Making paper dolls is a great and easy way to channel creativity and create personalized toys. These paper dolls are suitable for toddlers, children and adults. Whether you want to make paper dolls for kids' crafts or just a hobby, you'll need a template or some supplies to draw them yourself. Add colors and decorations, then cut the doll, and you're done!
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Method 1 of 3: Using Printable Places
Step 1. Find the doll template you want
This option is great if you don't want to draw a lot. To do this, look for blogs that contain free printable templates.
Step 2. Print the template
Once you find a print template that suits your taste, adjust the size and print it on paper. You can use cardboard or any paper weighing 120-200 grams per square meter to make it strong enough. Check your printer's user manual to make sure it can handle heavy paper loads. Be sure to adjust the weight setting before printing.
- If your printer can't handle thicker, heavier cardboard, simply print the template onto a blank sheet of paper, then paste it onto the sheet of cardboard.
- You can buy thick cardboard online, at a bookstore, or at a stationary store.
Step 3. Customize and color the doll template
If your template is black and white, color in the doll's features with colored pencils, markers, or crayons. When the template is colored, leave it as is. However, you can still add details such as clothing, jewelry, or makeup. Remember that whatever is drawn on the doll will be permanent.
Don't forget to color the doll before cutting. Dolls are easier to color when they are intact sheets of paper, and prevent your doll from tearing
Method 2 of 3: Draw Your Own Doll
Step 1. Draw the outline of the body with a soft pencil
Determine the desired weight, then outline the shape of the doll's body, including the head, torso, and hands and feet. Make sure the doll is drawn in a posture that makes it easier for you to dress, such as standing straight with your arms hanging at your sides slightly away from the doll's body.
- Try drawing doll ideas on scrap paper first. When you are satisfied, draw it on thicker paper, such as cardboard.
- Standard sizes for paper dolls are usually 13-15 cm high and 2.5-5 cm wide.
- It's also a good idea to draw undergarments that are easy to cover, such as socks, camis, or panties and bras.
Step 2. Draw the hair and other details
Once you've outlined the basic outline of the doll's body, add any additions beyond that outline, such as hair, legs, and hands. You can also make fingers and toes, or leave them just round or square. Keep facial features simple.
Step 3. Repeat the drawing with a fine-tipped pen and erase the pencil lines
Once you've finished drawing the doll's body in pencil, trace it using a soft black ink pen. Micron or extra fine-tipped pens are best suited for this stage. Allow the ink to dry for 1-3 minutes, then use a white eraser to remove pencil lines.
If any ink smudges, use Tipp-ex to cover it up
Step 4. Color the doll's features
One of the best advantages of drawing paper dolls yourself is that you can unleash your creativity and make them the way you want them. Choose a hair, skin, and eye color for the doll, and color it in using crayons, markers, or watercolors, or colored pencils so you can work more accurately.
Make sure you color the doll before you cut it as it is easier to color with care and doesn't damage the paper that will be the doll
Method 3 of 3: Finishing the Paper Puppet
Step 1. Draw the base for the doll
If you want to protect the drawing area of the doll's legs or just add some extra decoration, it's a good idea to make a base for the doll. Make a semicircle around the sole and ankle of the image, with the flat side of the semicircle running along the base of the doll. You can leave the base white or decorate it with color or stickers.
- You can also write a name on the base of the doll.
- When cutting dolls, make sure to cut around the legs and base, not around the soles or between the legs.
Step 2. Laminate or cover the image with contact paper
To seal the doll's features and protect it from aging, you can laminate the entire image using a laminator, or simply cover the area with a sheet of transparent contact paper.
- If you don't have a laminator, you can laminate paper dolls at the press.
- Paper dolls can break quickly so this laminate will help them last longer.
- Using contact paper, you only need enough to cover the image so that the transparent sheet can be cut into small rectangular shapes. Use this sheet for the illustrated areas on both sides. Make sure you use self-adhesive contact paper for easy installation.
Step 3. Cut the doll with scissors
Use scissors to make small, accurate cuts on the paper doll. Cut as close to the line as possible without cutting it. Be careful around small, detailed areas, such as the palms and soles, and the base. Small children should only use safety scissors and under adult supervision.
Making individual fingers and toes will make them easily damaged or torn. So, you should only cut the shape of the palms or feet. The base will also solve this problem on the soles of the feet
Step 4. Make a booth for the dolls
To allow the doll to stand up, cut separate strips from the cardboard that are 7.5-12.5 cm wide and half the doll's height. Keep one side flat and cut the other side into a curve. Fold the flat side inward by 1 cm to make a label and attach it to the back of the doll using glue or double-sided tape.
- Dolls need a base for the booth to function properly.
- For the booth to work, the dolls must be made of strong cardboard. If printed or drawn on plain HVS paper, the doll will be too limp to stand.
Step 5. Print the clothes for the doll
If your doll template includes matching clothing patterns, print and cut out the clothing patterns to apply to the doll later. Add color and additional details if needed, then cut out the outline.
- It's hard to find a printed clothing pattern that matches a self-drawn doll. Clothing usually has to be exactly based on the doll that will be wearing it.
- However, sometimes larger, looser pieces of clothing such as a sweater, dress, or coat can fit easily on a hand-drawn doll.
- Unleash your creativity with doll colors, patterns and decorations! You can use stickers, colored pencils, markers, paint, crayons, and scrapbook paper to make unique, fitting outfits for dolls.
Step 6. Design and make some clothes for the dolls
Trace around the doll's body on a piece of paper and fill in the outlines to make the outfit. Color it, then apply decorations and patterns to personalize and express yourself on the clothes. Don't forget to leave a label on the side, then cut the outline of this outfit.
