Jewels & Gemstones

Winter Coats For Paper Dolls to Stay Warm

Winter coats for paper dolls! Paper dolls need to stay warm too and they can in this tailored wool coat and puffer coat, with accessories like gloves.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Winter fashion week was last week. I posted a bunch of stuff, but I didn’t have space on the pages to add the coats I had created. So, the coats got to wait until this week. These coats can, of course, stand alone, but they are in the same color schemes as this post, this post and this post.

And, of course, this version of Jade with her booties.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I love beautifully tailored coats and while I don’t love puffer coats, I can not deny they are warm and very much in style right now. I keep seeing them all over the place.

Specific Source Images: This coat and this coat. I found them on Pinterest.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: The Winter Fashion Week Posts ( this post, this post, this post, and this post) and More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Hmmm… They’re winter coats. I’m not sure what else to link to here.
Last Thoughts
Okay, I know I said today would be the Collab 2019 post and that’s because I seriously thought that today was going to the 31st. I got all confused with my dates yesterday. My bad! So, the 2019 collab will go up on the 31s5, forgive me.

For my 5 and 10 dollar patrons, your new Vivian gowns are up on the Patreon page. I hope you all enjoy them.

Do you like winter? I have mixed feelings. I like winter coats, but I can take of leave the cold weather. What do you think? Let me know in a comment.

Swashbuckling Fantasy Paper Doll Outfit

I love any movie involving "swashbuckling." So, the Three Musketeers, anything with pirates and such. I love a good sword fight in a movie and these sorts of outfits always feel kinda of... pseudo-pirate, but not really pirate to me.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
As with a lot of the early stuff I drew for the Jewels and Gemstones paper dolls, I really wasn’t thinking much about theme or long term plans, as much as I wanted to try to draw a variety of things. So, this outfit was born, because I didn’t have any fantasy clothing that didn’t involve a skirt at the time. I drew the Viking inspired outfit that I posted a few weeks ago after this one.

I’m pretty sure I messed up the seam down the left leg, but I didn’t realize it until after I drew it. That’s okay. Every paper doll outfit is chance to improve my art, but I wanted to point it out. Occasionally I get an email about wanting to learn to draw and I think it is important to note that after drawing paper dolls for a long as I can remember, I am still learning constantly.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I love any movie involving “swashbuckling.” So, the Three Musketeers, anything with pirates and such. I love a good sword fight in a movie and these sorts of outfits always feel kinda of… pseudo-pirate, but not really pirate to me.

Specific Source Images: This Bodice by Armstreet & This Pirate Costume

Learn/See More
On the Blog: Another Favorite Pseudo-Pirate Paper Doll & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: If you haven’t ever checked out Armstreet, they are Euporean based company that makes historical and fantasy clothing. Never bought anything from them, but their website if full of lovely ideas.

Last Thoughts
I’d like to thank all my Patrons who voted in my poll to help me prioritize my drawing. Thanks to them, we will be having Space Princesses! There will be Patron only posts chronically the designing and drawing of space princesses, so join us and you can see those too.

Tomorrow, there will be the new 2019 paper doll collab! I’m super excited about this and there will be exclusive Patreon content with that, too!

And this is Amethyst

This is Amethyst, the curvy girl paper doll with shoes! I’ve had so much fun drawing for my curvy Jewels and Gemstones paper dolls. She’s also available as a coloring page, if you prefer.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
So, there’s something a little mass production about how I think about paper dolls sometimes. It’s like, if one is hard than two isn’t that much harder. This isn’t always the best trait in the world and I blame my father for it. He’s a man who always thinks in terms of manufacturing. I love him, but once in a while, I just want to make one batch of cookies (not three), you know?

Anyway, back when I was planning the Jewels and Gemstones debut I decided it would be just was easy to draw two of every doll (because really what’s one extra hairstyle?) as it would be to draw one and then I would have some built in backlog.

But wait, you say, I don’t recognize Amethyst from the first week.

And that is because she was a Patron exclusive when she debuted.

But this version is not, so now everyone gets to see Amethyst.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Her skin tone is based on Karen David whose in the show Galavant. Galavant hasn’t been on for a while, but I love that show with a passion that is no totally rational. Seriously, guys, it’s a sitcom with singing set in a medieval fantasy world. How could that possibly be bad?

Specific Source Images: Nothing super specific this time. I probably looked up sandals in Pinterest. I usually do.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Amethyst Snow Princess on Patreon (Patrons Only)
Last Thoughts
So, if you haven’t seen Galavant, just watch this youtube video of the song “Lords of the Sea” about pirates on land and I hope it makes you giggle. It makes me giggle every time.

Tomorrow, there will be a fantasy outfit with a sword and then we’ll see where the week takes us. Probably to coats, but I’m not sure yet.

As always, I love to hear about what you think of today’s paper doll, so please feel free to leave me a comment. (Right now, because my spam filter is acting up a bit, I am having to manually approve comments that go through the filter, so just be aware there might be delay between commenting and me seeing the comment and approving.)

Winter Fashion Week: Skirt & Boots

Paper Doll clothing! A skirt and boots and super cute triangle covered top. Print these in color or in black and white for coloring! Super Cute Coloring Pages for Kids or Adults who like to color.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
As I was working on Winter fashion week, I knew I wanted a set of mix and match clothing options. So, a dress, jeans, sweater, skirt and top all seemed like logical pieces to include, plus I liked the idea of something else that could be worn with those super cute navy tights I drew for Tuesday’s outfit.

I’d already done black boots do with with Wednesday’s outfit, so I wanted brown boots to go with today’s outfit.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I wanted to mention that I use Pinterest a lot for collecting source images. So, I knew I wanted a skirt and boots, both of those come from Pinterest. The top was my creation. I wanted to keep with my geometric patterns that have been such a strong part of this collection.

Specific Source Images: These boots and this skirt, both of which I found on Pinterest.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: This is my first ever belly dance costume! But here’s More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Wikipedia on Zill, a fascinating history of belly dance, an article on appropriation in belly dance and an equally interesting response to said article
Last Thoughts
I’m super psyched to say that tomorrow, I am posting the first outfit and doll for Paper Doll Collab 2019. It’s going to be super fun. Also, there will be an exclusive outfit on Patreon that matches this week’s winter fashion theme.

Have you enjoyed this week? Ready for a break from contemporary fashion? Let me know in a comment.

Winter Fashion Week: Sweater & Jeans

Sweaters and Jeans for printable paper dolls today. You can print these in color or black and white for coloring. You decide.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
So, today’s paper doll outfit is the one that inspired the whole idea of doing a winter fashion week. I came up with the idea for the sweater and then the pants. And then I thought, well one contemporary fashion outfit doesn’t make a whole wardrobe, so what if I did more…

And winter fashion week was born.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Confession: This whole sweater happened, because I rediscovered my shapes stencil. Meant for technical drafting, I am totally in love with drafting stencils like this one. You can pick them up at most office supply or craft stores like Micheals. I love mine.

Specific Source Images: Nothing really this time.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: I’ve done other sets with sweaters before. Here is one of my favorite sweater heavy sets and here is another. Aso, more Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Hmmm… I got nothing.
Last Thoughts
Normally, I try to come up with interesting related links to my paper doll outfits, but today I’m pretty much drawing a blank. This paper doll outfit really was basically because I have a drafting stencil and I wanted to draw jeans. Every paper doll needs jeans.

Maybe not the most thrilling source images heavy post, but there you have it.

Over on Patreon voting is still open to help me prioritize my drawing plans. Poor fantasy armor week does not look like it is going to win. The four way time between Regency, 18th century, Lolita and Space Princess is thrilling. If you are a patron and haven’t voted yet- do so here– if you aren’t a patron, join and you can vote too.

Tomorrow, tune back in for a skirt and boots combo. In case you’re wondering- hey, where are the coats? Those ended up getting their own post. And that will probably go up next week.

Winter Fashion Week: Chic Dress & Tights

Today's printable paper doll outfit is a dress with tights and shoes inspired by Dutch wax print fabrics and winter clothing.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
I knew I wanted to do a dress with tights and I wanted the dress to have a really strong pattern on it. I also figured that shoes with tights could then be worn with other clothing pieces (there will be a skirt later this week) and that way people would have more mix and match options.

It’s really important to remember when creating paper dolls that they are meant to be dressed up and played with. That’s the whole point, so I try to think about that when I’m planning out my outfits.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I love and delight in dutch wax print fabrics so much that I have a whole Pinterest board for them. But the patterns are often such large scale and so interconnected that they are really challenging to render. So, I tried to simplify those designs to create the pattern on the dress.

Specific Source Images: Patterns like this one, this one and this one.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: My Dutch Wax Prints and African Fashion Pinterest Board

Final Thoughts
I grew up in such a wet place (Southeast Alaska) that I never really understood the idea of a winter dress until I moved to the South. Now I love a nice winter dress, but they aren’t that warm most of the time.

If you want imput in what I create for the blog, join us on Patreon! The funds keep the blog around and you get to vote on things I create. I’m always super grateful for my Patrons.

Winter Fashion Week: Meet Jade & Her Booties

A curvy black paper doll with curly hair and three pairs of boots. Each paper doll can wear any clothing from other paper dolls in the Jewels & Gemstones collection.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
I wanted to do a collection of contemporary fashions that were all winter themed and all in coordinating colors, so everything this week can be mix and matched. I also wanted to practice drawing tight curls (something I always need practice on).

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
So many things… Okay, so for this paper doll I was kinda obsessing over open toed booties. I’ve linked to the reference images below.

Her hair comes from one of my favorite resources for hair which is hairstyle magazines. Sophisticate’s Black Hairstyle and Care Guide shows lots of different hairstyles (updos, natural hair, treated hair, weaves, the whole nine yards). These magazines are a great way to help built a photo reference collection. I pick mine up at the local grocery store, but if you live in a place without a large black population, you might need to order it online.

Specific Source Images: Theses booties, these sandals, which I thought felt kinda wintery, and these booties.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Black Paper Dolls, One of my favorite Winter paper dolls, and More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Did you know that Oprah’s stylist Andre Walker developed a hair typing system for curly hair? There’s some controversy around it (isn’t there around everything?), but it’s an interesting idea. I liked this guide, because it has photos.

Last Thoughts
Don’t expect me to continue this “theme week” and then “random week” pattern. It just happened, because this was what I had finished. I don’t want people to think there’s going to be a pattern, because then I’ll feel pressure for there to be a pattern.

My Patreon have been helping me plan for my next few theme weeks by kindly voting on ideas. If you are a Patron, please vote here, if not, than join us! Patron support keeps Paper Thin Personas around.

Tomorrow there will be another contemporary winter outfit for the ladies and then we’ll continue from there all week! How do you feel about the winter? Are you a fan of cold weather or do you prefer the summer?

Belly Dancer Costume for my Paper Dolls

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
When I was a kid the mother of a good friend’s cousin (talk about strange connections, huh?) was a belly dancer. When I was eight or nine, we had a sleep over at their house and tried on a bunch of her mom’s belly dancing stuff.

I was a chubby kid and I remember being so surprised that this older woman (who was not skinny by any means) would be willing to put on a bra and skirt and dance at all.

It was a strange idea- that there was a sort of dancing that didn’t have to be done only by skinny people. At the time it felt empowering, though as an adult, I realize that empowerment is complicated by institutionalized racism, sexualization of Middle Eastern women, and a whole lot of Victorian orientalist baggage.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I don’t know much about actual belly dancing costumes and I’m not an expert on their history. I looked up belly dancing costume sites like Belly Dance.com and Belly Dance Digs. I did want to include finger cymbals which are also called “zill”.

Specific Source Images: Coin bra’s like this one and this one

Learn/See More
On the Blog: This is my first ever belly dance costume! But here’s More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Wikipedia on Zill, a fascinating history of belly dance, an article on appropriation in belly dance and an equally interesting response to said article
Last Thoughts
I don’t know a lot about belly dance, but I know enough to know that there’s serious issues around appropriation, sexualization, racism, orientalist fantasy and such in the whole thing. I went back and forth about posting this outfit, but in the end, I chose to share it.

Why? Because my rule has always been not to post anything with sacred religious meaning. None of my research suggested that there was religious meaning in belly dance costumes, unlike, for example, Native American regalia (which often includes holy symbols) or Catholic nun habits.

In case you’ve ever wondered why I don’t have any nun paper dolls, now you know.

Tomorrow on Patreon there will be a medieval inspired princess paper doll for my Patrons. Join now and you can check her out too!

I want to do more dance costumes. Any suggestions? I’m thinking maybe Irish step or a classic tutu.

A Purple Fantasy Princess Frock With Shoes

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
The first paper doll outfits I drew for the Jewels and Gemstones were fantasy gowns. This was one of them. The other, I’ll be sharing on Friday for my Patrons.

I tend to return to these sorts of medieval inspired fantasy gowns when I don’t know what to draw. I don’t know why, exactly, but it’s a style I like and a style that doesn’t take a lot of thought for me. I think?

I’m not sure.

There are things  like these sorts of gowns (another example, and another, and another) that are simple and I can draw without having to look at lots of source images or worry about historical accuracy.

The paper doll equivalent of that recipe you make over and over again, because you know it will come out. Maybe not super innovative, but comforting. The pumpkin bread of paper doll clothing.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Today’s paper doll gown lacks a real specific inspiration. Medieval clothing, I suppose, but only in a fantasy universe sort of way.

Specific Source Images: I haven’t got any this time.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Medieval Inspired Paper Doll Gowns & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: My Fantasy Clothing Pinterest Board

Last Thoughts
I almost called this set “Purple Princess”, but I felt weird doing that, because there’s also a black and white version.

Did you know there are weekly process posts on Patreon? And monthly paper dolls and weekly paper dolls? Consider joining here.

Some Work Chic Clothes for the Paper Dolls

Today's paper doll outfit is a set of professional clothing with grey trousers and berry colored high heeled boots.

Black and White PDF | Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
It endlessly fascinates me that in my Etsy store, my second best selling paper doll clothing are my contemporary designs, but on the blog and social media, these styles get the least feedback or attention. I don’t know why the difference exists, exactly, but I am intriqued that it does.

Anyway, the contemporary paper dolls are fun to draw for me, because I’m always interested in what is happening in the fashion world. Today’s fashionable paper doll is a pretty simple outfit, but also one I think is very work appropriate.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I wanted to draw pants. I am not kidding. In my early sketching for the Jewels and Gemstones, I noticed that I had drawn nothing but skirts to start with. I thought to myself, “I need pants.”

Specific Source Images: The shoes were based on an add I saw in Instyle Magazine. I don’t have the issue anymore and don’t recall the brand.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Contemporary Fashion Paper Dolls & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Women’s work brands like Eloquii, Talbots & Ann Taylor (who I’m slightly reluctant to include because last time I was there, the customer service was awful; however, I do like their pants, but they don’t go past size 18)

Last Thoughts
It occurred to me as I writing this blog post, that while I drew this paper doll in her work chic clothing, I don’t actually know a lot of plus-sized work brands. I know Eloquii, but I don’t know any others. I’m sure there are others out there. Some people recommend Torrid, but I find their clothing a little too casual for work (or at least my work) most of the time. I don’t wear plus sizes, so it’s not a problem I’ve had to tackle much.

Readers, are there great brands of plus sized work clothing that I’m missing? Let me know!

As I often do, I want to make sure that I thank my Patrons, their support makes this possible. I know that it isn’t possible for everyone to support the blog financially, so you can always share on social media, follow me on social media or tell a friend about it.