quality and appropriate respirator when working with certain products. I use the 3M6001 filters because they seem to work the best for me when I’m making larger batches of Resin Doll eyes using UV Resin. I also use this one when working with MSC and other chemicals that I want to keep OUT of my lungs! I cannot say for certain which one everyone should use, because everyone is different, but I will say, if you are to spend any time at all investing in anything to keep yourself protected… START HERE.
Multi Use Mask
When it comes to protection from Organic Vapors, I feel 3M products is the standard of quality I feel most comfortable with… however, there are some other ones out there that seem to work really well and are multi use. This one is good for multiple purposes and has a good rating. It’s just good to have a few options at your disposal.
https://amzn.to/3Ut7Gh9
Eye Protection - It’s always a good idea to have eye protection on, even though I don’t currently have a suggestion, don’t skip this one.
Fire Extinguisher
Rather need it and have it, then need it and not have it. You never know, and it’s just nice to have that extra level of “feel good” when it comes to working with chemicals that are known to be flammable like alcohol, acetone, resin etc… Always do your own due diligence in research, but I keep this extinguisher which handles Type B fires.
https://amzn.to/3UxWQX0
Acrylic Sanding Box
This box works wonders at keeping air particulates down while working. Whether your sanding Blythe Eye chips, Faceplates, or just working on something you want to protect from dust and debri, this box works great!! Small adjustments can be made so the box can also be helpful in reducing VOC’s and Solvent fumes in open airspace as well - but ALWAYS use Respirator when working with chemicals! Compact size, great for small spaces!
https://amzn.to/3Ow5Lop
Studio Organization & Comfort
Acrylic Riser/Organizer
As seen in my Studio Tour video, these acrylic risers are perfect for storing and organizing your small packs of polymer clay, holding your resin bottles, pigments, paints, pearlex mica powders, and more! https://amzn.to/3uoI1eT
Favorite Chair
This won’t work for everyone, but for me, this chair is my best friend!!! There is another version that has a back rest, but this one helps remind me to use my core strength while seated. I am a “Cross legged” sitter… meaning, I sit with my legs crossed and under me CONSTANTLY. This chair allows me to sit the way I prefer while giving me the support I need.
https://amzn.to/49lqYsT
Tools & Supplies you will need for All eye making -
regardless of type or style
Molds
To make eyes, you will want a good quality silicone mold. Whether you choose from my Virgo’s Alchemy Signature Molds or go with Cubeco or other molds, it will be a MUST to make the “Eye Base”. There are a HUGE variety of styles, shapes, and size combinations. There are some with flat bottom iris areas for digital printed irises, and some with concave iris areas for 3D texture/sculpting, and the list goes on. When I first designed my small scale eye base molds, there were no other options available. Now, things have changed, and there are way more options than what us “Old School” kids had “back in the day”. So consider yourself lucky!! 🥴 Always keep your molds clean, well oiled with a quality silicone oil to prolong life and flexibility, and store out of direct sunlight and extreme environmental conditions.
You can find a HUGE Variety of Molds in my online stores, including Etsy!
2 Part Epoxy Resin - Brilliant Resin from Little-Windows.com
This 2 part epoxy resin is one of the safest and BEST resins for casting eye bases. I use NO OTHER 2 part epoxy! It contains no VOC’s, no Solvents, and is CRYSTAL CLEAR. Take time to ensure proper mixing ratio and you will have beautiful non-yellowing, heat resistant eye bases that you, and/or your customers will LOVE! Self-Degassing, works beautifully with a Pressure Pot! Easy to mix, and even FOOD SAFE AFTER CURED! Plus, it’s made here in the USA!
Get a 15% Discount on ALL your orders, never expires, use again and again with code VIRGOS15 on Little-Windows.com
White and Black Colorant
You may want to make bases in a wide variety of colors, and if so, there are TONS of options when it comes to colorants…however, if you are making WHITE eye bases, you will want a quality WHITE pigment that you can depend on. Little-Windows offers both a white and black opaque pigment that is PERFECT for making eye bases.
Get a 15% Discount on ALL your orders, never expires, use again and again with code VIRGOS15 on Little-Windows.com
UV Resins - 2 of the BEST for Eye Making!
Padico and Qiao Qiao DIY UV Resin products are some of the best performing UV Resins for making the “domed lens” of resin doll eyes. Yes, you can use 2 part epoxy for this just as well. Padico has almost become an industry standard for UV Resin Eye Making. It’s a quality Japanese resin that is fast curing, durable, shiny, and VERY resistant to yellowing. Qiao Qiao DIY UV Resin is one of the only UV Resins that are known to be heat resistant after cured. It replaced a lot of OOAK Art Doll artist’s using Lisa Pavelka Magic Glos, due to it’s superior performance and resistance to polymer clay curing temperatures without yellowing, cracking, or shrinkage. YOU MUST BE CAREFUL WITH UV RESINS!! Always use in well ventilated space, and/or use an organic vapor respirator when working with it. Some people can be allergic to certain resins, so SAFETY FIRST!
You can purchase both of these quality resins in my online shops, including Etsy!
UV Resin Color Pigments
These, in my opinion, are the best colorants for UV Resin, and also work very well in 2 part epoxy resin such as Brilliant Resin from Little-Windows. These are transparent colorants, which create beautiful realistic colors for resin eye making. These colorants, when used correctly, do not inhibit the cure of UV Resin. You can use smaller or larger amounts depending on the depth of color you wish. However, if you use too much, it can inhibit the cure, so just always start off with a little, and work your way up as needed.
You can purchase the full line of Padico transparent “Jewel” pigments in my online Shops, including Etsy!
91% Isopropyl Alcohol
Great for removing residue from tools, cleaning brushes, glass surfaces, and other small cleanups. It’s a must have for me in my studio.
https://amzn.to/3HNqKzi
Pipettes
These will make your life so much easier when you go to fill your molds with either resin or plaster. They works beautifully!
https://amzn.to/482EQHA
UV/LED Lamp
If you are going to work with UV Resin, you will need a quality UV Lamp. Sunlight can work for some, but I find that to be hit or miss, and if it’s cloudy out one day, guess what? You can’t cure your resin properly 🥴 This is the lamp I use, it has more than enough power to cure UV Resin. It’s compact, lightweight, and gets the job done! It also fits nicely inside my acrylic sanding box (shown above).
https://amzn.to/3OxiHdA
UV Beast Flashlight
For quick curing/flash curing UV Resin. Always protect your eyes when using UV Light! This flashlight gives me the ability to quickly flash cure resin in place, so that I can then follow-up with a complete cure in my SUNUV lamp. It’s an invaluable tool in my eye making process.
https://amzn.to/48ZEvqd
Heat Gun
This particular heat gun is great, very nice and durable, plus dual heat settings. I use my heat gun to cure polymer clay, speed paint drying, release air bubbles from resin, and many other things. ALWAYS use extreme caution when applying heat to anything!
https://amzn.to/3St1vqJ
Magnifying Head Lamp with Light
These magnifying head lights seem to come and go on Amazon, but this one has all the stuff I look for in a magnifying light. I like that it does not use batteries… the one I currently have uses batteries and I’m sick of the expense of replacing them. I also like this because it comes with a head strap to keep them on my head/face while I’m looking down doing work. This one will be my next replacement, as it has all the features I love with my current one, only NO BATTERIES!!
https://amzn.to/42uc0OY
doll eye making - 3D Texture
PanPastel
These are quite honestly the BEST in terms of color saturation and smooth application. They glide onto raw clay and look absolutely fantastic under resin. They are also great for doing doll faceups. These can tend to be a bit more pricey, but a single pan will last you a VERY VERY VERY long time. To me, they are worth every penny, and I use them almost exclusively for making resin doll eyes and customizing dolls during face ups. Huge color selection available!
https://amzn.to/49jchGS
Gouache Paint Set
You have a TON of options when coloring your irises for Doll Eyes. Gouache is excellent for using on iris textures done in polymer clay. Slightly cure the clay with a heat gun, and your gouache paints will do very nicely. Remember, a LITTLE goes a LONG WAY! Allow to fully cure before doming!! Thin out with water for blending and color wicking into texture. This is a nice little set with a great selection of colors at a decent price point.
https://amzn.to/3SGLi2t
Polymer Clay
I mainly use FIMO SOFT clay for creating textured/sculpted irises as it is more flexible and softer and still holds intricate details very nicely. The colored clays are good for creating the darker limbal ring color for your eyes. I find using WHITE clay is best as it allows you to color it nicely with your pastels and other colorants.
https://amzn.to/4br5NYa
Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils
Simply the best I’ve ever used, these pencils might be a bit more costly, but worth every penny. Soft, smooth, glides onto sealed vinyl and plastic dolls with ease. Amazing color intensity, effortless application so you can focus on drawing and not the pencil performance. I’ve tried many brands, and Derwent Inktense is simply the best in my opinion.
https://amzn.to/488Aa2V
Craft Knife Set
You will need a good craft knife set with different blades for carving plastic doll faceplates, and to make certain textures for making the iris areas for eyes if you are using clay or putty.
https://amzn.to/42qNu1c
Carving Knives
This is a nice inexpensive set of carving knives that I find extremely useful for working on Blythe and Icy doll Faceplates. Particularly for the nose and certain areas of the lips. This set has a nice variety of blades for different needs.
https://amzn.to/49aCibM
Rotary Tool
You don’t necessarily need a rotary tool for customizing Blythe/Icy doll faceplates, but, they do make certain things easier, and in my opinion, help with those fine details. This is a nice, lightweight., cordless rotary tool. It charges via USB and has plenty of power to grind away! It also comes with multiple collets so that you can use other bits, because no set ever comes with “everything” we might need.
https://amzn.to/3OzXyiG
Blu Tack
I use this to hold my eyes in place while I work on them. It’s one of those “Got to haves” for working on small things that need to hold STILL!
https://amzn.to/49iBAJ9
Renaissance Wax Polish
This wax is excellent for polishing glass Blythe/Icy doll eye chips.
https://amzn.to/3w1c6Se
Cork “Stands”
I get asked all the time, “What’s that cookie looking thing you put your eyes on while working” hehehe… It’s just corks! Corks make nice little stands that hold onto small things like doll eyes while I’m working. Don’t want to use corks?? I have another option below…
https://amzn.to/494aN3I
Acrylic “Nail” Stands
This is one of the better ones, strong magnets hold the stands into place. Simply attach the eye to the stand using tac. Then work as you normally would. These are good for photo taking as well 👁️💗
https://amzn.to/3SOy3wY
Precision Tip Cotton Swabs
I try to use things that I can either reuse, or that I can dispose of that reduces the plastic problem. These applicators work really nicely for applying glue, resin sealants or coatings, and other applications.
https://amzn.to/49pojP9
Micro Detail Brushes
The type of brushes you use depend on a lot of different factors. Are you needing micro application for tiny irises less than 2mm? Then you will want something super tiny and precision. Just choose brushes that are very soft so that if you use it to apply pastel powders to raw clay or putty, it won’t disturb your work.
https://amzn.to/3SpgCBr
Nail Files
I use these to easily remove the paper from my Glass Cabochon Blythe Doll Eye Chips, as seen in my tutorials.
https://amzn.to/3UsQdFr
Digital Irises for Printing
Bob over at 6DogArtsCollage is one of the first, and only, digital artists on Etsy that I find myself going back to for quality digital iris designs. He was nice enough to create heart shaped pupil eyes for me a few years ago, and I hope those of you who have used those have enjoyed them too! He has an awesome selection, even some specifically for Blythe! Need help with printing? I got you covered there too, see below!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/6DogArtsCollage
Little-Windows PRO Printing Service!
Want high quality, high resolution, professional prints on resin friendly paper? Then Little-Windows is the answer! Send your digital files and let Fran do her magic! This works the best when you provide images in at least 300DPI or better. You must own the rights or licensing for any images you intend to use for commercial purposes. So check with your digital artist to be sure you know their terms of use!
Save 15% Using my code VIRGOS15 at checkout!
Ball Styluses
Ball stylus tools are a MUST for making 3D textured doll eyes. They help to create the “canvas” for your work by pressing down the clay into the iris area, create the limbal ring, and even the pupil area. Having a nice selection of ball styluses ranging from quite large to quite small, if not micro, is the ULTIMATE doll eye maker’s tools of choice!
You can find a nice set on my online stores, including Etsy! Or Check out these on Amazon! https://amzn.to/3Spinyx
Digital Caliper
Digital calipers are really handy to have so that you can accurately measure eye bases and irises, among other things while creating resin doll eyes, and/or other doll customizing projects.
https://amzn.to/42q5vwK
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sponges
I find that these work amazingly well for cleaning resin dolls and plastic dolls, doll parts, face plates. It will remove just about everything, so be sure when you use them, your intention is to ERASE. Always do a test spot, these are powerful and highly effective cleaning sponges. Only water required.
https://amzn.to/3HXuLkJ
Mr. Super Clear UV Cut FLAT
One of the most widely used flat matte sealants for doll customization. If you intend to use MSC, you MUST do so OUTSIDE and away from all people and pets. Be sure to wear an appropriate organic vapor respirator. There are water based alternatives, which I will share below… but MSC is one of the best for sealing face ups and body paint on vinyl and certain other plastic dolls.
https://amzn.to/49nNyBa
Vallejo Water Based Matte Varnish
This varnish is water based, and matte. It can be used in an airbrush, and evenly applied over certain plastics such as that used in Blythe/Icy dolls face plates. I have never attempted to use it on vinyl dolls, and do not recommend it for that.
https://amzn.to/3uqQQ8d
Cotton Gloves
These are excellent for when you are working on, or handling, your BJD, Blythe, or other dolls to keep them clean.
https://amzn.to/49jzFUE
time saving studio equipment
Ready to use Compact Pressure Pot
This is the pressure pot that is one of the main “Star Attractions” in my in-home studio. Meet California Air Tools’ 2.5 Gallon Pressure Pot! Small enough to be compact and fit in small creative spaces, large enough capacity to do a multi tiered bulk resin eye base casting batch. Comes ready to attach to your air compressor with no further hacks, adjustments, or customizations required to use with resin. I even use this to create my silicone molds. Works effortlessly, could NOT live without it!
https://amzn.to/3SpSyP4
Compact Air Compressor
This is the exact air compressor that I use with the pressure pot I use (shown above). It gives me the ability to use max PSI in my pressure pot for casting, at 60PSI and works great for my airbrush too!
iwata Eclipse Air Brush Kit
This is the airbrush I personally use, it works perfectly with my California Air Tools air compressor (shown above). Perfect for sealing doll faceups, and makeup effects.
Watch my Studio Tour video, and subscribe to see many of these tools, supplies, and equipment in action!
DISCLAIMER: This list is NOT to be used as a replacement for your OWN DUE DILIGENCE IN RESEARCH! Your personal safety and best interest is, and always will be, YOUR SOLE responsibility. These suggestions are based on my own personal experience, but it is up to you, the reader, to make sound decisions for yourself and your individual circumstances and needs. Purchases made using my affiliate links or codes will generate a small commission which helps me support the work that I do. All products, tools, and supplies shared here are subject to their own manufacturer’s guidelines, liabilities, and safety requirements.
