fantasy Archives • Page 6 of 33 • Paper Thin Personas

Checkerboard Fantasy Gown

March 25, 2020

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I don’t suffer from a lot of delusions of grandure. I’m a librarian/archivist who draws paper dolls for her micro-business and also can gut a salmon in six cuts. I’m not qualified to say anything about our current pandemic, except that I’m staying home a lot more and for some reason, there is no flour in town.

Bread, yes. Flour, no. I’m so confused, people.

So, instead of telling you to wash your hands (because I hope you are), I am going to focus on what I do- draw paper dolls and occasionally make weird jokes about the strangeness of 1830s hair styles.

Seriously, 1830s? What were you thinking! (See this fun tutorial on making one of this styles.)

Meanwhile, here’s a fantasy princess paper doll dress. And over on Patreon for everyone there’s two other versions of this dress- a blue version & a yellow version.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper

This dress really doesn’t have a source image. I just kinda was drawing one afternoon and it happened. It wasn’t planned or carefully sourced in anyway. If I go way back to this post Green Princess, you will seem a similar silhouette.

By the way, in my head, this is a special dress that was commissioned by the princess to wear to a chess match. Because nothing calls for a new dress, like a chess match. Maybe, she’s in the chess match? I have no idea. I am super bad at chess.

Learn & See More

On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & More Princess Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Hmmm… Well, I don’t have much related to this post to point to, but if you want more 1830s weirdness check out a great post from Loretta Chase about hair styling in the 1830s complete with some fantastic images of 1830s hair!

Last Thoughts on Today’s Fairy Paper Doll

Okay, I know I spent a lot of this post making fun of the 1830s, but really how can you not? Also, I doubt a decade can really be offended and in honor of poor hair choices, I had a bowl cut for most of the 1990s.

In my defense, I was 10. I also had a rat tail which I asked for. It was a thing.

If you like my paper dolls and want more of them, I share a paper doll piece every Friday for my patrons along with other fun things. Head over to Patreon to learn more. I know things are tight for a lot of folks right now, so no pressure and don’t forget, there’s two other versions of this dress for everyone!

Summer Fairy Costume for the Paper Dolls

March 18, 2020March 18, 2020

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There’s something fun about designing flower fairies. I think it might be, because the dolls leafy undies always make me think of fairies.

It’s very cold up here in the sub-arctic where I live. There’s still snow and it’s been over 20 below more days than I like to admit. Did you know that when it is -40 is the temperature where Celsius and Fahrenheit meet?

I sort of wish I didn’t know that.

However, nothing for a cold, snow covered March like imagining spring and flowers are a sign of spring.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper

There wasn’t a specific source image for these fairy paper doll clothes. I sort of was inspired by a bunch of images from my Fairies and Fauns Pinterest board.

Learn & See More

On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & More Fairy paper dolls
Around the Internet: My Fairies & Fauns Pinterest Board

Last Thoughts on Today’s Fairy Paper Doll

So, I do enjoy Cicely Mary Barker’s flower fairies, I also confess an affection for older, darker fairy folklore. The book Fairies in Tradition and Literature by Katharine Briggs is a great study of the darker views of fairies and their stories, if you want to read some more grim thoughts on the fairy world.

Also, please everyone stay safe right now. Things are stressful, but we can still be kind to each other. Also, wash your hands.

As always, if you like my paper dolls and want more of them, I do share a paper doll piece every Friday for my patrons along with other fun things. Head over to Patreon to learn more.

Under the Waves: A Goldfish Mermaid

February 26, 2020

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The last mermaid thing I did for the blog was this Mermaid Costume which was very much intended to be a costume, not an actual mermaid. If that makes sense. I mean, arguably everything I draw is a costume of sorts.

Anyway, on Patreon I have posted two other mermaids. I’m like 99% sure. I just couldn’t seem to find the second one. Patreon’s searching ability for posts- really not great.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper

Fun fact: Mermaid tails are one of the few things I draw that I always draft on a separate sheet of paper before I sketch them in my sketchbook. Getting tails to curve is hard! And I want to make sure I cover the whole paper doll’s lower body with the design.

While I wasn’t thinking of goldfish when I designed this paper doll by the time I was coloring it, I really didn’t want to do blues or greens. So, that was when I started looking at fish and I learned- there are a lot of tropical fish out there and a lot of them are orange.

But then, when I was actually writing this post, I couldn’t help but think how much this felt goldfish inspired. I mean, there’s something about it that makes me think goldfish.

Learn & See More

On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & More Mermaid Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: My Mermaid s Pinterest Board

Last Thoughts on Today’s Mermaid Paper Doll

There used to be paper doll birthday cards. And one I loved was Melinda the Mermaid and I was super excited to see that paper doll on Teri Pettit’s paper doll site. She’s got lots of lovely paper doll scans you can look at and print.

And yes, I have been waiting to post this paper doll mermaid so I could link to the birthday card.

Ruched and Ruffled: A Patreon Princess Gown

January 31, 2020January 31, 2020

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I love drawing ruching, but really this dress just isn’t that complex. The color scheme with the rainbow skirts makes it feel more elaborate than it actually is and I really like that

Inspiration for Today’s Paper

I really love designing these over the top princess gowns and this one started as a doodle I drew on my phone. I wanted something that felt like a jumper, but was a bit more formal than that. You know, an evening jumper.

Learn & See More

On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & the other parts of the Princess Trousseau
Around the Internet: My Big Skirted Absurdity Fantasy Pinterest Board

Last Thoughts on Today’s Princess Fantasy Paper Doll

My patrons get a Friday patreon paper doll and I am excited to share a few of these pieces this year. If you want to see more, get more paper dolls, join us on Patreon.

Not exactly sure what will go up next week, but I’ll no doubt make some decisions as I start scheduling those posts.

The Princess Trousseau: Tea Gown

January 27, 2020

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Some of you may recall that last year, I started drawing these full-skirted fantasy gowns for the Jewels and Gemstones. I’ve always loved the idea of a trousseau- all the dresses a woman needed for one year. The idea was to go into married life without needing to spend money on a whole new wardrobe.

The term was also used for describing fashion dolls who had extensive wardrobes in the 19th century. I’ve always been smitten with the idea of dolls with trunks full of tiny perfect little garments.

Shocking? Not really.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper

I wanted to draw a dress where the pattern on the fabric was more important than the complexity of the gown. So, I decided to draw a complex Jacobean floral design which did mean I had to then color the complex design. I always wonder what I was thinking when it comes time to color these sorts of florals.

Learn & See More

On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & the other parts of the Princess Trousseau
Around the Internet: Examples of Jacobean Florals can be seen here and can be seen here

Last Thoughts on Today’s Princess Fantasy Paper Doll

There will be another Princess Trousseau dress later this week, a Friday Patreon one from last year that I am eager to share. One of the things I really am excited about this year is having a few favorite Friday patreon pieces to share with you all.

Sideless Surcoat Paper Doll Fantasy Dress

December 3, 2019November 27, 2019

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll

Sideless surcoats look strange to me. They will probably always strike me as odd. Sometimes, I look a specific eras of fashion and I feel like- Well, isn’t that peculiar.

My personal favorite on the peculiar scale being the whole of the 1830s. I mean…. the giant sleeves, the strange Apollo-knot hair, the odd shoulder coverings/off the shoulder thing. It’s just so bananas to me. This 1830s fashion plate proves what I mean.

Wasn’t it Oscar Wilde who said that fashion was a form of ugliness so abhorrent that it had to be changed every six months? I could look that up, but that’s just more work than I feel like putting into it tonight.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
As I was amusing myself doing research into medieval surcoats for my 12th-14th century paper dolls, I kept doodling surcoats. I confess these very narrow surcoats seem odd to me, but they were the inspiration for today’s paper doll and did exist. Well, not like this, but there are real ones out there, or at least illustrations of something that could be one.

By the way, I do realize most people don’t paw around medieval manuscripts looking for surcoat illustrations for fun, but that’s their loss.

Specific Source Images: This sideless surcote and this other sideless surcoat are not exactly what I looked at, but are the right theme.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & More Medieval Inspired Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Nice overview of surcoats or surcotes

Last Thoughts
As far as I can tell surcoats and surcotes are the same thing, just one with more pretentious spelling. However, I am open to being proved wrong if someone would like to enlighten me.

For my patrons, there’s an different color scheme for this outfit over on Patreon today. Join us for more paper doll content each week.

Since it’s nearly Thanksgiving here in the US, I wanted to take a moment to say how grateful I am to my Patrons and my readers. You all keep me going and I deeply appreciate you.

Adventurer and Duelist Paper Doll Outfit

December 6, 2020August 15, 2019

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Well, I’ve always loved swashbuckling films like Three Musketeers, the Princess Bride, and basically anything with pirates. I do love pirates. (Not like actual pirates, but the fantasy of pirates. Let’s be clear here. I’m not in favor of actual violence.)

I love drawing my fancy princesses, but I also like thinking about what a more practical fantasy adventurer might wear.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I do keep an entire section of my Fantasy Clothing Pinterest board devoted to “Ladies in Pants/ with swords/leather bodices”. I also keep a Pinterest Board of Fantasy Armor, but I don’t really think of these designs as being armor. I think of them just as adventurer clothing.

Specific Source Images:This outfit from Pinterest and this outfit for the Mini-Maidens

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls
Around the Internet:My “Ladies in Pants/ with swords/leather bodices” Pinterest Collection

Last Thoughts
I love princess gowns as much as I love adventurer clothing, so I am curious, what are your favorites? Fancy gowns or more practical paper doll clothing? Let me know in a comment.

Right now there is a lot going on my life, so please be kind as I work on figuring out how to get from point A to point B. I keep thinking things will smooth out/slow down, but thus far that goal has been elusive. In the meantime, remember that I’m always sharing a weekly and monthly paper dolls on Patreon, depending on your pledge level.

Rose Dinner Dress: Princess Trousseau

August 3, 2019

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
This dress is one of four I designed together. I wanted to create some rather traditional “big skirted princess dresses” for the Jewels and Gemstones paper dolls. Two of the dresses are Patron exclusives (join here) and the other two are being shared on the blog. This is the second one.

I have more in the works, but I started with four.

They all have the same muted color scheme. I really love muted colors, but I find I don’t use them that often. I think on computer they can get muddy really fast. I really liked the idea of having the same colors for all the dresses in the collection.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
This dress is the dinner dress of the set. It’s more formal than the music dress, but less formal than say the ballgown I shared with my Patrons. There’s something 18th century going on here, I think, but I didn’t really look at any reference images.

Specific Source Images: I doodle this before I drew it, but I can’t find that piece of paper- so you’re just going to have to believe me.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & More of the Princess Trousseau
Around the Internet: The “Rococo/Big Skirted Absurdity” section on my Fantasy Pinterest Board & some actual 18th century dresses

Last Thoughts
I love drawing big skirted fantasy gowns. The width of the skirt gives space to explore decorative elements that are harder at a smaller scale. Plus I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, so I am somewhat a child of the big skirted Disney Princesses.

If you’re a Patron, remember that there’s a ballgown in this series here for you all. If you’re not a Patron, here’s how to join.

Empress Fantasy Gown

July 25, 2019

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
One of my favorite things to look at on Pinterest are these fantasy versions of Tang Dynasty dress, an imperial dynasty of China spanning the 7th to 10th centuries. I don’t know enough about the history of Chinese clothing to even begin to consider drawing actual historical Chinese dress, but I really like looking. I think these gowns are all so flowing and elegant.

While I know enough about most eras of Western Fashion to at least approach them, Asian clothing (particularly China) is kinda a black box for me. I should do more reading on it, but sources are pretty difficult to find for anything before the Qing Dynasty. I own one book, but my collection is pretty limited in that area.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Occasionally, I like to dip into my own archives and draw a new gown based on an older paper doll set, especially if it’s a set that I really like. So, today’s paper doll gown was inspired by a set I did back in 2015 called the Elven Empress. While I didn’t actually look at any Tang dynasty reference images, this is definitely got some Tang Dynasty influences.

Specific Source Images: Elven Empress paper doll set from 2015

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & the Elven Empress set from 2015
Around the Internet: Tang Dynasty Dress example and a Tang Dynasty sculpture, Tang Dynasty style screen & another example of Tang Dynasty dress

Last Thoughts
As life has been nuts lately since I am moving at the moment, my goal has been one post per week for the foreseeable future and, of course, a Friday post for my Patrons over on Patreon. Thanks to everyone who supports the blog through Patreon!

The Music Frock with a Draped Skirt: Part of the Princess Trousseau

July 11, 2019

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Today’s dress is one of four I designed together to be classic “big skirted princess dresses” for the Jewels and Gemstones paper dolls. Two of them are Patron exculsives (join here) and two of them are going up on the blog here. I plan to create more, but at the moment, I just have the four.

Four dresses doesn’t make a full trousseau though, so stay tuned for additional dresses for this collection.

Princesses get a bad rep. It’s easy to look at the idea of a Princess and argue they have no automony, they get rescued and they are valued only for their appearance. Despite that, and despite being a feminist, I continue to draw regularly and often my Princess dresses.

It’s not that I’m not aware of the issues surrounding the concept of the Princess. It’s not that I don’t have serious issues with Disney and the commodification of girlhood. It’s not that I don’t occasionally prefer the idea of full-plate armor over full-skirted gowns. It’s that I don’t think femininity should in anyway be associated with weakness.

The only problem with Princesses is when they are offered to young girls as the only acceptable way to be.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I really did have a lot of fun designing this one. It pretty much came out of a doodling session on my phone using the Procreate app on my phone, which I am sort of enjoying when I don’t have pen or paper with me.

Specific Source Images: This doodle

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & More of the Princess Trousseau (which at the moment is just this dress)
Around the Internet: I do keep a “Rococo/Big Skirted Absurdity” section on my Fantasy Pinterest Board

Last Thoughts
As my long time readers know, I have a strange obsession with the idea of different dresses for different activities. I think I read to many Victorian novels at an impressionable age. So, this is kind of an excuse to indulge in that fantasy.

Yes, I know actually having to change my clothing for each activity of my day would really be annoying. I don’t even like putting on gym clothes.

If you’d like an extra paper doll each week, check out Patreon. It’s a great way to get more paper dolls and support PTP.

A Super Pretty Empire Fantasy Gown

October 19, 2022July 3, 2019

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Occasionally, I just kinda want to draw a pretty dress. I mean, sometimes I like to draw complex things with nuance and stuff, but sometimes, I just want to draw a pretty dress. Years ago, I read an article about Oscar De La Renta (an amazing fashion designer) who when asked what he did, he said something like, I make pretty dresses.

And well, sometimes I want to draw pretty dresses. Nothing more, nothing less. Remember that I draw extra pretty dresses (and other things) for my Patrons.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
As I said above, I just kinda wanted a pretty dress. There’s something sort of 1980s fantasy princess happening here, I think, but I don’t recall a specific source of any kind.

Specific Source Images: Nothing that I remember.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls
Around the Internet: Hmmmm…. I’m not sure. If you want to see more pretty dresses, I do keep a board of Fantasy Clothing on Pinterest which is full of them.

Last Thoughts
Clearly, this isn’t my most “complex” blog post. Sometimes I think a lot about what I create and sometimes I just draw. Not everything has a complex history.

I’d like to take a moment here to thank everyone who pledges on Patreon. You make this little corner of the web possible and I am very grateful to you all.

By the way, at the moment, there’s a lot going on with my world, so please know that while I love the blog and I love creating paper dolls, I’m keeping a lot of plates spinning at the moment.

Lapis the Fantasy Lady & Her Gown

May 17, 2019

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Last time we saw Lapis, she was being all Cybergoth and so I thought it would be nice if she had an option that didn’t involve amazing locks and fishnet tights. Not that I don’t love both cyberlocks and fishnet tights. This is, if you’re counting, the 16th Jewels and Gemstones doll.

I really enjoy drawing these medieval inspired fantasy gowns (as anyone whose been following the blog for a while knows), for this medieval fantasy dress I really wanted to create something simple. Sometimes, I love draw super complicated medieval inspired things with ruffles and roses and draped skirts (like this one or this one) but I also like drawing simpler fantasy things as well.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Well, this is obviously a medieval fantasy dress. Specifically, the long underdress sleeves shoved up around the wrists are a nod to the style of the Anglo-Saxons and the double wrapped girdle is a nod to the 12th century Norman dress.

Specific Source Images: Nothing this time.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & More Medieval inspired paper dolls
Around the Internet: I have a medieval inspired section in my Fantasy Clothing Pinterest board

Last Thoughts
I’ve got a poll going on over on Patreon about what time periods I should draw some paper dolls from. Feel free to go vote.

Additionally, if you aren’t following along, I am doing a 100 days project on Instagram where I am drawing #100daysofpaperdolls. It’s been super fun. I missed a few days, but I am caught up now! At the moment, my theme is mermaids, but that will probably change soon.

Lastly, I always love hearing from you all, so feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think of today’s paper doll.

Reminder, there’s always an extra paper doll outfit on Fridays over on Patreon for my 2 dollar and up patrons.