How to Make a Miniature Hairbrush

What better accessory to add to your cabinet or dresser top than a hairbrush? Read on to find out how you can make one yourself.

Because of the materials this uses, I've added a second set of instructions in the off chance that you don't have or are unable to locate a baby brush or, if you decide you just prefer the looks of the other brush better. I found the first brush much easier to make than the second.

What You Will Need:

Baby Toothbrush (The ones that are rubbery and designed to slip onto your finger)
Air - Dry Clay, or Play Doh.
Glue or Double - Sided Tape.

How To Make It:

1. Take your clay or Play Doh and roll it into a long rod like shape. Break off any excess that is longer than two inches.

2. Shape the top of your brush into an oval - like shape. Pay careful attention to how thick you make this. You want it fairly thin and fairly flat in the back.

3. Break or cut off the excess handle of the brush to your desired length. Keep your scale size in mind while choosing the size of your handle.

4. Set aside and allow it to dry thoroughly.

5. Take your baby toothbrush and lay the dried hairbrush over it. Cut around the shape of the hairbrush top. (Alternately you can draw the shape out on paper and lay against the toothbrush. It might be a bit easier than working with the clay brush that has a tendency to shift as you cut.)

6. Glue the piece you cut from the baby toothbrush to the oval area of the hair brush. Allow to dry completely. All done!

The second type of brush is made with those plastic tabs that you often find on socks or clothing. These are the tabs that have a "T" shape at one end. This brush takes some skill and manual dexterity to make along with a great deal of patience.

What You Will Need:

Those Little Plastic Pieces That You Often Find Holding Tags On Clothing
Air - Dry Clay, or Play Doh.

How To Make It:

1. Take your clay or Play Doh and roll it into a long rod like shape. Break off any excess that is longer than two inches.

2. Shape the top of your brush into an oval - like shape. Pay careful attention to how thick you make this. You want it fairly thin and fairly flat in the back.

3. Break or cut off the excess handle of the brush to your desired length. Keep your scale size in mind while choosing the size of your handle.

4. Take your plastic pieces from the clothing that you collected and place them into the soft clay or Play Doh.

5. Cut the pieces to the desired size careful not to pull them out or to knock them over. (Alternately you can cut these pieces prior to adding them to the brush, but they will be harder to work with as they are very short.)

6. Adjust any pieces that were falling over as a result of your adding more pieces or your cutting them.

7. Let the clay or Play Doh dry thoroughly. All Done.

Now you can set these out on your dresser, in your cabinet or on the bathroom counter. Wherever you choose for them to call home in your scene.

Hints, Tips and Ideas:

* If you want a horse hair type of brush, try using paint brush bristles for your brush rather than the clothing tags or the baby toothbrush.

* If you want your brush to be the types that are coated in rubber, you can use the flat backside of the baby toothbrush rather than the Play Doh. Then simply glue your bristles on to the front in the manner as described above.