April Showers: A Printable Paper Doll for Kids or Adults

Logo image for Marisole Monday & Friend Series. Printable paper doll with glasses and a gardening theme. First of all, I want to wish a Happy Birthday to my sister without whom I would not have ever started collecting paper dolls. She is the one who bought me my Christopher Columbus Paper Doll Set when I was eight and suggested it was too nice to cut up. This started my uncut paper doll collection.

So, thanks Sis. I love you.

And, speaking of paper dolls… here is last week’s printable paper doll in cheerful full color. I am pretty pleased with everything about her, except my concerns about her mix and match limited wardrobe. I really like how the rainbow shirt came out and the rain-boots and the bright yellow rain slicker, but I’m still feeling that the mix and match options are a trifle limited.

On the other hand, I’ve done enough plain colored tops over the years that surely there’s something that would match in the paper doll archives. I don’t always think of my designs as being “kid-friendly”, but I think this really is a paper doll for kids. She’s got bright colors, a fun theme and I can imagine that on a rainy day, she’d be great to pull out for a quiet inside activity.

The playabilty (is that a word?) of a printable paper doll set is always a major concern of mine. One of the reasons I work in series is because I think it’s more fun to have lots of little ladies and lads who can share clothing, than to have a bunch of paper dolls who can’t. (Of course, I also do it because drawing people is the hardest part of this gig.) There are times I confess that I fantasize about transforming this blog into one where I just posted one outfit a day, everyday.

Someone told me they thought that would be more work than what I do now… honestly, I’m not sure. I think it would depend on how much I had to write about the outfit in question. Post writing is sometimes harder than drawing, to be honest.

April Showers is a color printable paper doll for kids or adults. She's got 14 clothing pieces, gardening tools and a bright red umbrella. Free from paperthinpersonas.com

{Click Here for a PDF to Print} {Click Here for a PNG to Print} {Click Here for More Marisole Monday & Friends Printable Paper Dolls}
Speaking of paper dolls for kids… Another little side project I’ve been working on is a magnetic paper doll for a three year old I recently met. Now, I need some help with this as I do not have children of my own…

How large would pieces need to be for a three year old to easily manipulate them? I want to be sure that she can play with her paper doll friend on her own without needing too much assistance from her mother. Thoughts from those with kids or experience with toddlers? Also, might she eat the pieces? I mean, I think at three most kids are past that stage, but I’m not sure… (Have I mentioned I have little experience with toddlers?)

Lastly, there will be a contest coming up, probably towards the end of the month. So, keep your eyes open for that.

7 thoughts on “April Showers: A Printable Paper Doll for Kids or Adults”

  1. A fairly large size is normally easier for younger kids to handle. Think of the paper doll as a mini doll six inches to eight are good to start for the doll. Again keep with an easy shape like lollipop hands and turned out ballerina feet. As for clothing color is key so are basic patterns both will help in the development of the child. Just remember to keep it fun, cheerful and colorful.
    By the way I love your paper dolls. I was wondering if their might be a future for a paper doll in a wheel chair?

    • Hmmm… Honestly, I had never thought of a paper doll in a wheelchair, though I do think it’s a wonderful idea.

      The biggest challenge would be the bulky nature of wheel chairs. The chairs cover up part of the users body at nearly very angle which means redrawing them, at least in part, for each outfit.

      I suppose you could draw a sitting doll, outfits and then make the wheel chair a third layer over of the doll and outfit… I think that might work.

      I love the idea. I just am not sure at the moment the most effective way to make it actually happen.

    • Yeah, I was thinking eight inches in height. I wanted to make sure the dolls weren’t TOO big. Sometimes I feel like the Flock is on the edge of too big.

  2. My nieces played my Paper Janes when they were three and did ok. I think something along your Pixie line would work well for that age group. Sounds like a fun project!

    • Great advice Julie. I was thinking of drawing a body similar to your Kawaii kids for the base doll. I love that the Kawaii kids are gender neutral in their pose.

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