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Meet Min-Seo: A New Asian Friend of Marisole Monday

May 28, 2020January 2, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Punk Fashions, Blue Hair, and Crazy Boots

Happy 2017! I am starting off the year with by introducing a new friend to the Marisole Monday & Friend’s series. I am so pleased to introduce Min-Seo who was named by my patrons on Patreon, though Mariko and Malai were runners-up when I asked them to vote. (You can join Patreon here.)

Min-Seo is a Korean name. The meaning changes depending on the characters used to spell it. It’s also the name of Kim Min-Seo, a Korean drama actress. Korean names, like Chinese names, use the family name first and then the personal name.

Anyway, I sketched out this face a few months ago, but I wanted to wait to introduce her until it was the new year. So, this whole week is Min-Seo paper dolls and outfits. I figure that way she can catch up a bit with the other ladies of the Marisole Monday & Friends crowd.

The first Min-Seo paper doll is a punk fashion girl rocking some blue hair, black nail polish and a pair of amazing boots. Seriously, I want those boots.

I don’t know where I would wear them, but I want them.

So, what do you think of the first Min-Seo paper doll? Let me know in a comment.

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Need a more outfits for today’s Marisole Monday & Friends Paper Doll? Find More Ladies Clothing Here.

Ms. Mannequin’s New Years Couture Gown in Lavendar

May 28, 2020December 30, 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Ralph & Russo Fall/Winter Collection 2015

Today’s Ms. Mannequin couture gown was based on Look 11 from the Ralph & Russo Fall/Winter Collection in 2015. The original is in a lovely soft gold. I chose to make my lavender, because I love dusty lavender as an evening gown color. It’s also a Victorian color of mourning, but I don’t think that has anything to do with today’s evening gown, I just thought I would mention it.

Meanwhile, I think this couture gown could go New Years, as I have designed it, but it could also be a great red carpet look or something for a black tie wedding.

Just like for the Poppets, there were more Ms. Mannequin paper doll posts this year (13 rather than 8), but I don’t know how to really “count” things. I mean, the posts are much smaller these days, but then again, there is a lot more variety.

Posting just one dress/outfit a day opens up some more strange things like this evil sorceress gown. By the way, that was so fun to draw that I am totally doing more evil gowns in the future.

However, today’s couture gown is not an evil sorceress gown. It is far to sweet for that, I think. Rather, it is a sexy red carpet or evening look for those times when the printable paper dolls have an important paper doll affair or they just want to look really good.

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Need a paper doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick out a Ms. Mannequin Paper Doll Here

Poppet Paper Dolls Party Dress For New Years

May 19, 2020December 29, 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Rosettes and Kid’s Party Dresses

One thing that super annoys me is when child dolls don’t get dressed like children. So, when it came to designing a New Years party dress for the Poppets printable paper dolls, I wanted to draw a holiday sort of child’s party dress.

I think if you recolored this gown, it could also be a Easter dress or a Thanksgiving dress or any number of other things. So, check out the black and white version if you want to try your hand and setting the Poppets up for another holiday.

You know what sort of amazes me? So, all of last year I posted 10 Poppets paper doll posts. This year I posted 18. That’s a lot more. Now, it is not a perfect comparison, because I stopped posting “sets” and started posting individual outfits, but still. Pretty notable increase I think.

And I can’t wait to keep posting for them. I have a bunch of 1920s stuff drawn and I want to do a fairy tale series for them as well. So if you are a Poppet paper doll fan, stay tuned for next year.

What would you like to see for the Poppets in the coming year? Drop me a comment if you have an idea.

Meanwhile, if you want to support the blog in 2017, then think about becoming a Patron.

Need a paper doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick a Poppet Paper Doll Here.

Mini-Maidens Paper Dolls With a New Year’s Evening Gown

May 19, 2020December 28, 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This Zac Posen Gown

As I said yesterday, this week will be all about New Years gala sorts of gowns. Today, the Mini-Maiden paper dolls are getting their evening gown. This is based on a this gown designed by Zac Posen for David’s Bridal. The dress is several years old and I couldn’t find it on the current website, so I linked to my Pinterest page.

If you want to see more evening gowns and cocktail dresses that might someday turn into paper dolls, check out my Evening Gowns board. It is the home of gowns I like and may someday draw.

Heavily boned corsets like the one on this gown are very much a trademark of Zac Posen‘s designs and I love a good looking corset.

Plus, I think a New Years evening gown should be something sexy. By the way, I would never have the guts (nor the occasion) to wear something this fitted, but then what are paper dolls for?

I think I’ve mentioned before my guilty pleasure, Say Yes to the Dress. Thanks to that show, I can say mermaid dresses are very in style for weddings and this could easily be a wedding dress if you wanted that instead of a New Years dress.

I think Faye, Greta, Hazel or Isadora would love to get this gown, but since there are four of them, you might need more gowns. Therefore, I might I recommend this series of Prom dresses or this 1930s inspired evening gown.

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Need a Mini-Maiden paper doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick a Mini-Maiden Paper Doll Here.

B&B Paper Dolls Celebrate New Years in a Regal Gown

May 28, 2020December 27, 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Evening Gowns

For the rest of the week, I will be posting elegant evening wear every day in honor of New Years.

For Today’s B&B paper doll series New Years gown, I wanted elegant, but not glitzy. Something sophisticated and almost Queen like. This is an evening gown for a woman who knows she is amazing and doesn’t need to show off with bright colors or spangles.

In keeping with the Royal concept, I chose purple and black for today’s New Years gown. The skirt is in soft pleats and the bodice wraps. Personally, I imagine it in something like taffeta or a thick rich mat satin, but since it is actually made of paper, who knows?

After I drew this, I realized I haven’t really given a lot of evening gown love to the B&B printable paper doll series. I might need to rectify that in the coming year.

What say you all? Do I need more B&B evening wear?

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Need to get a Bodacious & Buxom paper doll to wear these fabulous clothes? Pick one out here.

Happy Hanukkah from Marisole Monday & Friends!

December 6, 2023December 26, 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Hanukkah, Also Ugly Holiday Sweaters

Happy Hanukkah! Here’s a Hanukkah paper doll!

So, Hanukkah celebrates the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees led a rebellion and forced the Seleucid’s (Syrian-Greeks) out of Judea (AKA Israel).

So, when it came time to rededicate the Second Temple, which had been defiled by order of the Seleucid King, there was a problem. Very little holy oil remained to light the menorah (candelabrum) in the Temple. The menorah was supposed never go out, but there was only enough oil to burn for one day. It would take eight days to make more oil. Well, miraculously, the small amount of oil burned for those eight days.

So, Hanukkah is the celebration of this miracle. If, of course, it ever actually happened. There’s some debate about that part, because the references to the miracle only appears in the Talmud and are not verified by any other sources.

Anyhow, Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting a candle each night, saying prayers, giving small gifts, playing a gambling game called driedel and eating potato pancakes, known as latkes. If you want to know more, here’s a nice FAQ about the holiday.

In celebrating Hanukkah, Meaghan, our very un-Jewish named model, has a menorah, and a dreidel. You shall have to draw your own latkes. While today is third night of Hanukkah, I decided to draw the menorah as though it were the eighth night, since I think that is the most beautiful one- when all the candles are burning. You light one candle a night going right to left.

In designing today’s Hanukkah paper doll, I wanted to reference the ugly sweater trend and I wanted to try drawing a menorah again. My last attempt wasn’t great, I admit. This attempt is also super uneven looking, but I am getting better. I swear.

Meanwhile, I hope everyone has or had a wonderful Holiday time.

If you want to give the blog a holiday gift, might I suggest supporting it through Patreon?

Need a more outfits for today’s Marisole Monday & Friends Paper Doll? Find More Clothing Here.

Sprites Get Dickens Caroling Costumes for the Holidays

May 28, 2020December 23, 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Dicken’s Christmas Carol, Vaguely Victorian Fashion and Google Image Search

I have never done a Christmas paper doll before. The way I’ve always figured it, there are plenty of Christmas paper dolls and I didn’t see much I could add to the genre. But since I have switched to a daily outfit posting schedule, I figured I might try it this year. So, today we have some Dickens caroling costumes for the Sprites printable paper dolls.

Dickens wrote the Christmas Carol on 1842, but there’s nothing historically correct about these outfits. In fact, I refused to do any historical research, though I did Google “Dickens Caroling Costumes” to get some ideas.

Some of the college students I work with would call that research, but I try not to think about that too much.

In fact, I would call these costumes and not clothing, because they aren’t historically correct in anyway. I knew I wanted the lady to have a bonnet and cape and for the guy to have a top hat. Beyond that, I just had fun.

I chose a holly pattern for the skirt, because I thought it was holiday and old fashioned without being too obvious.

Anyway, tomorrow is the first night of Hanukah and Christmas is on Sunday, so I would like to wish everyone who is celebrating either a really wonderful holiday. And for those who aren’t celebrating, I hope you have a great weekend with, or without, family.

Looking for some Sprite paper dolls to wear these outfits? Pick out Sprite paper dolls here.

B&B Get a Victorian Fantasy Ball Gown

May 28, 2020December 22, 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Rosettes, Victorian Ball Gowns and Corsets

Victorian inspired madness today. Madness!

Okay, maybe not madness… but this is a pretty over the top Victorian corset ball gown creation. Still, if you spent any time with Victorian fashions, they do get pretty over the top.

And I like rosettes. They’re fun to draw. I don’t know when things get too over the top. I mean, does the ruching do it? Or the pleated details? Or the corset? I mean, at what point do you say, “Girl, that is a bit much.”

But here’s my thing, I figure the B&B series stands for Bodacious and Buxom. What is more bodacious than a ball gown covered in three types of trimming?

I did try to make things feel cohesive (something you have to do with three trims) by using a monochromatic color scheme. This is a fantasy Victorian corset ball gown, it does not need a super contrasting color scheme to go on top of all that. Unless you really want one, in which case I direct you to the black and white version and say, “You go for it!”

Meanwhile, I am going to stick with my slightly sedate (as much as this dress could be called sedate) version here. Somehow, despite the rosettes, with these colors, this dress reminds me of winter skies.

The actual “winter” themed paper doll set for the day will be up Friday. There are carolers and my first ever Christmas paper doll.

Also, am I the only person who thinks “ball gown” should be one word and not two? Seriously.

Like the blog? Think about donating and becoming a Patron, following the blog on Twitter, leaving a comment, and/or telling a friend about it.

Need to get a Bodacious & Buxom paper doll to wear these fabulous clothes? Pick one out here.

Mini-Maidens are Off to Fight a Dragon!

May 19, 2020December 21, 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Plate Armor Like This and This

The first time I ever tried to draw plate women’s armor, I was so nervous. Now, I find I still like to have reference photos, but I have a much better idea of how the armor goes together. Plus, I don’t actually expect anyone will be looking at my armor designs and being overly critical. Designing armor is something I really enjoy doing. Sometimes, I want to draw totally absurd women’s armor like I did a few weeks ago in this Xena inspired armor set for Marisole Monday & Friends.

Other times, like to day, I want my women’s armor to be a little more practical and realistic. I keep a whole board on Pinterest devoted to fantasy armors. This image and this armor from 1580 were both inspirations for today’s armor. I really did want something that felt like a lady could wear it to go slay a dragon.

Should, you know, there be a dragon out there that needed slaying.

The legging like thing she is wearing under her leg armor is really just there to make it easier for the paper doll to function. Plus, when I draw more armor (assuming I do) then you can mix and match the armor tops with armor bottoms.

Which brings me to this question: More armor? Yay or Nay? Let me know.

Also, today is the first day of Yule. Once, in high school, a friend of mine and I went in search of a Yule Log for her in the woods, because she had read that you shouldn’t buy a Yule Log. That, apparently, was bad luck. Needless to say, it was a cold, wet, rather miserable experience that involved Devils Club, a spiky poisonous plant, and falling into a snow bank. Now, whenever anyone mentions Yule, I think of that afternoon in December in Alaska.

So Happy Yule to anyone who is celebrating. May your search for a Yule Log be much less exciting than ours was.

And, as always, if you like the blog, consider donating through Patreon.

Need a Mini-Maiden paper doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick a Mini-Maiden Paper Doll Here.

Marisole Monday & Friends: The Gents Get Some T-Shirts and Jeans

May 28, 2020December 20, 2016

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: T-shirts and Jeans, Nothing More, Nothing Less

Maybe this isn’t the most “thrilling” set of guy paper doll clothing. I mean, maybe if you were like, “I want to go fight a monster” than you might want to reach for something more like this or this. However, if your paper doll guys want to go to the store or take one of the paper doll ladies or gents out on a nice casual date, than they need some gear for that.

While I wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my life drawing nothing but paper doll t-shirts and jeans, today’s versions are pretty fun. I am trying to learn to think of them as blank canvases which have options for dynamic design. The basic form of a t-shirt is always the same, but there are cool things that can be done with one.

I’m actually pretty happy with the jeans. I am still working on learning how to make folds look natural on men’s pants. I think today’s jeans are a pretty good middle ground.

One of my goals for 2016 was to create more guy paper dolls and I’ll confess that guy paper doll clothing has challenges. Truth is that I find it pretty much “same old, same old”. Still, as I said above, I am trying to learn to embrace it as a blank canvas.

As 2016 is coming to a close, I have to confess I am struck with how many things I “tried” on the blog this year. I’m thankful for everyone who stuck with me through trying to sort out what I wanted to blog to be. Also, everyone who supports the blog on Patreon or leaves a comment or who follows me on Twitter or who just comes to read. Your support means a lot to me.

And that leads me to the question, more guy paper doll content in 2017? Is that something y’all want to see?

Need a Marisole Monday & Friends Guy Paper Doll to wear today’s outfit? Pick One Out Here.

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