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Sleek Simplicity: Summer Minimalism with Ensemble Eclectica
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Sometimes people ask me, “Where do you get ideas for paper dolls?”
And in the old days (like a decade ago), I would always say fashion magazines. Fashion magazines, however, are getting thinner and thinner on the ground. I really miss them! So, instead, I am reduced to searching the internet to try to find fashion trends I want to turn into paper doll sets like today’s delightful minimalist fashion paper doll.
Last time I did this, one of the trends I saw for Summer 2025 was minimalism, according to Marie Claire. Also, Bermuda length shorts. Color trends, I also looked up, but honestly I didn’t love any of them, so this set didn’t get colored in wispy pink or tangerine. Another set someday, perhaps. I don’t hate any of those colors, but I didn’t love any of them either, so here we are.
Style-wise, this paper doll owes a lot to the Summer 2025 collection from Massimo Dutt, a Spanish premium clothing retailer. (For a long time I thought Massimo Dutti was a single designer, but it’s actually a brand. Now I know!) The company started in 1985 focusing on menswear, and expanded into womenswear in 1995. I really loved their summer collection. It’s not the kind of clothing I’d usually wear myself, but I loved how draped and elegant it felt.
(Also, my computer keeps trying to autocorrect womenswear to women swear and honestly… I feel that in my bones.)
If you’re enjoying my printable paper dolls, you might also like my published paper doll books or the exclusive designs I share on Patreon. You can also find unique sets in my Etsy store. Each is another way to support my work and keep the dolls coming.
Free Roaming Fashions: Outdoor Mix and Match Fashions
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As I think I’ve said, for all my love of fashion, I am not a very fashionable dresser. Even today’s printable hiking paper doll is better dressed than me.
Living in interior Alaska means summers are full throttle. Everything is go, go, go because winter’s cold, snow, and endless darkness are never far away. It also means that most of us dress like we’ve stepped straight out of a slightly rumpled, far less coordinated REI catalog. Hiking boots and practical pants aren’t just for weekends here; they’re basically the everyday uniform.
For today’s printable hiking paper doll, I wanted to capture that practical, outdoorsy vibe but give it a style-conscious twist. She’s ready for the trail with practical sandals, floral prints, and accessories like the ever-present water bottle and a crossbody bag. I gave her a top knot and a bit of a summer tan for a relaxed, fresh look.
The color palette was tricky to choose, but I kept it light and summery with lots of greens, soft pinks, and touches of sky blue. And while I’m not usually a jogger-pants fan, they make great hiking pants here. They’re comfortable, easy to move in, and perfect for tucking into boots if the weather changes.
I hope this printable hiking paper doll brings some trail-ready fashion to your paper doll collection. No hiking boots required, though I am living in mine this week.
Be sure to tell me your favorite outfit in the comments! And if you want access to some exclusive sets and behind-the-scenes extras, join me on Patreon. Your support keeps the paper dolls coming.
Scallops & Sunshine: Printable Summer Paper Doll for Ensemble Eclectica
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I’m thrilled to share the latest paper doll addition to the Ensemble Eclectica series called Sunshine & Scallops in both a full-color printable paper doll and a black-and-white paper doll coloring page versions, so you can decide which was brings you more joy.
Sunshine & Scallops is a summer paper doll set featuring a stylish doll with glasses, a bright smile, and a fabulous wardrobe full of scallop-trimmed fashion. Think breezy dresses, mix-and-match separates, and cheerful accessories in a palette inspired by sunshine, sherbet, beach days other summery things. I think of her as being Latina, but you know, there’s no reason why she has to be. You do you, as my students are fond of telling me.
A quick tip! Don’t forget to trim along the doll’s shoulders to make the outfit tabs fit correctly. I include small dots to guide where to cut, but it’s easy to miss if you’re new to my designs or paper dolls. It’s so easy for me to forget that people are discovering paper dolls everyday and maybe they don’t know how they work.
Funny story: I was just explaining them to an teenage boy this week who had no idea what I was talking about until I finally got out pictures. Not sure I made a paper doll fan out of him, but at least now he knows. And as they say, knowing is half the battle.
If you’re thinking: Wow, you seem to be doing a lot of paper dolls with glasses lately, you are right! I think paper dolls with glasses are an unserved segment of the paper doll world.
If you love what I do and want to support the creation of more paper dolls, consider checking out my Patreon Page. It’s a lovely way to help keep the site going, and you’ll get early access, behind-the-scenes sketches, and monthly exclusive content. Every little bit makes a big difference.
Patreon Exculsive: Glorious at the Gala Paper Doll Coloring Page
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Patron Exclusive: Evening Lace with Cut & Color Couture
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Wardrobes of Whimsy: A Romantic Evening
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Sometimes, I talk myself out of ideas—and this project was one of those cases. I’ve always really loved mix-and-match paper dolls, but designing sets like these comes with certain compromises. One challenge is layering, especially when it comes to tops being tucked into pants or skirts or long gloves, like on this set. That limitation got me thinking: what if I could have both the full layered outfit and the individual pieces as separate, layer-able parts in one paper doll set?
One of the great things about digital art is the flexibility it offers. It’s so much easier to draw, erase, and redraw without relying on tons of tracing paper.
I originally designed these printable paper doll evening gowns in summer of 2024 and was really excited about them at the time.
But then life got busy, and I started second-guessing the whole idea.
I showed them off at the Paper Doll Convention in Indianapolis, and the reaction was a bit lukewarm. People didn’t seem to quite “get it.” That made me wonder if the layout just isn’t doing a good job of explaining the idea, if maybe it was a poor idea in the first place, or if ballgowns are maybe not the best example of the concept… I feel like maybe it needs a revision or two.
So, with the caveat that this might get heavily revised in the future and I am not even going to give these their own category yet, as the two I’ve currently made may end up being the only two that are ever made, here’s my printable paper doll evening gowns experiment.
The other set that goes with this experiment, I’ll share next week.
Ensemble Electica: Sweat in Style
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Around the same time I was working on my tennis paper doll, I found myself thinking- I should draw some work out clothing for the Ensemble Electica paper dolls. Mostly, I was thinking this, because I hadn’t yet and who doesn’t want to draw paper doll leggings? (Probably plenty of people, but they don’t run a paper doll website.)
Personally, my favorite workout is yoga. I love how I feel after I do yoga. So, I included a yoga mat and the kind of clothing I would wear to do yoga if I was the sort of person who had dedicated yoga outfits. Aspirational yoga attire. My actual yoga attire is leggings and an oversized t-shirt with a walrus on it from the Indianapolis zoo, because the walrus is really cute and I like walrus.
So, this isn’t really a yoga paper doll, as much as a sporty fashion paper doll. Maybe she’s old school and going to step aerobics. (I actually also kinda love step aerobics.) Maybe she’s just putting on cute workout clothing to go out and buy a bagel. Who can say?
The dress was an extra piece from my tennis paper doll that I thought I would use here, as it wouldn’t fit on the tennis paper doll as I was doing the layout. Maybe she’s a really good tennis player.
Since I drew my sporty fashion paper doll and was coloring her at the same time I colored my tennis fashion paper doll, the most important thing to me was that the color scheme feel totally different. I didn’t want it to have the same vibe at all. So, the tennis paper doll’s vibe is very bright and fresh. This vibe is more calming and low key.
Today, a Hiking Paper Doll for Cut & Color Cotoure
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Creating a hiking paper doll isn’t typically my go-to theme. I’ve got some other hiking themed paper doll things though like this steampunk one for my Patrons, this kids set with a super cute stuffed owl, and a marisole version called Walk in the Woods, but it’s not a theme I do back to that often.
Lately, I’ve been immersed in the world of hiking gear, particularly on the quest for the perfect pair of hiking pants. That search has led me through countless hiking clothing websites and caused no small amount of annoyance. While I’m much more of a- go for a walk for an hour or two- than a -hike up a mountain with switch backs all the way up for five hours- sort of person. I do like being outdoors and I like walking.
One thing I have learned about being out doors is how important is to wear the right clothing. Comfortable hiking clothes make a huge difference in the experience. No one wants to be cold or sweaty while also trundling through the woods.
So, in honor of the importance of hiking clothing and despite my somewhat frustrating shopping experience (I haven’t found those ideal hiking pants yet!), I’ve decided to channel my inspiration into creating a collection of paper doll outfits suitable for hiking.
Plus, our hiking paper doll is practicing good outdoor safety with her map and water-bottle. When I was in high school, Nalgene water bottles were super popular and very “cool” even though if you try to drink from them, you run a real risk of spilling water all over yourself. (When people complain about the current trend for whatever expensive water bottle, I think of the Nalgene I begged my parents for in high school.)
By the way, I am going to be at the 2024 Paper Doll Convention from August 15-18, 2024 in Indianapolis. I did some designs for the menus and I can’t wait to see how they turned out. If you’re planning to attend, please come way Hi! I love meeting PTP readers.
Ensemble Eclectica: Specs & Posies
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I don’t often create printable paper doll with glasses, but I wear glasses (blind as a bat without them) and therefore I thought, I should make more paper dolls with glasses. Glasses are cute and fun.
So, I’ll be honest- I am still learning to use Procreate a year after starting. Because I’m still getting used to the tools, I’ve been a little conservative about what I’ve attempted. I did a lot of playing around last year, but this year I’m trying to give myself space to get comfortable.
As part of that process, I’ve been revisiting older paper dolls that I liked. Sometimes, I stick close to the original like I did with Rose, Coffee, And Mint Redux and Coffee Strawberry and Cream, but other times I end up heading off on my own little side trek as I did with Bright Boho from Wings and Petals. This time, I think it is somewhere in the middle.
Marisole Monday & Friends: Late Summer Flowers inspired this new printable paper doll with glasses. I kept the glasses, changed up the hair, and kept the color scheme, though used it in a different way. My two favorite pieces from the original (the shoes with flowers on them and the shorts) I redrew. The pattern on the shorts was a great learning experience about how to manipulate lines in Procreate.
Chic Contrasts: Fun Color Blocking Paper Doll
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As I mentioned a while ago, learning to use Procreate (which I am now using for my paper dolls) has been a learning curve. One of the things I dislike about it is that it is not easy to draw a perfectly straight line between two points as I would like. Either way, I am coming around to it slowly.
When I first started using Procreate last year, I decided that learning to use the program was a large enough ask without adding “create totally original art every time” with it. So, I set about drawing paper dolls inspired by pervious paper dolls I’d created.
This set was inspired by Seagulls & Seaside, a set I first drew a decade ago. I still think that paper doll feels pretty modern, though color blocking is not as strong of a trend as it was at the time. I kind of think color blocking is never not in style. The original set’s color scheme was inspired by signal flag colors for ships. I really loved that inspiration. I hadn’t planned on matching the color scheme so closely, but I realized that it looked really good. So, I kept it.
I really do love nautical and ocean themed things. It’s probably because I grew up commercial fishing.
Retro Refinement: A Vintage Fashion Inspired Paper Doll for my Patrons
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