Paper Thin Personas • Page 67 of 148 • Rachel Cohen's Paper Doll Creations

An Elegant Fantasy Paper Doll Gown in White & Gold

December 6, 2020April 4, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This gown from a movie entitled, Sissi

So, when you donate on Patreon to support the blog there are different tiers- 1 dollar, 5 dollars, and 10 dollars. This year I offered a custom doll and outfit to my ten dollar paper doll donors.

Yesterday, I posted the doll I created for Elizabeth and today I am sharing the paper doll ball gown I created.

Here is part of Elizabeth’s request, “Very difficult decision to decide on what to ask for but I finally picked out for dress inspiration this white and gold dress from the 1950s Empress Sissi movie series starring Romy Schneider. I really like the white and gold color scheme though a crimson and gold color scheme could be fun too.”

She also sent me photo links of this gown from a movie entitled, Sissi. It is an Austrian film from 1955 based on the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. While the film was made in 1955, Empress Elisabeth of Austria was married in the mid-1850s.

To go with her paper doll ball gown, I designed some boots in part inspired by button-up boots of the Victorian era. Her neckline is a low off the shoulder heart line. White and gold is, of course, the color scheme Elizabeth asked for. I had a lot of fun making it in white and gold, but I think a pink and green color scheme would be beautiful as well.

Feel free to color the black and white version of this paper doll gown anyway you would like.

Want to get your own custom paper doll? Support the blog through Patreon at the 10 dollar a month level, or lower if that works better for your budget.

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

A Custom Ms. Mannequin Paper Doll for Elizabeth

April 3, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: A 10$ Patron Custom Paper Doll

Today’s paper doll is a brunette paper doll with long wavy hair. She was designed as a custom paper doll for one of my Patrons, Elizabeth.

This year, for my Patrons who support the blog at the 10 dollar amount per month, I decided to offer them the opportunity to request a custom doll and outfit.

The first custom paper doll one is debuting today! Elizabeth requested a brunette paper doll from the Ms. Mannequin series with brown eyes and fair skin.

I named the brunette paper doll Lisette, a French diminutive of Elizabeth.

Today’s Ms. Mannequin has the same skin-tone as my other fair skinned Ms. Mannequins- Natalie, Cerise, Violetta. So, she has six more pairs of shoes that she can try out.

Tomorrow, she’ll get a dress.

Meanwhile, she’s got plenty of clothing options among the Ms. Mannequin clothing choices. I personally have always been a fan of this evening gown, but that’s just me.

Want to support the blog? Then think about becoming a Patron. There’s lots of neat perks, like a behind the scenes blog, the Vivian project and, at the 10 dollar a month level, a custom paper doll once a year.

Need some clothing for today’s Ms Mannequin paper doll? Pick Out Some Ms. Mannequin Clothing Here

Fashions From Space: The Latests Looks From The Spring 2647 Runway’s of Proxima Centauri B

May 28, 2020March 31, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Space! The Final Frontier…

Today’s Paper Doll Collaboration 2017 outfit theme was “Fashions from Space” so I am super pleased to present an outfit straight of the Spring 2647 runway from the planet Proxima Centauri B.

Proxima Centauri B is the closest known planet to Earth to be in the “goldilocks zone” where liquid water could exist on the surface of the planet, making it potentially habitable.

According to my careful research (okay, so I really just read the Wikipedia article) Proxima Centauri B is regularly buffeted by solar winds and has a rocky icy surface. So, in my imaginary space future, the colonies on the planet are actually subterranean and in enclosed domes.

Due to the cold temps, the runway looks from Proxima Centauri B are cute, but functional. The thermal trousers and heavy boots are accompanied by a cap-sleeves insulated shell. Over that, our model wears an asymmetrical coat with elbow patches.

Ever since the military conflict between the Inner Colonies, closer to Earth, and the Outer Colonies, further from Earth, heated up back in 2642, there has been a real military influence on fashion and that can be seen in this look from Proxima Centauri B‘s runways.

Looking for more Space fashions? Then check out Popculture and Paper Dolls, Miss. Missy and Paper Doll School. We’re all teaming up on this project, so I’m sure they have some great looks to share, too.

Need a doll to wear this stylish outfit? Grab the Doll here.

Steampunk Fashions for the Sprites Paper Dolls

March 30, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This Corset and These Shoes

This is a week of first, it seems. Yesterday was my first 1930s dress for the Mini-Maiden series and today is my first attempt at steampunk clothing design for the Sprites printable paper dolls.

Whenever I try my hand at steampunk designs, I worry some secret cabal of steampunk clothing design purists are going to come along and say, “That’s not steampunk enough!”

I never said it was a rational worry. Let’s be clear.

Mostly, because I’m pretty sure there isn’t such a thing as a secret cabal of steampunk clothing design purists.

(But if I’m wrong and anyone is a member, wanna put in a good word for me?)

Anyway, I know this isn’t doing to be the last time I try to my hand at steampunk clothing design for the Sprites, so I did try to establish some neutral shades that I liked. That way, in the future, I can use the same browns and things to improve the mix and match options.

And now it is sources time! So here we go… The corset is based on this one, the shoes are based on these. The gent’s clothing is much more from my imagination. His trousers are vaguely inspired by 18th century men’s pants, but that’s about it.

One quick thing- tomorrow is the last say for the Reader 2017 coupon in the Etsy store. It’s 25% off of an order of 4 dollars or more. There’s steampunk designs in the Etsy store, too, if that’s your thing.

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

A 1930s Dress to Color & Dress a Paper Doll In

March 30, 2017March 29, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Simplicity 1781 from 1935

So, this is my first 1930s dress for the Mini-Maidens paper dolls. That surprised me, but it is true. I even went through the archives to confirm- I’ve done 1920s and 1940s, but never a 1930s dress.

The dress is based on this pattern cover from Simplicity 1781 designed in 1935. The two part dress had an optional coat which I did not end up drawing. Mostly, what I liked about the dress’s design was the super cool square belt buckle.

Yes, sometimes I’m that easy to please.

I should add that I also really liked the pockets on the button of the top and the very art deco feeling of the whole piece, but mostly… mostly I liked the belt buckle.

One problem of doing my first mini-maidens’ 1930s dress is that I don’t have a really good Mini-Maiden doll with the right hair for the era. This Hazel has 1940s hair which doesn’t quite work. The closest two choices are probably my 1920s Faye paper doll whose wavy bob is not too far off or my steampunk Greta paper doll.

Clearly, this is evidence that I need to draw more than one 1930s dress for the Mini-maidens printable paper dolls.

Love the blog? Donate through Patreon there’s more blog content, behind the scenes stuff and you get to know you’re helping keep it on the internets.

The Reader2017 coupon for 25% off in the Etsy store is good for just two more days. So, if there’s something you want, I’d grab it.

Now, I am curious. Should I do more 1930s stuff for the Mini-Maidens? Is there another decade you’d like to see? Let me know in a comment.

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

Trendy Summer Paper Doll Clothing with Crop Tops and Paper Bag Pants

March 28, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Spring Fashion Trends 2017

Back when Ms. Mannequin started, they were all about contemporary fashion. Not really runway fashion (though if you want that Boots of Pop Culture and Paper Dolls is doing a great catwalk series right now, just sayin…), but the latest thing from the boutiques.

In essence, I wanted to draw trendy stuff right from the fashion magazines.

So, one of the things I drew a few weeks ago were some pages of trendy clothing for the Ms. Mannequin girls.

Today, they have a pair of cropped “paper bag pants” and I have to say, that is a really dumb name. However, these pants are very much in vogue at the moment. To go with them, I drew a wrapped crop top and then I added an scalloped edged pencil skirt, because I like to draw at least three pieces when I do contemporary paper doll clothing.

These pieces can mix and match with any of the Ms. Mannequin clothing you already have printed out.

So, when you are about to get the paper dolls ready for summer, they now have some on tread cropped “paper bag” pants.

Want to see things from the archives without having to go through the archives yourself? Follow the facebook page where I post paper dolls from PTP’s archives regularly.

More interested in what happens behind the scenes, my process, seeing sketchbook pages, and helping cover my server costs? Then join Patreon.

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

Marisole Monday Medieval Maiden

March 27, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Medieval Dresses, Sort of…

So, today’s paper doll doll is Monica of the Marisole Monday & Friends crew with a fantasy dress up thing going. Her gown is vaguely medieval, vaguely not. Sometimes, I just want to draw a pretty dress. Nothing more, nothing less.

And this was one of those times.

I went with a pastel color scheme, because I thought that would look best against Monica’s rich skin tone.

Not sure which Marisole Monday & Friend’s doll is which? Here’s a guide I created last year when people had questions. I need to update it. I probably should write similar guides for all the paper dolls. Would folks find that helpful?

I confess that now that I have been looking at the colors in today’s paper doll dress for a while, they have begun to remind me of a sunrise. The blue dress being the pale sky and the pink and peach the colors of the clouds as the sun rises.

Along with her gown, Monica has white boots and stockings to fill out her paper doll fantasy dress up experience.

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The 25% off Etsy coupon, READER2017, ends on Saturday. Check out the Etsy Store here!

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

Mini-Maiden Paper Dolls Get Statement Pencil Skirts for Spring 2017

March 24, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Statement Pencil Skirts from the Fashion Magazines

You can blame today’s printable paper doll clothing on my addiction to fashion magazines. Or I suppose be thankful to my addiction. Your choice. 🙂

For someone who wears almost the same thing to work every day, I love looking at the fashion magazines. It doesn’t matter that I’ll never wear half of what is in the fashion magazine, I still enjoy looking at the pictures.

My favorite pictures get to become paper doll clothes. I noticed a lot of pencil skirts with super bold patterns on them. I actually really like this idea and if I wasn’t such a conservative dresser, I would totally try out this look. Maybe I still will if I can find one I like enough.

Until them I am sticking too my cardigans, grey trousers and white button down look. It has served me well.

To turn the pencil skirts into a real paper doll outfit, I added the pretty simple blouse and some cute shoes.I think this set with Faye, this set with Hazel or this set with Isadora would be great for mixing and matching in.

Love the blog? Want to support it? Donate through Patreon.

Meanwhile, my Reader2017 coupon for 25% off still running in the Etsy store until the end of the month.

And the blog has a facebook page, so go there, like it, and spread the word about PTP! It really does help.

Or, of course, I always love comments.

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

A Nurse or Doctor Paper Doll Outfit for the B&B Series

March 23, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:A Request from The Steger Family for Community Helper

So, I was asked by one of my Patrons, The Steger Family to create some paper dolls of community helpers like policemen, librarians, firefighters, that sort of thing, I struggled.

Let’s just say my attempt at a police women ended up looking like a stripper, rather than an actual member of the police force.

So, I tabled it for a while.

When I came back, I thought I would try something like scrubs to create a nurse or doctor paper doll. One of my friends here in Birmingham is a nurse and I’ve always really respected women in the medical field. I don’t know if this is really a doctor paper doll outfit or a nurse paper doll outfit, but I tend to think it could go either way.

The hardest part was drawing the stethoscope. Not a tool I draw that often, I must say.

I made the scrubs the same color as one’s I’ve seen the local hospital, but I have no idea how scrubs work. Are they like a uniform? Do people have to wear certain colors? Do certain colors mean different things?

Someone in the medical field should let me know in a comment. I have no clue.

Either way, here’s either a Doctor or a Nurse paper doll outfit for the B&B series to help out their community.

While it might be a while before I tackle a police woman printable paper doll outfit again, I might try a firefighter. I have no idea what firefighters wear, but that’ll be some research.

And I know some of my readers have been wanting a librarian paper doll for a while.

Want to support the blog? Join Patreon! It’s a fun place and I really do listen to my Patrons requests.

Alternatively, follow the blog through Facebook and/or spread the word on social media.

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

A Printable Paper Doll Dress from 1870 for Marisole Monday & Friends

March 22, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This Fashion Plate from January 1870

If I had to pick a favorite period of fashion history, I’m not sure I could. I love the 18th century, the 1920s, 1960s, the Regency, the 1300s… I could go on and on, clearly. However, if I had to pick a favorite era of the Victorian period, then the bustles absolutely win.

I love them all. I love the soft draped bustle of the early 1870s, the narrow skirted bustle of the early 1880s and the tea-tray supporting bustle of the late 1880s. I don’t care how absurd they look.

I just think they are so much darn fun.

Despite that, I have drawn very few paper dolls with dresses from 1870. I think the reason is that I’ve also been intimidated by the bustle. So many loops of fabric. So much drapery. The angle has to be just right to show off the fit. But I decided to try it this time, so here she is- a dress from 1870 for Marisole Monday & Her Friends.

Just the ladies. This won’t fit the gents.

It is based off this dress from 1870 published in The Queen, the Ladies’ Newspaper in January. Queen was an English fashion magazine that published French fashion plates and started in 1861. In 1968, it was purchased by Harpers Bazaar. Until 2006, in England anyway, Harper’s Bazaar was published as Harpers & Queen. I’ve yet to find a good online archive of The Queen, the Ladies’ Newspaper full-text, but if anyone locates one let me know. Their fashion plates are lovely.

Without the accompanying information, it is hard to know what exactly this dress was intended for. Based on the style, I am thinking a seaside nautical thing. January magazines often published the first Spring plates, so I suspect this is a Springtime outfit.

Oh, and there’s a patron only blue version, too. Join to check it out! And, you know, help keep the blog on the interwebs.

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

Sprites Borrow Clothing From a Coastal Fantasy World

May 19, 2020March 21, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Fish! And This Dress on Pinterest

Today’s paper doll costumes are a pair of renaissance inspired fantasy outfits with an elaborate fish pattern on the gown.

In today’s renaissance fantasy paper doll fashions, I gave the Lady Sprites a blue and white dress. The Gentlemen Sprites a pale blue and grey outfit. Rather than giving the Lady Sprite shoes, I opted to create several accessory pieces including the instrument, book and sword.

So, I’m going to make a confession here:

I don’t have a lot of say about these paper doll outfits.

I drew them. I had fun drawing them. I’m actually super-duper proud of how that stylin’ fish pattern came out. But honestly, that’s about it.

After writing yesterdays long post about Snow White, I feel sorta odd that all I can say is that I picked blue and I liked fish.

And I will say that I think fish are a super cool motif. They’re a wonderful shape and I really enjoyed drawing my fish, but that’s kinda all I got.

Not the worlds most insightful post, but they can’t call be.

Meanwhile, if you want to support the blog, then think about donating through Patreon.

There’s still my Reader2017 coupon for 25% off still running in the Etsy store until the end of the month. And the blog has a facebook page now, so go there, like it, and spread the word about the fun of PTP!

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

Poppet Paper Dolls Play At Snow White

May 19, 2020March 20, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Snow White

One of my long term projects this year has been drawing fairy tale and nursery rhyme inspired Poppet paper dolls. You can find them all under the creatively named Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhyme Poppet Series. Today, there is a Snow White paper doll. Other fairy tales I have been working on are Hansel & Gretel and Little Red Ridinghood. I’ve already posted Little Bo Peep and the Princess and the Frog (though I did that one long before I started the series.)

In some fairy tales the look of the main character hardly matters, but Snow White is not one of those fairy tales. The 1857 edition of Brother’s Grimm contains the tale of Snow White and it opens like this:

“Once upon a time in midwinter, when the snowflakes were falling like feathers from heaven, a queen sat sewing at her window, which had a frame of black ebony wood. As she sewed she looked up at the snow and pricked her finger with her needle. Three drops of blood fell into the snow. The red on the white looked so beautiful that she thought to herself, “If only I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood in this frame.”

It seems somehow wrong to create a Snow White paper doll without giving her super pale skin, black hair and red lips. Her skin isn’t actually white, but it is fairer than any of the other skin tones I have ever done for the Poppets. So, she won’t be sharing shoes that show flesh with anyone.

For her dress, I wanted to show some of forest elements that are so integral to the story, hence the trees and butterflies. In the 1857 version of the tale there are three attempts on Snow White’s life.

The first is with a bodice lace (like a shoe lace but for a corset) that is laced so tight it strangles her. The second is with a poisoned comb and the third is the apple attempt. I did not draw a comb, but I did was to give my Snow White paper doll a lace up bodice to reference that first attempt.

Of course, the 1857 version also ends with Snow White and the Prince torturing the Evil Queen to death with red hot shoes. As usual, older Fairy Tales are a trifle violent and rather dark.

Meanwhile, if you want to support the blog, then think about donating through Patreon. If you’re not sure wha the behind the scenes blog posts are like here’s two I’ve opened to the public- sketchbook photos and Some Stuff about my Process.

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