How to Create a Paper Doll in Scrapbooking

Paper dolls have been around for a long time. Their uses have ranged from beloved play toy to highly sought after collectible. When scrapbooking became popular, the paper doll received new life as well. Today, paper dolls are often used in scrapbooking to represent an individual or a profession. Scrapbooking enthusiasts either make paper dolls on their own using punchies and cut-outs, or they purchase paper doll kits.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Acid-free paper
• Adhesive
• Circle/oval templates
• Scissors or circle/oval punches
• Pre-made accessories

1. Select a color for your paper doll. You can choose acid-free paper in realistic human tones, or you can go for a colorful rainbow effect. The color you choose depends on the theme and colors of the page you're working on.

2. Use a circle template and draw a head for your paper doll. To save time, you may also consider using a circle punch.

3. Try an oblong or oval template or punch to use for the arms and/or legs of your paper doll. Depending on what kind of shirts and bottoms you plan on using, you may not need to create arms and legs.

4. Purchase pre-made accessories to dress up your doll. You may want to consider getting hair, shoes and clothing to start with. Depending on the theme of your page, you may also want to look at miniature jewelry, suitcases or hobby-related accessories, such as fishing poles or microphones.

5. Assemble your paper doll and secure it in your scrapbooking album with a strong adhesive such as double-sided tape.

6. Create a paper doll from an online template when you're pressed for time. You can find print-and-color templates for a wide range of dolls at the Making Friends website (see Resources below).

7. Head to your local craft or scrapbooking store to check out the range of paper doll kits available. Kits usually contain everything you need to create one paper doll, including hair and accessories, as well as a uniform for occupation models.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a look at stickers, glitter and small feathers. You can use any of these to add some color and fun to your doll's clothing.
• Blank, unlined paper is best for making a paper doll, especially when you're constructing the body.
• Make sure any materials you use to make your paper doll are acid-free. Using materials which aren't acid-free may compromise your entire scrapbooking album and could even cause your photographs to become stained or worn.

Resources

• Find paper doll templates at Making Friends