So, these are more like questions I have been asked that deserve an answer, but there’s not a well known acronym for that one. I can’t really call it an Erratically Asked Questions (EAQ) even if I want too.
How do I contact you?
You can contact me through email. Since sometimes people have trouble with email links, the address is- paperthinpersonas (at) gmail (dot) com. I check this email address every two or three days weeks or so and do try to respond to every email I receive. Do check the rest of the questions to see if I answer you inquiry here, cause that will be faster than trying to email me in person most of the time.
What do you use to draw and color your paper dolls?
I use black micron pens, black ball point pens, black brush pens (a lot of black, obviously) and do my coloring with a combination of Photoshop and a plug-in called the Bpelt filter which is designed for flatting in comic strips. I find it speeds up my coloring a lot (which is good, because color is time consuming).
Why are some of the paper dolls “retired”?
Because I get bored. Seriously, I do. So, I draw what interests me and when a series gets to the point when I am dreading updating it (which does happen), it gets transferred from Serial Printable Paper Dolls, to Retired Paper Doll Series and gets to live their happily. It will remain on the Categories listings on the side panel of the site, so you can still see them, print them out and enjoy them.
How do I attach the wigs and hats to the doll when there are no tabs?
To give credit where credit is due, I learned this method of hat attachment from Brenda Sue Mattox’s wonderful paper dolls. Most of the dolls hats are either attached by cutting a slit in the hat or by gluing a separate piece to the back of the hat to form a pocket or with tabs. Since most people know how to cut a slit, and the tabs are fairly obvious, I’ll explain the pocket method in more detail.
To Make the Pocket
Begin by cutting out both the hat and the back piece.
Take the doll and place the hat on to her head, adjusting it until you like how it looks then turn over the doll and the hat and trace along the edge of the dolls hair with a thin pencil line on the back of the hat.
Carefully apply glue to the edges of the hat using the trace line as a guideline for gluing. Press together the blank back of the hat and the hat piece leaving a pocket into which you can slide the dolls head.
Let dry completely before trying it onto the doll. If it is too small, simply print out the paper doll and try again.
This method may also be used for wigs for some paper dolls like CyberGirl and Lady of the Manor.
How often does the site update?
The paper doll update schedule is as follows:
Monday: Marisole
Wednesday: Curves 2.0
Friday: Shadow & Light
Sunday: Pixie & Puck
There are erratic Tuesday updates, usually of a different color scheme or black and white version of the Marisole from Monday. Sometimes doodles go up when there’s no paper doll to post, and I sometimes post images from my sketch book or posts about fashion history depending on the day and my mood.
Since I am currently in my last semester of graduate school and looking for a job, I am not updating as regularly as I have in the past. I try to update once a week, usually on one of the scheduled days. As soon as I can, I’ll get back to the blog’s regularly scheduled updates. I swear.
May I use your paper dolls for my commercial use (flyer, poster, charity event, non-profit thing)?
My standard answer is No. If you need to inquire further, please email me. I don’t like to discuss the “business” side of the site in comments. Thanks.
Can I use your paper dolls for my classroom use?
One copy may be printed of for each student of each paper doll as per general fair use guidelines. Any other uses, please email me about. Generally, I have no problem with people printing my paper dolls and using them for classroom or day care use, but please keep the text line on the bottom of the image with the site address and the date on the paper doll.
I drew some dresses for one of your paper dolls, can I post them on a website?
Sure, just please don’t post the paper doll herself. Though not required, a link back to my site is always nice. If you like, drop me an email or comment and let me know. I’m always excited to see dresses for my paper dolls.
Would you draw __________ ?
Depends. Sometimes people’s ideas are really inspiring to me. Marisole’s Inspired By Africa was based on a suggestion, for example. However, please also understand I am a very busy graduate student and I often work several weeks ahead of what appears on the blog, so it may be months before I use what is suggested, if I use it at all. If a suggestion inspires me, I will do it in a heart beat.
Will you do a Christmas doll?
Nope. I don’t celebrate Christmas and therefore have no desire to draw a paper doll devoted to it.
Why is there a “Gallery” page?
It seemed like a good idea at the time. I rather am unsure about it now, but there it is then. The Gallery is the home of paper dolls which I created that I never meant to be series. Some of them date back to my college days, some are recent. It’s just a place to display all the paper dolls I have drawn which for several reasons will never get their own series. Nearly all of them are in black and white, so if you want to color a lot, head over there.
Who are you?
Really, who is anyone? My name is Rachel Cohen (hence the RLC I use to sign everything). I was born in Alaska and lived in Juneau after attending college out of state. It was there that I hatched the plan for creating a paper doll blog. Alaska has a lot of cold dark winters. This is the result.
Now, I am living in Illinois while attending graduate school first Library and Information Science and now in Theater History. I work part-time as a Graduate Assistant at the library while also attending classes and try to have a life somehow on the edges of things. I’ve been drawing paper dolls since I was a child, though the last art class I had was in high school.
Other then paper dolls, I like historical costume, theater, poetry, sewing, baking, Alaskan history and dictionaries. It is entirely possible that I am getting my graduate degrees, so that I will have a good cover job when I become a super villain.
