{"id":283,"date":"2026-10-30T16:00:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T16:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/?post_type=podcast&p=283"},"modified":"2026-10-30T16:00:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T16:00:28","slug":"all-dolled-up-making-the-most-of-dkc-resources-to-customize-refurbish-and-display-collectable-dolls","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/podcast\/all-dolled-up-making-the-most-of-dkc-resources-to-customize-refurbish-and-display-collectable-dolls\/","title":{"rendered":"All Dolled Up!: Making the Most of DKC resources to Customize, Refurbish, and Display Collectable Dolls"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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An example of one of Opal’s 3D printed monster high shoes in two different sizes tests. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Transcript<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

(upbeat intro music)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Welcome to the Digital Creator Podcast, the show where we spotlight students working on cool digital projects.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0Ally, a consultant at the Digital Knowledge Center where we empower students to be digital creators. Today\u2019s guest made the most out of DKC resources to refurbish, customize, and display Monster High dolls.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0Hello, my name is Opal Johnston.\u00a0I’m\u00a0a studio art <\/a>and K through 12 education\u00a0<\/a>major. And my pronouns, any are fine. Graduation year, 2028.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0All right. So just to start off, can you tell us a little bit about the\u00a0project that\u00a0you’re\u00a0doing here at the\u00a0DKC? And you can talk about any of them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0Okay, perfect.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0It’s\u00a0up to you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah. Honestly,\u00a0kind of like\u00a0a vast majority. What I really like most about this space is\u00a0it’s\u00a0like\u00a0how like\u00a0versatile it is.\u00a0There’s\u00a0like a lot of things that you can do. And as an art major in particular, like for me, that’s just\u00a0like kind of like\u00a0a playground.\u00a0It’s like\u00a0really fun. And the main thing that I’ve kind of been working on, my most recent project, has\u00a0mainly revolved\u00a0around the 3D printer<\/a>.\u00a0That’s\u00a0kind of been like my pride and joy here, just because I feel like\u00a0it’s\u00a0like\u00a0kind of a\u00a0tool that\u00a0I’m\u00a0never really going to get to use again.\u00a0So\u00a0I feel like, you know,\u00a0live it up\u00a0while you can and get to know it as best as humanly possible. And\u00a0so\u00a0I’ve\u00a0been playing with that because, before college, I never touched one in my life.\u00a0So\u00a0I’ve\u00a0been making, like, those little pegboards\u00a0that like\u00a0IKEA<\/a> has. Yeah, I made some of those, but like miniature versions, because\u00a0I’m\u00a0really\u00a0into like\u00a0Monster High. And\u00a0so\u00a0I have like a, I have a collection going, but I\u00a0couldn’t\u00a0hang them in my dorm because\u00a0there’s\u00a0like, you can only use push pins. And\u00a0so\u00a0I thought these pegboards would be a great alternative. And\u00a0so\u00a0I was able to\u00a03D print\u00a0them and kind of play around with them. And I was able to\u00a0literally like\u00a0put\u00a0the little push pins into the wall with the holes in the pegboard. And\u00a0so\u00a0it worked pretty\u00a0good. And I was able to make some like makeshift shelves from that as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah,\u00a0that’s\u00a0awesome. I love when people come in to use\u00a03D\u00a0printer\u00a0for like\u00a0functional, like\u00a0functional things that are still\u00a0very creative. Can you talk a little bit\u00a0about like\u00a0how you first found yourself at the DKC?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0Honestly, it was through my FSEM<\/a>. I feel like\u00a0it’s\u00a0very common. Like I see it like all the time that\u00a0I’m in\u00a0here, especially in the fall when\u00a0it’s\u00a0like\u00a0everything’s\u00a0starting out that all the FSEMs are coming\u00a0in to\u00a0kind of tour the space. My FSEM in\u00a0fall\u00a0of\u00a0freshman\u00a0year was with Dr. Hubbard. I did\u00a0the\u00a0positive psychology one<\/a>, which was super fun.\u00a0Very like\u00a0laid back and chilled course. But part of that course was\u00a0basically introducing\u00a0us to\u00a0all of\u00a0our like resources on campus because that is like\u00a0a great way\u00a0to like I\u00a0don’t\u00a0know, just\u00a0be\u00a0positively involved with your space around you was\u00a0kind of like\u00a0the theme of the course. And\u00a0so\u00a0the DKC was one of them that we\u00a0toured\u00a0and that kind of introduced me to\u00a0the space. I think mainly where it is. I feel like\u00a0that’s\u00a0when you first come on campus,\u00a0you’re\u00a0like, where is everything? I know it exists, but where is it? And I think just knowing where it is,\u00a0like\u00a0I saw the equipment. I was\u00a0like,\u00a0I’m\u00a0going to be back here. And that was\u00a0kind of like\u00a0my\u00a0first like\u00a0intro to it. And then from there, like since\u00a0I’m\u00a0just a like genuinely creative person, like for me, it was like,\u00a0a no-brainer\u00a0that I would be back for some project of some sort.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah. So how did that kind of evolve for you? Like what did you start with at the DKC that now has\u00a0sort of like\u00a0as\u00a0you’ve\u00a0learned more skills, you just keep coming back.\u00a0Like what\u00a0was your first foray into this?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0My first was just like the general craft supplies, you know, using that for like\u00a0miscellaneous like\u00a0class projects. And then I eventually moved to doing the training for the 3D printer. because I had wanted to just experiment with it in general, but I remember having a project for my intro to SPED<\/a> class where we were\u00a0kind of talking\u00a0about different accessible tools. And I wanted to do mine on, oh wait, no, it\u00a0wasn’t\u00a0accessible\u00a0tools. I wanted to do it on accessible tools.\u00a0And in particular, I wanted to kind of like bridge the world of art and education.\u00a0And\u00a0so\u00a0I talked about like art accessibility tools.\u00a0So\u00a0a lot of painters or drawers that either don’t have limbs or don’t\u00a0have like\u00a0good movement of them actually use their mouth to paint.\u00a0And it’s really, really cool.\u00a0And\u00a0so\u00a0for my project, I\u00a0literally did\u00a0a time lapse of me painting with my mouth, but I had to 3D print like a knob that would hold the brush. And so it was like a knob that just went on the end of the\u00a0brush\u00a0and that would make it so I could hold it in my mouth. And so\u00a0that’s\u00a0what I\u00a03D printed. And that was like the\u00a0first like\u00a0project that I did\u00a0really here.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah, that’s really cool.\u00a0I feel like\u00a0that’s\u00a0something that\u00a0we’ve\u00a0been trying to highlight a lot more in the FSEM presentations is that we do have\u00a0sort of like\u00a0general crafting supplies. I feel like\u00a0that’s\u00a0a good\u00a0bridge into\u00a0sort of seeing\u00a0what else we have in the center. And I think\u00a0it’s\u00a0also cool that your first project was sort of also served a sort of function for accessibility and now kind of your more recent one. is again\u00a0sort of using\u00a0the 3D printer for problem solving. Have you always been interested\u00a0in like\u00a0displaying Monster High dolls? Like how did that, how did you\u00a0kind of get\u00a0into that as well?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0I think\u00a0that’s\u00a0been, that\u00a0one’s\u00a0been a long time coming. But\u00a0honestly\u00a0just living in the Fredericksburg area because the thrifting here is so good.\u00a0That’s\u00a0how I\u00a0get\u00a0my Monster High dolls.\u00a0They’re\u00a0so expensive reselling. And\u00a0so\u00a0I’ve actually locally been able to find, and I like actually like\u00a0refurbish\u00a0them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Okay, I was\u00a0gonna\u00a0ask.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah, so that’s kind of been like my main thing as\u00a0of\u00a0recent, I’ve always kind of been a collector. Like, toys\u00a0is\u00a0like my favorite thing to collect, but the Monster High\u00a0brand<\/a> in particular, as well as\u00a0a lot of\u00a0Lalaloopsies<\/a>, are like my 2 go-tos.\u00a0So those are\u00a0kind of like\u00a0growing\u00a0collection\u00a0in the corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yes. Well, now on pegboards.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0Exactly,\u00a0yeah.\u00a0It’s\u00a0perfect.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah, I see a lot of people using Monster High dolls for like, not just refurbishing, but also completely repainting. Is that something that you dabble in as well? Or is it mostly\u00a0sort of keeping\u00a0them as they are,\u00a0but,\u00a0fixing anything\u00a0that like\u00a0might have been damaged or anything like that?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0I do both. The world of customs<\/a> is very new to me. So\u00a0that’s\u00a0something\u00a0I’ve\u00a0also been using the DKC for.\u00a0So\u00a0I did the pegboards\u00a0actually because\u00a0I’m\u00a0working on a custom right now and I wanted to be able to like\u00a0display\u00a0the ones that I had. But I’m\u00a0definitely like\u00a0not a professional at it because there’s like just a lot of\u00a0niche\u00a0little like details and there’s different products that people recommend for like the face repaints. And\u00a0so\u00a0I’ve\u00a0kind of just\u00a0been like playing around with the one extra that I did have. But other than that, I do like to kind of keep them in their original condition because there’s like, you know, varying rarities of these dolls depending on like what generation, there’s three Monster High generations, G1, G2, G3, and G1 obviously is the rarest if it’s not the core crew. And\u00a0so\u00a0it’s\u00a0like, you\u00a0kind of get\u00a0into that area of, you know, when was this doll produced, how much of it was made? And that kind of like dictates, at least for me,\u00a0if\u00a0I will customize them or not.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah. And then with your being a, like an art major, do you feel like that sort of has also informed how you kind of approach that both with like redesigns and refurbishment. I\u00a0don’t\u00a0know if that makes sense.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0That does make sense. But\u00a0yeah, I think yes, because I think\u00a0I’m\u00a0a little more out there with my customs just because of like my art background. I feel like I want to use more materials for the outfit. I want to\u00a0kind of like\u00a0pile\u00a0things together. I want to experiment with different textures. I want\u00a0maybe the\u00a0face paint not to just be like a\u00a0normal like\u00a0redo.\u00a0Maybe I want her makeup to be a little more boom, you know, like things like that I feel like definitely have played a role in at least my understanding.\u00a0And\u00a0also\u00a0just like the\u00a0technical like\u00a0skills behind it. Like the doll’s\u00a0faces\u00a0are very tiny.\u00a0So\u00a0my background in painting is\u00a0very helpful\u00a0for\u00a0kind of like\u00a0navigating that. So that has\u00a0definitely been\u00a0an adjustment,\u00a0is\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0tiny space. I know people are really into miniatures, so\u00a0that’s\u00a0like another area where that skill\u00a0kind of comes\u00a0in handy. But for me,\u00a0it’s\u00a0like,\u00a0it’s\u00a0kind of a\u00a0skill that I already had like built.\u00a0It’s\u00a0just getting used to a different scale.\u00a0So\u00a0I think a lot\u00a0of\u00a0like that\u00a0has\u00a0been helpful.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah,\u00a0that’s\u00a0interesting too, because we have a lot of people come in to use the 3D printer to create miniatures.\u00a0So\u00a0I think it’s really interesting that you’re using yours to sort of display your\u00a0piece as well.\u00a0So\u00a0kind of going\u00a0back a little bit to the pegboards specifically, did you run into any challenges with the design of that? And did you find the design from a repository or like\u00a0kind of how\u00a0did you go about working out how exactly you wanted those to function for your project?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0So\u00a0I found the design online.\u00a0Like there’s\u00a0a bunch of\u00a0different like\u00a0places you can\u00a0look. And I\u00a0kind of like\u00a0circulate\u00a0through designs.\u00a0I’m\u00a0still new\u00a0to like\u00a03D modeling.\u00a0So\u00a0I\u00a0didn’t\u00a0feel quite comfortable with the scaling yet of making my own. But that is something that I want to work on, specifically with like shoe redesigns for the dolls. So that’s kind of something\u00a0I’m\u00a0working on.\u00a0I’m\u00a0in a makerspace class <\/a>right now for the COE. And\u00a0so\u00a0like\u00a0that’s\u00a0like my end project. And\u00a0I’ll\u00a0use like the\u00a03D printers and all there as well for that purpose.\u00a0But it was definitely, I think, a challenge.\u00a0even\u00a0once I found the model, my biggest problem that I had was\u00a0the scaling of\u00a0it. Because\u00a0it’s\u00a0really hard, at least for me, since\u00a0I’m\u00a0like a visual person, to\u00a0kind of like\u00a0visualize how\u00a0it’s\u00a0going to come out on the printer, like from computer to printer. And\u00a0I think I\u00a0was having\u00a0a hard time\u00a0with that. I was able to get the boards the size that I wanted them to be.\u00a0But when it came to the shelves, I actually like printed them out too small, and I had to like scratch that idea completely.\u00a0And\u00a0so\u00a0I ended up only using the stands for the shelves in the end and just got little pieces of wood that I\u00a0kind of put\u00a0on. So\u00a0yeah, I think something\u00a0that’s\u00a0something in the future\u00a0I’d\u00a0like to kind of have more of a grasp on is, scaling it in the actual slicing program <\/a>and how it translates to the actual printer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah, and\u00a0that’s\u00a0something\u00a0too that\u00a0like, I find a lot of projects with the 3D printer have some\u00a0aspect\u00a0of trial and error with them. You obviously, like, especially when\u00a0you’re\u00a0trying to connect things, make sure that\u00a0different features\u00a0will fit together and like\u00a0join\u00a0in that way.\u00a0That’s\u00a0like,\u00a0that can be\u00a0very difficult. So\u00a0similarly\u00a0to like\u00a0challenges, what do you think has been the most rewarding aspect of this? Like is it having it physically? Is it the process of learning how to\u00a03D design and print?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0I mean, I\u00a0think when I think of that question, I think of more of the DKC as a whole.\u00a0Like I\u00a0don’t\u00a0kind of zone in on specific projects. I kind of focus\u00a0on like\u00a0what\u00a0has the DKC like\u00a0done for me\u00a0and like\u00a0what kind of space has it provided? Because for me,\u00a0it’s\u00a0not necessarily like the project outcomes.\u00a0It’s\u00a0more of the experimentation, which I feel like a lot of artists will\u00a0kind of back\u00a0me in that statement. But like being able to have a space where I can kind of have this freedom to play around with things has kind of like, one, gets you out of your dorm.\u00a0You got to\u00a0have something to do. And I think that for\u00a0me\u00a0has been rewarding\u00a0and also\u00a0focuses\u00a0on like\u00a0my own personal interests outside of the classroom. And I think\u00a0that’s\u00a0like\u00a0kind of a\u00a0balance that\u00a0I’ve\u00a0struggled with a lot. I think a lot of other students do too. And\u00a0so\u00a0I think That’s really what the reward is to me is\u00a0I’m\u00a0like,\u00a0I’m\u00a0out here doing something.\u00a0I’m\u00a0learning a new skill. And\u00a0also\u00a0people don’t even realize, but while things 3D print, you can work on homework, which is what I often do. I\u00a0kind of just\u00a0like, it gives me\u00a0a focus\u00a0and a safe zone.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah, for sure. And I think a lot of people\u00a0don’t\u00a0realize like\u00a0that you can come here and do personal projects, right? Which I know\u00a0that\u00a0we try to push in the FSEM presentations and appointments and things like that is anything you can come into the DKC for anything, whether\u00a0it’s\u00a0for an academic project or just for something you want to do for yourself.\u00a0We’re\u00a0a resource for students. So\u00a0yeah, so I so back to\u00a0kind of your\u00a0like involvement with the center as well.\u00a0Like, do\u00a0you have any thoughts? I know you mentioned like\u00a0you’re\u00a0in the makerspace class and\u00a0you’re\u00a0kind of\u00a0work\u00a0towards like the 3D printing the shoes.\u00a0Like, do\u00a0you have an idea for what sort of your next project is going to be? Or like, are you still planning\u00a0to like\u00a0continue\u00a0on?\u00a0with\u00a0the pegboards in\u00a0a different way?\u00a0Like how\u00a0are you\u00a0kind of seeing\u00a0the future of the projects here?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0I think with the pegboards, now that I transferred to the wooden shelves, I do want to stain them, but\u00a0I’m\u00a0also\u00a0kind of wondering\u00a0if I want to make two more pegboards so I can connect\u00a0them as\u00a0like one big block. Because I have two right now, so if I\u00a0kind of connect\u00a0them all together,\u00a0it’d\u00a0be like one big.\u00a0So\u00a0I’m\u00a0kind of considering\u00a0that along with staining the wood. But I think\u00a0mainly right\u00a0now, as I have the time, my biggest project is going to be for that class designing the shoes. Because I\u00a0kind of came\u00a0up with that idea because 3D modeling is something I want to learn how to do. But\u00a0also\u00a0because when I thrifted this doll, she\u00a0didn’t\u00a0have any shoes. And\u00a0so\u00a0she’s\u00a0the one that\u00a0I’m\u00a0customizing. And\u00a0so\u00a0I want to\u00a0kind of recreate\u00a0a model\u00a0that’s\u00a0her original shoe design. And so that’s\u00a0kind of my\u00a0goal. And I think going forward,\u00a0that’ll\u00a0be what I focus on, because I think that\u00a0one’s\u00a0going to take the most like time and attention to detail. Because right now I have enough dolls where the shelves\u00a0aren’t\u00a0like a problem. Like I have spaces for each of them as of currently.\u00a0So\u00a0I think, I\u00a0don’t\u00a0know, it might be a future semester problem for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah. And I know\u00a0that like\u00a0Monster High shoes specifically are very intricate, like as well as like most of the other accessories that like\u00a0come\u00a0with those dolls.\u00a0So\u00a0I can\u00a0definitely see\u00a0it being\u00a0very challenging\u00a0to\u00a0sort of work\u00a0out those intricacies in like\u00a0a digital\u00a0modeling software. But\u00a0that’s\u00a0very exciting. But like\u00a0that’s\u00a0the next thing\u00a0because,\u00a0she needs some shoes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0I know\u00a0that’s\u00a0what\u00a0I’m\u00a0saying.\u00a0I’m\u00a0like,\u00a0a girl needs her stilettos.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yes. And I mean, I feel like too, like stylistically Monster High dolls like\u00a0have\u00a0that vibe to them that like they should be in a shoe.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0Like,\u00a0Oh\u00a0no,\u00a0yeah, she is that queen. She is that diva.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah,\u00a0it’s\u00a0like Barbie can get\u00a0away,\u00a0I feel\u00a0like, with\u00a0not having shoes.\u00a0Maybe that’s\u00a0controversial.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abby<\/strong>: No, I agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0No,\u00a0yeah, she can do it.\u00a0She’s\u00a0meant for like the, I\u00a0don’t\u00a0know,\u00a0that’s\u00a0the dolls I always played with growing up. Well, obviously Monster High too. But I\u00a0don’t\u00a0know, I would always lose the shoes, so maybe\u00a0that’s\u00a0on me.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Exactly. But I feel like Monster High, you need to like\u00a0complete\u00a0the look.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abby<\/strong>:\u00a0At my house, we have a little bucket of just like singular shoes where the other one has gone missing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>: That’s\u00a0so funny. Yes. Can relate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abby<\/strong>: Like the hope that someday\u00a0we’ll\u00a0find the other because we never got rid of the other one.\u00a0So.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0 And I feel like that’s\u00a0kind of the\u00a0eternal struggle of doll shoes is, where do they go?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0You never know.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0New\u00a0project for me, maybe?\u00a0Figuring that\u00a0out\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0Maybe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abby<\/strong>: The dryer sock.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0The dryer sock, the Barbie shoe. The like last\u00a0piece of a puzzle,\u00a0of a jigsaw puzzle.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0It’s\u00a0like, I feel like we just need one bucket. We can collectively sort out. Like this is the “I lost the piece” bucket.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Exactly, So\u00a0I think that that’s really\u00a0cool to\u00a0kind of incorporating\u00a0all the other aspects of doing a customized doll that honestly, a lot of the tools we have here at the DKC could help with. I mean, we have sewing machines.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0I know,\u00a0yeah, that one\u00a0I’m\u00a0excited\u00a0as well, because I do\u00a0sew.\u00a0So\u00a0embroidery and sewing\u00a0is\u00a0like\u00a0a big thing\u00a0that I do. And\u00a0so\u00a0I’m\u00a0kind of excited\u00a0for\u00a0that. at least from an outfit perspective for the customs, but\u00a0that’s\u00a0something I also\u00a0have to\u00a0figure out. But the big challenge\u00a0I’m\u00a0kind of like\u00a0still\u00a0pondering on\u00a0about the shoes is the flexibility of them. I feel like a lot of people\u00a0don’t\u00a0realize, but the doll shoes\u00a0can’t\u00a0be\u00a0made out of\u00a0pure PLA<\/a> because it\u00a0won’t\u00a0actually glide\u00a0in.\u00a0So\u00a0it’s\u00a0like I\u00a0have to\u00a0either\u00a0purchase\u00a0a more flexible filament, which are available, or kind of figure out how do I fit the shoe with the PLA. So that’s\u00a0kind of like\u00a0what\u00a0I’m\u00a0going on to now is because the foot of the doll is naturally curved. And\u00a0so\u00a0it’s like, I have to think about that, which can be challenging with the amount of detail of the original shoe.\u00a0So\u00a0yeah.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0And\u00a0I’m\u00a0also like\u00a0curious\u00a0about with\u00a0that, I\u00a0don’t\u00a0remember are, Monster High feet articulated at all or is it just the legs?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0No,\u00a0they’re\u00a0not articulated.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0So,\u00a0not\u00a0a lot of wiggle room there.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0That’s\u00a0why\u00a0it’s\u00a0like it\u00a0can’t\u00a0be the PLA. It’s like it has to slide like right in.\u00a0So\u00a0I almost feel\u00a0like if\u00a0I start with a base.\u00a0So\u00a0when you kind of do your digging, I do\u00a0digging\u00a0quite often, but there’s bases that actually mold to the bottom of the doll’s feet already. Then like maybe if I\u00a0build\u00a0off of that, I’d have a shot.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah, because I was curious too if like on some of the 3D design repositories<\/a>,\u00a0maybe\u00a0someone’s\u00a0done something similar that you could like\u00a0work\u00a0off of.\u00a0and kind of make your own in that same way.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0I feel like that might have to be the go-around, but then\u00a0I’m\u00a0really going to have to learn how to understand scaling, because then it\u00a0comes,\u00a0I would still slide it.\u00a0have\u00a0to slide the foot in and it wouldn’t be flexible enough.\u00a0So\u00a0I’d have to actually increase the base size and then build around that.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Right.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0So\u00a0that’s\u00a0the weird part.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah, and\u00a0that’s\u00a0I think too where trial and error\u00a0comes\u00a0in again. Like\u00a0you’re\u00a0gonna\u00a0be making a lot of doll shoes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0And\u00a0that’s\u00a0okay.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0And then you can\u00a0maybe use\u00a0that for another project, you know, like\u00a0make\u00a0a necklace of all your failed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0That’d\u00a0be so cute as earrings.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0We’re\u00a0on to something.\u00a0We’re\u00a0on to a business idea.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0I’m\u00a0sold-\u00a0sharks\u00a0today.\u00a0Yeah, okay, great. Do you have anything\u00a0you’d\u00a0like to add before we ask our final question?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>: No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>: Wonderful. Well, then we have one more question for you today.\u00a0And you have kind of answered it a little bit, but just for our egos, would you recommend other people come to the DKC and utilize all of our resources here?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0Yeah, I did kind of,\u00a0yeah, I know what\u00a0you’re\u00a0saying.\u00a0I did answer\u00a0this. Yes, I would definitely\u00a0recommend. I feel like it is a great resource. And as someone\u00a0who’s\u00a0like constantly crafting, constantly doing things, like\u00a0save\u00a0yourself that money.\u00a0Like this\u00a0is in our tuition. It has resources that I feel like, I\u00a0don’t\u00a0know,\u00a0I’m\u00a0kind of in\u00a0the group of people\u00a0that’s\u00a0like, okay,\u00a0we’re\u00a0paying for this and at some\u00a0point\u00a0we’re\u00a0gonna\u00a0lose it.\u00a0So\u00a0use it while\u00a0it’s\u00a0here. And\u00a0so\u00a0I feel like that is definitely something to learn from. And\u00a0there’s\u00a0never anything You should be scared about when,\u00a0encountering\u00a0like a new material, a new piece of equipment.\u00a0Like I\u00a0feel like\u00a0it’ll\u00a0just teach you\u00a0different ways\u00a0to approach things. And I feel like\u00a0that’s\u00a0just a valuable life lesson either way.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yes,\u00a0And\u00a0building transferable skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opal<\/strong>:\u00a0Yes, this is great for jobs people.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>:\u00a0Yes. All right. Well, thank you so much for coming in and talking with us today. I\u00a0can’t\u00a0wait to see\u00a0kind of where\u00a0you go with this shoe project and how you,\u00a0like,\u00a0refurbish\u00a0these dolls and customize them. Yes. Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(upbeat outro music) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ally<\/strong>: This\u00a0has been\u00a0the Digital Creator Podcast.\u00a0\u00a0You can\u00a0find a\u00a0transcript of our conversation\u00a0and more\u00a0about this project\u00a0below.\u00a0This podcast was produced\u00a0and edited\u00a0by me,\u00a0Ally\u00a0Hamilton,\u00a0with help from\u00a0Angela Payne, Abby Firestone,\u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0the\u00a0resources at the Digital Knowledge Center.\u00a0Are you interested in becoming a digital creator? Do you have a cool project you want to share? Go to dkc.umw.edu<\/a> for information on how to get started!\u00a0Thank you for listening!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information on all of the resources available at the Digital Knowledge Center visit the DKC site<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Transcript (upbeat intro music) Ally:\u00a0Welcome to the Digital Creator Podcast, the show where we spotlight students working on cool digital projects.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0Ally, a consultant at the Digital Knowledge Center where we empower students to be digital creators. Today\u2019s guest made the most out of DKC resources to refurbish, customize, and display Monster High dolls.\u00a0 Opal:\u00a0Hello, my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":307,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/Opal-podcast-episode.mp3","transcript_file":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/opal-transcript.pdf","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/Opal-Cover-resized.png","cover_image_id":"307","duration":"00:19:42","filesize":"45.08M","filesize_raw":"47264913","date_recorded":"2026-03-09","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":""},"tags":[],"series":[2],"class_list":["post-283","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","series-the-creators-podcast"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/Opal-Cover-resized.png","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/Opal-Cover-resized.png","download_link":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/podcast-download\/283\/all-dolled-up-making-the-most-of-dkc-resources-to-customize-refurbish-and-display-collectable-dolls.mp3","player_link":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/podcast-player\/283\/all-dolled-up-making-the-most-of-dkc-resources-to-customize-refurbish-and-display-collectable-dolls.mp3","audio_player":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/podcast-player\/283\/all-dolled-up-making-the-most-of-dkc-resources-to-customize-refurbish-and-display-collectable-dolls.mp3<\/a><\/audio>","episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"podcast_addict":{"key":"podcast_addict","url":"","label":"Podcast Addict","class":"podcast_addict","icon":"podcast-addict.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/dkc.umw.edu\/creatorspod\/feed\/podcast\/the-creators-podcast","embedCode":"

All Dolled Up!: Making the Most of DKC resources to Customize, Refurbish, and Display Collectable Dolls<\/a><\/blockquote>