I have been working on Gracie Mae for DOTW and this freaking belly plate is cracking all over! I don’t know if I can save it and if it will hurt her sale. Bummed…
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I’m sorry. That stinks!
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Bummer for sure. Is it LLE wrap around plates? By cracking I am assuming you mean the vinyl is splitting? If so I find what works for me is using ties. I use a hole punch to make the holes for string and then I tie the belly plate with the ends meeting, stuff w/ paper towels to prop up the shoulders and bake standing up. Since doing this they don’t split. Hope this helps.
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I sold 2 Gracie’s at KDS last year and had one belly plate. Whoever bought #1 could add the belly plate for an additional $50.00. #1 bought without, so the remaining baby was sold with it (there was no option to decline). I have 2 in my stash and only one belly plate. Personally, I don’t care for them.
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Yes, vinyl splitting. The plate was on the last bake before being varnished, too. I’m going to try sealing it up with vinyl putty and selling it as a booboo plate with the baby.
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I have never had a LLE torso not crack. I quit buying them 
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If that don’t work when mine have split I have cut the plate using kitchen shears.
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I didn’t but them either.
Sold both with no issues
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I thot they only came with the plates…didn’t remember how I ordered them and did not want a buyer to say I left something out.
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I got it mended. I’m not sure how stable this is, but it’s mended. I put some super glue gel in the cracks. Once that set, I went over the top of both areas with the heat set putty.
edited because my phone likes to autocorrect words to ones that I did not choose.
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Sheesh, that’s awful!
I think it looks good…nice repair job!!!
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Your Repair is excellent! AND just really noticing the massive change you made to the vinyl with the skintone you achieved. that is “Spot On” (Aussie for Perfect.)
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I have used Gem-tac to repair vinyl and it holds very well. I find that if you prop the belly plate with a couple of washcloths folded up inside to support the plate that it has a less likely chance of splitting.
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Looks good, hopefully it holds.
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I will show it to buyer. It is what it is…
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I should probably clarify that I was heat setting it suspended on pegs in my oven on my pegboard I made to heat set on. I did put a diaper over the pegs to soften them after I realized it was splitting but the splitting seemed to be taking place after I would take it out of the oven while it was cooling and not while in the oven. Both times this was so. I have heat set other belly plates (Bonnie Brown ones) before this way with no issues. The next Gracie Mae I make I will try wrapping the torso up like Onesleepingangel mentioned and see if I have better luck. Honestly I hate belly plates too and think they are a waste of time, But I so love this kit!
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I myself don’t care about belly plates. I asked previous customers before what their thoughts on them were because I wasn’t sure if I should be ordering the optional ones. It was pretty much half and half, slightly more said they didn’t care. I’m sure you’ll be able to sell her without. That sucks though, you pay for it and in the end you don’t have one.
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well I still have it and can display baby with it but it has been repaired so I do not know how weakened it may (or may not) be.
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I have quit paying extra for belly plates.
Sure they make for cute pix… but that’s about it.
I have a few that I got several years ago on aBB sale before the shipping went up and if I feel the need for a future baby to have one will use those.
Now… if the plate comes with the kit… that’s all good!!! 
Side note…I did see the announcement that BB is lowering their shipping rates…
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