fantasy

A Noble Female Knight & Her Armor

A set of female knight armor with swords for the paper dolls today! Not as heavy duty as full plate, but I had a lot of fun designing it. As always, there's a black and white version too if you want.

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
I draw a lot of warrior paper dolls, because I really enjoy designing both pragmatic practical looking armor (like today’s) and totally absurd insane impractical looking armor (like this one) and I think both have a place. I tend to think of my paper dolls that wear more practical plate style armor as knight paper dolls, even though there’s nothing that really specifies such a thing.

When I am dealing with plate armor there’s always going to be a lot of grey, so I try to find colors to accent it. For some reason, I really like purple with gray and brown, so that’s what I went with here. I also liked that it was a little unexpected.

Also I can’t decide how to describe this. I’ve settled on “female knight armor” which I like slightly more than “lady knight armor” or “woman’s knight armor”, but I’m not smitten with any of those descriptions. It really only matters for SEO reasons, but still… sigh.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Hmmm… well, armor of course. I just wanted to do a plate armor design that didn’t go over maile (which is my usual default) so I ended up with this.

Specific Source Images: This fantasy armor illustration and this fantasy armor illustration

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & More Warrior Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: I keep a whole fantasy armor board on Pinterest for inspiration when designing these sorts of things.

Last Thoughts
I know there’s a word for these quilted coats that go under plate armor, but I’ll be darned if I can remember what it is. Maybe someone can help me out in the comments?

One of the blessings/curses of having done so many paper dolls is that I sometimes feel like I am repeating myself. I try not to let that bother me, because when it comes to paper dolls the process is what I really enjoy. I think of it like knitting or sewing. You can buy a shirt or a you can buy a hat, but if you enjoy the process of making one than who cares how many you have made? I do try to seek out variety though- both because it entertains me and because I think I would get really bored if I didn’t.

As always, comments are always appreciated and if you would like to support the blog than consider becoming a patron.

Nostalgic Fantasy Gown with Some Wedding Dress Influences

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
I am really not sure how to classify this dress. It could be fantasy. It could be steampunk. It could be princess.

I suppose it can be whatever you want it to be. I just wanted to draw a pretty dress and this was the outcome of that. I chose the word “nostalgic” for it, because the dusty colors reminded me of Victorian post cards.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I don’t really know. I think the skirt shape probably owes something to dresses like this one. Since it is a pretty stiff aline, but there isn’t a specific source I can point to.

Specific Source Images: Nothing today.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls
Around the Internet: So, I am weirdly obsessed with Japanese bridal sites, because the dresses are so over the top. Kuraudia has the full Barbie wedding dress line. And it is amazing.

Last Thoughts
I am not lying when I tell you I love these Barbie wedding dresses. I would never wear them, but I am kinda in love with them. You can see the catalogs here.

A big thank you to my patrons for their amazing support. I know one of my patrons really loves it when I do full skirted fancy dresses, so I hope she enjoys this little foray into that style, though I don’t think this dress is that over the top.

How would you classify this dress? Fantasy? Princess? Steampunk? Let me know in a comment.

Lady in the Castle Fantasy Gown

A colorful printable paper doll dress inspired by the medieval period and you can print it in color or in black and white for coloring.

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
I am really bad at coming up with names for these paper doll outfits. I really had no idea what to call this one. I think sometimes I shouldn’t name them at all, but I missed giving them names when I was not naming things. Now I am naming things and that’s giving me fits.

What’s the old saying? The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Anyway, I digress.

I suppose I could have called this- Vaguely Medieval Fantasy Creation, but that doesn’t really roll off the tongue, does it?

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I wanted to draw a medieval feeling gown without having to be historically accurate in anyway. So, I created this.

Specific Source Images: This surcoat from Pearson’s Renaissance Shoppe and this photograph of some character from the show Merlin. (Confession, I watched one season of Merlin and was not a big fan.)

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Medieval Inspired dresses & More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls
Around the Internet: Faerie Queen Costuming, Pearson’s Renaissance Shoppe and Armstreet are all fun places to see similar designs.

Last Thoughts
If you are a patron hop over to Patreon where there is a second pink and green color scheme for today’s paper doll dress. It was super fun to color. If you’re not a patron, consider joining.

I’m traveling a bit this week (last trip for a few weeks, thank goodness!) So, I maybe a little slow on responding to comments/approving them. I need to get my spam filtering stuff set back up. That’s a goal for May.

A Fairy Gown with Wings (Fairies need wings, after all)

An elegant fairy gown with wings!

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Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
When I consider themes I like to draw for paper dolls (and there are a lot) fairies usually show up somehow.

It’s funny to me how much I like drawing sweet flower fairies with butterfly wings given my preference for actual fairy folklore where you do not really want their attention and they might kill you.

Still, it is more fun to draw versions with butterfly wings and draped grecian gowns.

Every paper doll fairy needs wings! So, you can glue these wings to the back of the paper dolls and they can fly! (Well, not literally) But you should glue the wings to the back of the paper doll and then fold them back slightly, carefully. Then the tabs for the clothing can slide between the wings and the back of the doll.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I wanted to do a draped grecian inspired fairy gown with boots and I wanted to draw some over the top fairy wings.

Specific Source Images: This illustration from Pinterest and This Illustration from DeviantArt

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls &  my round-up of all my fairy paper dolls from the blog
Around the Internet: I collect illustrations of Fairies (and Fauns) on my Pinterest board.

Last Thoughts
Yesterday, my amazing supporters on Patreon got a evening gown yesterday, so join up if you want a Friday paper doll outfit every week!

Plus, if you follow me on Instagram, you can see the 100 days of paper dolls I’ve been working on. Me and three other paper doll artists are all using #100daysofpaperdolls to share our work.

Patterned Renaissance Fantasy Dress in Teal

A fantasy dress inspired by Renaissance designs with an elaborate pattern of birds and flower for the Jewels and Gemstones. Available in black and white or color.

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

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
I would probably draw nothing but fantasy dresses for quite some time and never get bored, because there’s so much history to fashion to dip into a try. People have been wearing clothing for pretty much, well, ever. So, it’s a huge deep pool of neat stuff to pull ideas from.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Today’s paper doll gown is very much a renaissance inspired gown, though it’s not historically accurate in anyway. By the way, the dress is really close to Italian renaissance styles which the high waist and the split sleeves that show off the shift underneath.

Specific Source Images: I didn’t really look at anything while I was drawing it (the perk of spending so much of my free time collecting clothing images), but if you’re interested in similar styles here’s a few options: This gown, this gown and this gown.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Renaissance Inspired & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet:Actual Renaissance Dresses from Italy look different than this one. Here’s a few: this one , these ones or this one.

Last Thoughts
I love drawing super detailed pattern motifs, like the one above, until I am coloring them. While I am coloring them a little piece of me cries and cries and wonders what I did it. Such a pain to color!

Despite that, I chose to color this twice. No really! There’s a second blue version over on my Patreon page that anyone can see and download.

Meanwhile, I’d love to hear which version you like better. This teal version or this blue version?

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!

A Purple Fantasy Princess Frock With Shoes

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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.

Viking Woman Warrior Inspired Fantasy Outfit with Weapons

A viking woman warrior fantasy outfit with trousers, tunic and weapons. The weapons are critical to the design. A free printable art design in color or black and white.

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

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
On some level, I draw the sorts of paper dolls I wanted as a child. I wanted hundreds of outfits. I didn’t want 100s of dolls, but one doll with a huge wardrobe. Well, now a days I also recognize the importance of doll variety (being that I am no longer 12) and I have too much fun drawing different dolls to just have one.

Beyond all that, I draw things that I feel like drawing. This isn’t great for the sites stats, but it does make me happy. Sometimes, that means I draw a Viking woman warrior in the form of a paper doll outfit. I firmly believe anything can become paper doll clothing. (Not anything SHOULD become paper doll clothing, but that’s a whole different issue, you know?)

Now, I admit things get a little random around here. This week they certainly will, but I hope everyone has as much fun as I do with the random.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
In my head, I sort of organize my fantasy paper dolls in to several categories based on their general aesthetic. There’s Asia inspired or Renaissance inspired or Russia inspired. Today’s set was Viking inspired, but I mean… it’s a fantasy outfit, but it feels Viking to me.

Specific Source Images: This Viking Woman Warrior which I found on Pinterest and couldn’t find a source for, sadly. It’s lovely digital art. Let me know if you know the artist.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Viking Inspired Paper Dolls & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: The Viking Inspired Section of my Fantasy Pinterest Board

Last Thoughts
Today’s Viking inspired fantasy outfit will be followed by some professional wear tomorrow. See, I said this week would be random.

This week’s random collection would have gone up last week, but cybergoth won the poll I gave those who support me on Patreon. If you want some input into those things, you can join us there.

Now, I know I will always sometimes have random weeks, because I don’t always want to draw a bunch of the same thing, but I am curious. Do you prefer weeks with themes or weeks of random? I feel a little divided. I think theme weeks are great if you like the theme, but maybe little dull if you happen to hate cybergoth or something. What do you think? Let me know in a comment.

A Set of Fantasy Warrior Armor

Pulpy fantasy armor for the printable paper doll with boots and a bow. Printable in color or black and white.

Printable Black & White PDF Printable Color PDF More Paper Dolls & Clothes
Every time I draw one of these totally absurd, completely impractical over the top fantasy armor sets, I try to blame it on my love of Xena: Warrior Princess as a child. But maybe I just like drawing over the top fantasy armor sets.

Anyway, this set was actually inspired by an old paper doll set I drew back in September 2012 for Marisole Monday.

In the process of drawing this set, I did realize I have no idea how long an arrow in ratio to a bow is actually supposed to be. 

So, what do people think of today’s paper doll? I’d love to hear in the comments and if you enjoy the paper dolls, consider supporting the blog on Patreon. 

Need a doll to wear today’s paper doll clothing? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing

An Autumnal Princess Dress With Matching Shoes

A fantasy princess gown with a ruffled over skirt and a draped skirt from paperthinpersonas.com. Also can be printed in black and white.

Printable Black & White PDF Printable Color PDF More Paper Dolls & Clothes
Today’s paper doll post is a big skirted princess fantasy dress- one of my favorite styles to explore. I’ve done quite a few of these dresses for the B pose ladies before. You might remember my fall steampunk inspired one from a few weeks ago.

There’s also a spring inspired one, a winter one and a purple bow covered ballgown. 

Also, if you hop over to Patreon, there’s a second color scheme for today’s down. While you’re there, check out my poll about the blog post images over on Patreon. You can vote even if you’re not a Patron and I hope you do! It’s all about how the post images I create of each paper doll set should look.

And do let me know what you think of today’s gown in a comment. I love hearing from you all. 

Need  a doll for today’s clothing? All the B Pose Dolls & Clothing

And Now the Guys Have Another Fantasy Outfit

Printable Black & White PDF Printable Color PDF More Paper Dolls & Clothes
Sometimes I create a paper doll outfit that gives me fits and this was one such paper doll outfit. I must have been seriously out of it when I penciled this. So, I ended up needed to do a lot of Photoshop work to make the whole outfit fit the paper doll. It was a pain.

But I’m actually pretty happy with how it came out once I solved the problem of the fit.

I do try to test everything in Photoshop before I finish it, even if I don’t test everything physically. If I had to cut out every paper doll set I ever designed, I would basically spend my entire life cutting out paper dolls.

Not that I don’t cut them out sometimes just for fun.

I really do enjoy designing these fantasy outfits. They are probably my favorite things to design. I think I watched too much Hercules and Lord of the Rings as a young person. I love the costumes from Game of Thrones, but I confess I haven’t been able to get into the actual show. There’s a little to much violence for me to actually watch the show.

What shows are you watching right now? I’m super enjoying the X-men show, Gifted and I am slowly getting into Doctor Who which I never watched before. I have a long time before I catch up.

Need a doll to wear today’s clothing? All the C Pose Dolls & Clothing

A Big Skirted Princess Dress, Anyone?

This Princess dress design for the paper dolls features buttons, autumn motifs and colors. There's a steampunk princess element as well with the top hat and boots. You can also print it in black and white for coloring if you wish.

Printable Black & White PDF Printable Color PDF More Paper Dolls & Clothes

There are genre’s I come back to over and over again. Some of them are themes like post-apocalyptic or fairies. Others are more like fashion styles. On of them is what I call “Big Skirted Princess Dresses.”

One thing you must know about me is that I was a child of 1980s and 1990s. That means, I grew up with Disney movies like Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid (which terrified me so much as a child I refused to watch it again until I was in my 30s.) I also grew up with paper dolls of these movies and the paper dolls of Peck-Grande who made the most amazing fairy tale paper dolls. Seriously. Check out their Beauty and the Beast paper doll or Sleeping Beauty paper doll. Also big skirted over the top dresses were sort of a thing in the 1980s and early 1990s.

So, in my head, fairy tale dresses with huge skirts and crazy decorations are just what princesses wear. Plus the big skirts give lots of room for added decoration.

Today’s foray into the big-skirted-princess-gown genre has a bit of a steampunk vibe. I really wanted this dress to feel autumnal, just like I think the other big-skirted dresses I have done feel like they are from other seasons. This one was my winter dress and this one was my summer/spring dress.

Do let me know what you think of today’s post in a comment. I love to hear from you. If you want to support the blog, think about donating through Patreon.

Need  a doll for today’s clothing? All the B Pose Dolls & Clothing