26 Painted Precious Moments (Altered Moments Trend)
by: Chica
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Precious Moments collectible figurines have been beloved by many for years, but a new trend has artists and crafters altering them, giving them a whole new look.
With painted clothes, new faces, and new props, these dolls are transformed into something totally new. We jumped on board the trend and kick-started the Altered Moments hobby.
Just search your favorite social platforms for #alteredmoments and you'll see a treasure trove of creations by us and our amazing Altered Moments community.
How this trend started
The first Precious Moments alterations we could find came from the hands of The Precious Mutator (Keith Busher), who wanted to repurpose some thrift store finds into craft projects with his kids in the early 2010s. His creations can get quite creepy and dark, but that's part of his artistic style that makes his pieces truly unique.
We've seen a few casual Precious Moments modifiers around since then, but the art form gained new life recently when Molly at @goodgollygal had a similar epiphany — she spotted two dolls on a thrift store shelf and saw the potential to turn them into a spooky-cute Halloween scene.
When we saw the popularity grow, we were so smitten that we couldn't help but participate ourselves with Halloween and Thanksgiving altered figurines.
Soon after, we coined the name "Altered Moments" and the hashtag #alteredmoments and there's been no stopping us (or the rest of the internet) since!
We've got many more altered Precious Moments ideas up our sleeves, so keep en eye on our Precious Moments Playlist on TikTok and be sure to follow @chicaandjo so you don't miss any new ones.
We also have a huge "Altered Moments" Facebook Group where we have built a community of artists who share their inspiration, ideas, and finished works.
Tips for altering Precious Moments
You can alter your figurines with the most basic craft supplies, and we've curated a collection in our Altered Moments Amazon Storefront.
We also have a whole series of tutorials available in our Video Library on Patreon, including a great "Getting Started" video and many in-depth tutorials showing tools and techniques.
VIDEO: How to Get Started with Altered MomentsWhere to buy Precious Moments cheap
While there are still plenty of Precious Moments figurines that are still of great value (both monetary and emotional), the market is pretty flooded with common pieces that you can find for as under $10.
Here are 6 sources for Precious Moments
- Scour your local thrift stores and you might get lucky. Let the clerks know what you're looking for, and they might be willing to give you a call if they get a box full of donations.
- Our "Altered Moments Market" Facebook Group has several former collectors who are currently offering their unwanted pieces at very reasonable prices. Join and browse what's available.
- Facebook Marketplace is a great way to find people looking to sell collections they inherited or just don't want anymore. If the stars align, you might even find someone willing to sell them in bulk just so they don't have to list them individually.
- eBay is a great source for inexpensive figurines, especially if you're looking for a particular one.
- Ask friends and family if they have pieces they're willing to part with. Just be sure to be up front about your intentions so you don't upset them when they see the results!
- Estate sales are a great place to find large collections, usually at a great price.
More about painted Precious Moments
If you have more questions about our painted Precious Moments, check out our Altered Moments FAQ or join the growing community in our "Altered Moments" Facebook Group and our Patreon community.
Chica's Altered Moments Creations
I am obsessed with altering Precious Moments, and Jo and I love coming up with new ideas! Here are the figurines I have altered so far:
1 Monica's Thanksgiving turkey head from Friends
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This is my favorite Precious Moments alteration yet. I started with "You Have Touched So Many Hearts", painted her clothes, added plenty of Friends mementos on the bottom, and then covered her face with a giant turkey. Watch our short TikTok video or our longer YouTube video to see how I did it.
2 Ralphie from A Christmas Story
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My recreation of Ralphie in his iconic pink bunny suit was a challenge, but the "Help Lord, I'm in a Spot" figurine was the perfect starting point. I made the PJs out of clay and created the accessories with my 3D printer. Watch our TikTok video to see more.
3 Halloween witch and jack-o-lantern
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Inspired by Halloween, I dressed the girl in "A Mother's Love is a Warm Glow" as a witch, complete with pointy hat, then covered the candle with a grinning pumpkin. Watch our TikTok video to see how I did it.
4 Grinch and Max with Who Feast
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I wanted to create a Grinch-themed piece for Christmas, and the "Wishing You a Ho Ho Ho" figurine with a boy in a Santa suit and a dog was the perfect starting point. I added a Grinch-y face and tons of accessories to bring the Who feast to life. Watch our TikTok video to see how I did it.
5 Willy Wonka
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Inspired by the new Wonka movie, I outfitted the "God Bless America" figurine with Wonka's signature purple hat and brown coat, and surrounded him with Wonka Bars and an edible candy garden. Watch our short TikTok video or our longer YouTube video to see how I did it.
6 Indiana Jones
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As longtime fans of 80s action movies, it was an easy decision for us to immortalize Indiana Jones in some way, and the positioning of the "A Mother's Love is a Warm Glow" figurine was perfectly suited for the classic idol swap scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Watch our TikTok video to see how it all came together.
7 Bachelorette party
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When we saw the hugging girls in "That's What Friends Are For", we couldn't help but see it as a maid of honor holding back the bride's hair after a raucous bachelorette party. Projectile vomit and red Solo cups and the stage was set! Watch our TikTok video to see the evening unfold.
8 Girl on toilet
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The squatted position of Where Would I Be Without You" instantly made us think of a toilet and we just couldn't help transforming the stool into a porcelain throne. Watch our TikTok video to see how it came together.
9 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
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How could we resist creating an homage to one of our favorite couples, Taylor and Travis? We used two different figurines to create this piece: "Easter's On Its Way" gave us Travis and the base, and Taylor came from "Be You and the Rest is Cool". Watch our TikTok video to see the drastic changes.
10 Lucky Charms
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The rainbow and pot of gold in "Dreams Really Do Come True" was all the inspiration we needed to create a PM version of the Lucky Charms leprechaun, and honor one of our favorite cereals. Watch our TikTok video to see the transformation.
11 Mr. T
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The weightlifting boy in "Believe the Impossible" was the perfect start to honor our favorite body building icon from the 80s — Mr. T. Watch our TikTok video to see how we created his iconic look.
12Jeff Probst from Survivor
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It was an easy decision to immortalize Jeff Probst from our favorite TV show, Survivor. Removing the dog in the original "Praise the Lord Anyhow" piece left the perfect spot for a Tribal Council fire and all the iconic accessories that are part of the show. Watch our TikTok video to see this figure transform into the host we all know and love.
13Sophia Petrillo from Golden Girls
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The purse on the original "Loving, Caring, and Sharing Along the Way" piece inspired me instantly to create a Sophia Petrillo, complete with beaded purse and directional signs pointing the way to her most iconic cities. Watch our TikTok video to see how I added the beads and made the glasses for this saucy little lady.
14Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes
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The sign in the original "I Will Love You All Ways" made a perfect canvas for a giant Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes check for Ed McMahon to hold. When we added our curler-covered winner (made from "Mommy I Love You") and a handmade Prize Patrol van, the scene was set. Watch our TikTok video to see all the tiny details get created and added.
15Smokey and the Bandit
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When we saw the original "Wishing You Roads of Happiness" figuring, we considered famous newlyweds before realizing that the runaway bride scene from "Smokey and the Bandit" would be even better! Our little Burt Reynolds is all decked out in his finest, with Frog by his side, and they're east bound and down in his Pontiac Firebird TransAm (complete with Firebird hood decal). Watch our TikTok video to see the transformation on this iconic couple.
16Kamala Harris
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When we saw the pose of the original "Sharing is Universal" piece, we knew right away who she was destined to become. Watch our TikTok video to see how the hair and accessories came together.
17Spooky Halloween Wreath
When I received a box full of broken Precious Moments figurines in the mail, I had to stretch my creativity to come up with a way to still use the parts. The result was a horror-inspired wreath perfect for Halloween decor. Watch our TikTok video to see how it all came together.
18Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes
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I am obsessed with Little Debbie's Christmas tree cakes and eat more than my fair share every December. I used the piece "Seek and Ye Shall Find" to create my own Little Debbie, with a shopping back overflowing with delicious snack cakes. Watch our TikTok video to see how I created all the details, including the plaid shirt, mini boxes, and tiny snack cakes.
19Daniel and Johnny from The Karate Kid
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With the Cobra Kai series renewing interest in the original Karate Kid, I wanted to pay tribute to the final championship match scene in the original 1984 movie. I used "God's Speed" to create Johnny and "You Deserve an Ovation" to create Daniel. Watch our TikTok video to see the significant cutting involved to create Daniel's Crane Kick pose.
20Mr. Miyagi
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I couldn't leave Daniel-San without his mentor, so I created a Mr. Miyagi from the piece "Money's Not the Only Green Thing Worth Saving", complete with accessories needed to impart his wisdom with waxing, sanding, and painting. Watch our TikTok video to see how it all came together.
21Chit
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When I saw the distinctive look of the "Chit" character recently gone viral on TikTok, I couldn't help but recreate him in Altered Moments form! The figurine "I'm a Sucker For Your Love" was the perfect fit, and I replaced the sucker with Chit's infamous black purse. Watch our TikTok video to see how it all came together.
22The Brady Bunch
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It took a long time and nine figurines to make my "The Brady Bunch" set, but it was worth every bit of effort, especially when I put the heads in the famous blue grid! And no, I didn't forget Alice... watch our TikTok video to see her make an appearance!
23Friends Cheesecake Scene
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I was inspired to recreate one of my favorite scenes from the TV show Friends, when Rachel and Chandler eat cheesecake off the floor. I finally found just the right figurines ("I Love To Tell The Story" and "Bringing You A Merry Christmas") and was thrilled to make it finally happen. Watch our TikTok video to see the transformation, then watch this bonus video to see more about Joey and his pocket fork! (made with "In His Time")
2480s Christmas
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This piece was a love letter to my childhood Christmas mornings in the 80s. I placed the girl from "Love Is Kind" next to the "Silent Night" music box Christmas tree, and surrounded her with all the classic 80s toys I could make. And no 80s tree would be complete without plenty of tinsel, right? Watch our TikTok video to see how it all came together and get a close-up look at those tiny toys.
Jo's altered Precious Moments creations
Jo recently joined in on this hobby and started creating pieces too! She's just as obsessed, and plans to create more in the near future.
25 The Fast Lady Portrait from Harry Potter
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This girl holding a frame in "You're as Pretty as a Picture" made an instant connection in Jo's imagination and she turned in into The Fat Lady Portrait from the Harry Potter book series. Watch our TikTok video to watch her create all those tiny little accessories.
26 Costco Sample Lady
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The toaster featured in the "A Special Toast to Precious Moments" piece was all the inspiration it took for Jo to pay tribute to our favorite ladies of retail, the in-store sample lady from Costco. Watch our TikTok video to see all the details come together.
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8 comments so far:
Interested in the newest TnT..lol
Kelly, stay tuned to our social media channels... we always announce there when pieces are available for purchase.
Is there any way to discuss/order a custom piece? I have a few ideas but zero artistic talent.
Erin, thank you for your interest, but we aren't taking on custom orders. Keep an eye on our social media platforms... we usually sell the pieces we create!
Hi! I just joined your group on Facebook and love what you do. I'm getting my daughters first christmas ornament but need to change the color of the hair,,, can you share me tips on what kind of paint use? Thanks ??
Maria, you'll find all our favorite paints and other supplies linked here on our FAQ page
I love your work. My favorite is ralphie and Willie wonka too. I think of you when I go to estate sales and see the figurines there. I should try to do one too. I can’t compare to yours though.
Hummingbird, thank you so much! You're so sweet to think of me at estate sales. You should definitely get a few to try out. What do you have to lose? :) (P.S. Be sure to check out my tutorial videos to help you get started!)