Need paint advice

[4Lindy]

OK...you creative folks have again inspired me....we have an old Barbie dollhouse, if you want to see a picture of the exact one I'm talking about here is the name, you can search it on ebay......1995 Barbie Dream House Victorian Style With Working Elevator........


Anyway, here is my question, if I remodeled it/customized it into a Monster High house for my daughter....what kind of paint would you use so that it will stick to the hard plastic and not chip off with play use????  Any ideas would be great!  Thanks all!

PS. I posted this in the Dollhouse forum, but no one has answered yet, so I figured I should ask in customs, with the "paint" experts!

[Lavender_Lace]

You'd need to do a quick sanding over the piece to rough up the surface, then prime it with a primer made for plastics, and then paint it.  Pretty much like what you'd do if you were painting cabinets if you want it to be able to stand up to being played with. 

[Maniah]

Ah memories. I used to have one of those when I was a kid!

[4Lindy]

Oh snap!  That sounds like a lot of work :-(  Any non-sanding options????

[Lavender_Lace]

You could do a test patch on the bottom with just the primer and paint and then a patch that was sanded lightly before priming.  Make sure you give the primer at least a day to cure properly, and then paint.  After about a week it should be pretty hard and you can test it out for durability at that point and decide if sanding the whole thing would be worth it or not.

The sanding doesn't need to be a very thorough job, just something to remove the sheen on the surface.  You're basically creating more surface area and texture for the paint to stick to.  I'd just get one of those spongy sanding blocks in a fine-ish (400?) grit since you have lots of small and raised areas to go over and run it all over it really quick. 

[MsGatamon]

Be aware that you will need to touch up your finished work as paint wears down os chips from play.  Also dont use any glossy paint.  I woul also try to incorperate fine sized glitter, its just fun and tends to have tsaying power.

[4Lindy]

Glitter sounds fun!  Is there paint that comes with that as part of it?  Or do you just add glitter to your paint?

[Maniah]

I have found that adding glitter to paint kills the sparkle. I add glitter to my sealer.

[4Lindy]

Such good tips everyone!  Will remember to add the glitter to a sealer! 

Now if someone would just come on and tell me "I have the best/simplest paint that you can spray on and it will NEVER chip, it will work perfectly for you" that would be awesome, lol!!!!

[pop-girl]

I've had good luck with Krylon for plastics. I've never customized a house but it works great for plastic chairs, tables and other home decor.
http://www.krylon.com/products/fusion_for_plastic/

[MsGatamon]

Glitter sounds fun!  Is there paint that comes with that as part of it?  Or do you just add glitter to your paint?

It is a matter of preference.  But I too would recomend adding it to your sealer.  Glitter paint tends to have a gell quality they them and thats not what I would recomend on a young girls doll house.  Plus if you buy it loose there are so many more colors  and grades of sizes available.  If you cant find the glitter color you like in art&craft stores then check out make-up stores.

[4Lindy]

Ooooh Pop-girl is that just spray on stuff, the Krylon?  Do you have to prime the plastic or sand it first????  That sounds like it might be more up my alley!

[pop-girl]

If you click on the link in my last post it will take you to the Krylon for plastics page.
It is a spray and doesn't require primer.

[4Lindy]

Ooooh!  Awesome Pop!!!  Ima gonna try that!!!!