How to Make a Giant Paper Doll
Paper dolls are once again popular. You can buy books featuring the punch-out cardboard dolls and their paper dresses in a variety of stores. However, if you would like to give your little paper doll lover a special treat, here’s how you can make an enormous personalized paper doll.
Things You'll Need
- Camera and film or digital camera
- 3 sheets of poster board: 1 white, 2 bright colors
- Markers or poster paints
- Fabric and ribbon (optional)
- Scissors
- Transparent contact paper
Instructions
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How to Make a Giant Paper Doll
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1
Ask your little girl to put on her bathing suit and pose for a photograph. Have her stand with her feet flat, her legs spread slightly and her arms held out to the sides. Request a nice smile.
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2
Take the photo (or digital image) to a copy shop. Have it enlarged to whatever size you like (or can afford!).
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3
Glue the enlarged photo onto a sheet of poster board. Work slowly and push out air bubbles as you go. Cover the poster board with waxed paper and stack books on top overnight.
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4
Cover the doll with transparent contact paper for protection and then carefully cut the doll out.
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5
Lay out a large sheet of paper, and set the paper doll on top of it--about 2 inches from the top. Use the doll as a pattern to make a “dress” by tracing around the upper body and then flaring out a skirt that reaches from the waste to the knees. Make 2-inch tabs at the top of the dress for folding down and trying on the doll.
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6
Cut out this dress and use it as a pattern to make several more, varying the design slightly to make a couple of long “princess dresses.”
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7
Make patterns for shirts and pants in the same way. For pants put the tabs on the outside and inside of the legs.
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8
Decorate the dresses yourself, or let your child have fun designing the outfits. You could use paint or markers, fabric and ribbon, or other materials for the decorations.
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9
Store the paper doll in a large “folder” you have made by stapling together two pieces of poster board.
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