A Guide to Make Stands for Paper Dolls!
Introduction:
Before you start building the stand, you need a solid base. A paper doll is only as strong as the paper it’s printed on! If the paper is too thin, the doll will “wilt” or flop over, no matter how good the stand is.
To ensure your paper dolls stands tall, follow these material tips:
- The Gold Standard: Use 65lb to 80lb cardstock. Its thick enough to hold its shape but thin enough to cut easily with standard scissors. Your printer might struggle with too thick of cardstock, so be sure to test it.
- The “Reinforcement” Hack: If you’ve already printed your doll on regular printer paper, don’t worry! Simply glue the sheet to a piece of poster board or box. I recommend glueing it before cutting it all the way out and letting it dry over night under a heavy book.
- The Glue Rule: If you are gluing paper to cardstock, use a glue stick rather than liquid school glue. Liquid glue can cause the paper to “buckle” or warp, making the doll look wavy.
Now, that the paper doll is sturdy, let’s make a stand, so it can show off all it’s clothing in style.
Glued On Stand Method
This is my preferred method. I used Florence to demonstrate this method, but it will work with any of the paper dolls that have bases. I like this method, because you’re not cutting into the paper doll base and it’s unlikely to interfere with the tabs of clothing.
(These are very old images. I really do need to update these one day.)
Phase 1: Drafting the Stand
- Layer your materials: Place your cutout doll on top of a spare strip of cardstock (aim for 3–5 inches wide).
- Trace the curve: Using a pencil, draw a line from the doll’s hip down to the bottom edge of the cardstock.
- Cut it out: Follow your line to create the raw shape of your stand.
Phase 2: Creating the Tab
- The “Stability Trick”: Trim a tiny wedge off the bottom of this 1/4-inch tab so it’s slightly shorter than the top.
- Measure the fold: Draw a line about 1/4 inch from the top edge of your stand. This will become your glue tab.
Trimming the bottom of the stand at a slight angle creates a subtle backward tilt that prevents the doll from tipping forward.
Phase 3: Attach to the Back of the Doll
- Create the Crease: Fold the 1/4-inch tab backward along the line you drew. Use your thumbnail or a bone folder to press the crease firmly so it stays at a sharp angle.
- Apply Adhesive: Spread a thin, even layer of glue across the tab.
- Alternative: Double-sided tape works wonders here if you want to avoid drying time, but also means you have no adjustment options while it dries.
- Position and Press: Align the tab so that the bottom of the tab will be aligned with the bottom of the dolls stand and the top of the tab hits the doll just above the knees or around the hips. Press and hold for a few seconds to allow the glue to attach.
She’s Ready!
Once the glue is dry, your paper doll is officially ready to stand on her own. The slight “tilt” we created earlier should keep her perfectly balanced on any flat surface.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, more instructions can be found here or check out the FAQ.