Customize a My Little Pony

My Little Ponies that are in bad condition can be picked up at yard sales everywhere, and you can revamp your pony, restore it, or make it into your own special pony. Anyone who likes or collects My Little Pony figures would love to have their own custom pony on display.

Steps

  1. Choose your pony carefully. Ponies that have been drawn on, are going bald, or whose decals have worn off are good custom bait. If your pony is in fair to good condition, check to see that it is not collectible. Certain original My Little Ponies, like Baby Sugarberry, or Grand Champions are worth quite a lot. Others, like the original Applejack or Blossom are very common. Knockoffs or 'fakies' e.g. Lanard toys are good for practicing on.
  2. Choose a design and color theme for your pony. If you just want to restore it, touch up the design and eyes with paint.
  3. To re-hair the pony you will need to remove it's head. The glue will fail with heat and water so soak the pony in hot water. With time and patience the head should come off. Use a blunt blade like a smooth table knife. If this doesn't work try thick sewing thread soaked in acetone to saw at the neck seam. Personally I would never deliberately cut the plastic around the neck area. Older My Little Ponies (G1, G2) are easier to work with, newer versions and knockoffs have stronger glue (G3, g4, Fakies) and you may *have* to cut through the vinyl to get the head off.
  4. Once the head is off you can take the opportunity to scrub the pony outside and in to remove muck and rust if necessary. A vinegar soak can be used to remove rust stains inside the body. Toothpaste is a good cleaner. Bleach can fix stains and damage ponies so you should use another disinfectant such as Savlon in water if necessary to remove mold. To prevent mold in future make sure the pony is bone dry before putting head back on.
  5. Remove the ponies hair by grabbing the roots with the pliers, and pulling them out through the neck. On newer ponies, you may need to cut the hair off first. If you want to use the pony's original hair, take rubber bands and tie off small pieces. If you have other hair, discard or save the hair for another pony, Dolly Hair, KatSilk® or Saran hair works especially well when you are replacing hair.
  6. Remove the tail with the pliers and set aside the metal ring. If the ring is missing, you can replace it with a fat plastic cable tie which also prevents future rusting. If you want a new design, remove the old one with Grunge Off. It will also remove many stains that your pony may have. If you want to repaint the eyes, you can remove them, or just paint over them. If you dye your pony's head, you will need to repaint the white of the pony's eyes.
  7. You can dye your pony's head and body with Rit dye. You only need enough to cover both the head and body, but you can also make your final color darker or lighter by adding more or less dye. You can also try other dyes, even natural ones like coffee or juice. Match your shade to the original color of your pony, if your pony is yellow, blue dye will give you a green pony. Dye the head and body at the same time, or they will not match. You can also dip your pony into different color dyes, or at different levels to make more interesting looks. Let your pony dry while you prepare the new hair.
  8. Take the original or new hair that you will use. Snip thin sections, a millimeter or less thick and several inches long, and tie knots into the ends. Smear a little Modge Podge or craft glue onto the ends and stick to a newspaper to dry. When you have about 100, you are ready. Some ponies take up to 150, so count the pairs of holes and make a few extra.
  9. Take a piece of thin wire about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} long and fold it double. This is your hair threader. Open the holes in the head with the tack or needle, then insert the ends of the wire into the hole from the inside. Pull a strand of hair through the hole with the wire. When the hair reaches the glue knot, it will stay in place. Alternate hair colors every other hole for a mixed look, or every ten holes for a striped look. When all the hair is in, smear glue onto the seams inside the pony's head to hold it in place. Take a chunk of hair for the tail and tie a knot in the middle. Use the wire or thread to pull the tail through the metal ring, and insert the tail into the body.
  10. Repaint your pony's eyes. You can add gems to make your own Twinkle Eyes Pony, or give her thick lashes and a realistic iris.
  11. Repaint a design on your pony that compliments her new colors. You don't have to restrict yourself to where the old design was, take the design down her legs, all over, or put a smaller version of it on her forehead. Glue your pony's head onto her body after her paint is dry. Let her sit for several days before playing with her. If you want to add other decorations, save the head for last.

Customizing a new my little pony from Friendship is Magic

  1. Remove the head by twisting it to face the tail. Pull. Soon the head should pop off with ease.
  2. Remove the knob by making small incisions around the knob. Use a panel remover to pull it out.
  3. Remove the tail by pushing it in until a gleam of metal comes into the neck hole. use tweezers to pull it out.
  4. Shave the pony. Try to get every hair off her head.
  5. Paint the pony's body with the desired color model paint. Let it dry.
  6. Mask off the eyes with painters tape. Paint the head with the desired color model paint.
  7. Paint a new cutie mark.
  8. Re-root the tail.
    • Use krazy glue and glue some Katsilk hair onto your new pony. Dye the hair first.
  9. Reattach the knob. Use krazy glue to glue it back in place.
  10. Reattach the head.
  11. Done. You have a beautiful new custom pony.

Tips

  • If her hair seems dirty, wash and rinse it gently, then let it dry before you glue the head back on.
  • Don't stop with paint, use glitter or gems as accents on your pony. To give her piercings, take small metal rings or sewing pins with round metal heads. Insert the needles and rings, using the tack or embroidery needle, into her ears, nose, or wherever else you would like to pierce your pony.
  • Add a cutie mark to reflect your ponies personality.
  • Add Sculpey or other modeling agent to change the look of your pony. Give her tiny wings, or turn her into a dragon.
  • Make jewelry for your pony with small rings linked for chains, hemp cords, and beads and buttons.
  • Sew clothes or a saddle for her to wear.
  • Add glittery strands to her hair before inserting.
  • Add ribbons to her mane and tail, or wrap strands of her hair in thread.
  • In older ponies, the hair may be dry, frizzy, or dull. Pour liquid fabric softener into a shallow bowl and soak the pony's hair for about 20 minutes. Make sure all the hair is completely covered. Wash out fabric softener thoroughly with cool water, then comb gently with a wide-tooth comb.
  • Maybe you can make your favourite pony! You choose!
  • You can put some sparkly things in her hair and make accessories such as paper bags!
  • Dye its hair with the color you like to make it special.
  • Before you paint, use nail polish remover to remove the eyes and cutie mark, and all markings on the toy.
  • Put a coat of clear nail polish on the pony to seal in your work.

Warnings

  • Grunge Off should be used in a well ventilated space, wear gloves and wash your hands after using.
  • If you aren't sure if you have a valuable pony, ask a collector or check eBay. Some originals in good condition can get you a nice payment, while custom bait ponies are usually under a dollar.
 *If you are using painting ponies with acrylics, make sure you use some sort of seal to keep it from peeling.
  • This is a messy and time consuming project, make sure you have time and space.

Things You'll Need

  • A My Little Pony doll
  • An exacto knife or other sharp blade
  • Pliers
  • Krazy Glue or other strong glue
  • Grunge Off
  • Paint and paint brushes
  • Rit dye or other fabric dye
  • Plastic bowl and spoon
  • Modge Podge or other craft glue
  • Old newspapers or drop cloths
  • Thumbtack or embroidery needle
  • Thin wire
  • Replacement hair such as wig hair or doll hair
  • Gems, beads, thread, ribbons, cloth, stickers, or any other decorations that you would like to see on your pony

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