fantasy Archives • Page 9 of 32 • Paper Thin Personas

The Lily Ball Gown For Paper Doll Princesses

February 11, 2018February 5, 2018

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It feels at this time of the year as though Spring will never come. The weather in Alabama has been unusually cold and while I try to look at the bright side (fewer bugs), it has been a long grey winter. So, let’s look at paper doll clothing inspired by flowers.

This whole week will be devoted to the floral fantasy ball. Today, we have a Lily ballgown for the A pose paper dolls. Wednesday will be a Fiddlehead Fern inspired suit for the C pose gents. Friday Beatrix will debut as the bellflower princess with her own paper doll princess dress.

I love lilies. There were a bunch of yellow and orange lilies that grew by the door of our house when I was child. My mother is a wonderful gardener, but nothing else would grow in that corner. Those lilies grew there when we bought the house. As far as I know they are still there.

I wanted this paper doll princess dress to be elegant. It was also a chance to practice drawing lillies. I didn’t want the paper doll dress to feel to bridal, so I chose a rich color. It started out as purple, but I changed it to teal once I realized I was going to end up with two purple dresses if I kept it purple.

Anyway, to talk about the paper doll gown, I wanted to design this gown for weeks. I originally doodled it out in my notebook and I knew I wanted to make it a huge skirted sort of ballgown. The crown was partly inspired by something sort of Art Nouveau. Hop over to the Patreon page to see the original thumbnail doodle I did of this gown and the subsquent sketchbook pages.

Also, just for Patrons, there is a super fun purple version.

I’m curious. What are some of your favorite flowers? I love lilies, pansies and poppies. How about you? Share in a comment! And maybe you’ll inspire another paper doll princess dress.

Need a Doll to wear today’s outfit? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing

The Warrior Woman’s Impractical Armor

January 10, 2018

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All right, so I grew up watching Xena: Warrior Princess and I refuse to apologize for my love of completely pulpy, totally improbable fantasy warrior outfits. Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t realize that this armor would be about as useful in a fight as an actual cocktail dress, but it’s never stopped me before.

One of the great joys of paper dolls, if I may get philosophical for a moment, is that they can be anything or anyone. Any character you can imagine, can be created with just a change of clothing. Starting a new series a little daunting after having created works like Marisole Monday & Friends where there are, literally, hundreds of paper dolls.

Now, I both get the excitement of revisiting themes I always have enjoyed (like my pulpy armor today), but also the overwhelming realization that there’s hundreds of themes I haven’t explored yet- astronaut, circus, pirate, Lolita, post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk, all of fashion history and, of course, mermaids.

But those will be explored in due course, I suspect. This isn’t going to be the last set of fantasy armor for the Dames and Dandies, though it is the first.

Meanwhile, is there a theme you’re dying to see? Let me know in a comment. And enjoy today’s pulpy armor.

Need a Doll to wear today’s outfit? All the B Pose Dolls & Clothing

And Then There Was a Fantasy Gown

July 6, 2018January 3, 2018

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It’s hard to know with what paper doll dress to start a new paper doll series. It’s full of both excitement and worry. I decided to make the first outfit in the series a classic fantasy gown design. It’s actually the first gown I drew for the new series after I had the dolls finished, so I suppose it is a fitting place to begin.

I picked a rich dark blue as the primary color scheme for the gown with red and ocher. It should come as no surprise that her accessory is a book. I do love drawing books for my paper dolls. It’s the librarian in me. The garters are very decorative and I don’t know how practical they would be, but they do look nice.

Inspiration wise, the fantasy gown design owes a little to the 12th century dresses like the bliaut, but there wasn’t a specific gown I based today’s dress off of. If you’re not sure what a bliaut is, than picture the stereotypical medieval dress and you’re pretty much there. Historical bliaut’s were more loose and less fitted.

Today’s design probably owes more to Victorian interpretations of the bliaut like the one in The Lady of Shallot by Waterhouse or The Accolade by Edmund Leighton than actual 12th century bliauts. It’s astonishing to me, sometimes, how much the visions of the medieval era are shaped by the romantic paintings of the Victorians (and, to be technical, the Edwardians as Waterhouse was later.)

Meanwhile, I’ve got an alternative color scheme for today’s gown over on the Patreon page for my patrons to check out. Join if you’d like to support the blog!

As always, I would love to hear what you think in a comment.

Need a Doll to wear today’s outfit? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing

The Poppets’ Purple Princess Dress & Headdress

December 27, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Burgundian Gowns,
Sorta Kinda

I’m a sucker for an over the top princess dress. Always have. Always will be. One of my favorite sticker paper dolls when I was a kid was called Storybook Princess.

You can still get it from Dover, should you like.

I bought it more than once and played with it for hours before the stickers would wear out and I would have to buy a new one.

My other favorite was a cat sticker paper doll that had outfits for each season. I don’t think they make it anymore.

I digress.

So, the whole idea with today’s princess paper doll dress was to have fun and draw something that I imagined a little girl would love.

The basic silhouette of the dress and the headdress are both Burgundian, but really… there’s nothing historically accurate in either. Last year, I did a snowflake Burgundian inspired fantasy Poppet gown which could definitely go with this one.

For my Patrons, there’s an different color scheme of today’s dress. Join if you’d like to see it and/or support the blog.

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

Winter and Spring Sorceress Paper Doll Dresses

May 22, 2020December 22, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Vintage Santa Claus Illustrations and Layers

After I finished my Autumn sorceress gown, I began working on designs for a winter version. I knew I wanted fur and heavier looking fabric. After a few drafts (and with some inspiration from old illustrations of St. Nick), I came up with this design. I wanted it to feel lavish, but also warm.

Like the other dresses in the Sorceress Gowns Project colors really mattered. Initially, I wanted to make her fur trimmed coat red, but that felt a little to Father Christmas for me. So, instead I chose colors that reminded me of my visit to Alaska in November. Blues and greys that evoked the cool peacefulness of a winter day.

I wanted some big statement jewelry for her to really stand out against the turtle neck of her dress. So, I had fun designing that big gold bib necklace.

For her magical staff, I wanted snowflakes and the north star. I also added a ski poll like pointy bottom for hiking through the snow and being safe while doing so. I couldn’t decide between gold and silver for the colors of the staff, so I used both.

Her boots are fur trimmed. The soles are meant to reflect ice skates.

I also had a lot of debate about what color to make her stand. I almost made it white, but then I felt like it looked “unfinished” somehow, so blue won.

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Crocuses and Melting Snow

When I think of spring I think of crocuses. Perhaps, because I grew up in a snowy place. I think of their little flower heads poking out through the melting snow, seeking light and warmth. So, when I set out to draw a Spring inspired Sorceress gown, I knew crocuses were going to be featured.

Beyond the crocus, I knew I wanted drape and layers. I wanted something that was soft and warm, the way I think of spring sun as being soft and warm.

The pattern on the dress is meant to invoke the melting snow. The white dripping down and off the grass and the slow emergence of color again. I love winter. I love the stillness and the peacefulness, but spring is a time of transformation.

Color wise, I returned to the crocus. I wanted greens and purples and rich yellow. I wanted things that were soft and sweet, but also vibrant. Spring is not peaceful to me (unlike winter).

Her corset features a crocus, of course, and so does her staff.

So, today’s two Sorceress Gowns Project paper doll dresses were about two very different seasons. I am deeply proud of both gowns, though there is a lot of diversity in them.

What do you think of today’s gowns? Do you have a favorite? Let me know in a comment.

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

Poppet Paper Dolls Get A Princess Ice Skating Toilette

December 15, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Her Ladyship’s Skating Outfit

Several years ago in 2014, I created a black and white paper doll called Her Ladyship. It was a fun project and I still really like a lot of the designs I made for that paper doll. If you like to color, than I would highly recommend printing her out. She’s a hoot to color. An ice-skating toilette from that paper doll inspired today’s Poppet ice skating toilette.

Sometimes, when I am short on ideas, I go back to my own older work and look for things to adapt to the new series or dolls. I never do this one request (so please don’t ask me), but I do it when I feel moved to do it.

Personally, I think of this as a princess outfit (though here is no crown) and it could go with some of the other fantasy things I have created for the Poppets, especially this one and this one.

There’s a much more pink version of today’s ice skating outfit over on the Patreon page for my Patrons. It’s very pink.

In case you’re wondering, next week will be Ms. Mannequin paper dolls and the B&B series. As I mentioned on Monday, I am basically posting backlog for the month of December while I work on new things to post beginning in January.

By the way, I’ve clearly been playing around with putting up my new blog theme. Please be patient with me while I work out all the kinks.

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

A Curvy Fairy Printable Paper Doll for Today

November 20, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Sorceresses and Flowers

So, I’ve been drawing Bodacious and Buxom paper dolls since 2013 (which sorta surprised me when I did the math) and I’ve never done a fairy version.

I didn’t even realize that until I was writing today’s post and I thought, “I’ll link to any other fairy B&B content I have.”

And then I was like, oh, I don’t have any. Opps.

Anyway, I’m not sure what that has to do with anything except that I was struck by this while I was writing this post and I wanted to share.

Obviously, today’s fairy printable paper doll is a long time coming. You don’t see a lot of curvy fairies in this world and I think that’s a little sad. Curvy girls can be fairies, too.

Afro-puffs inspired the fairy printable paper doll’s hair. My love of afro-puffs is well documented on this blog and continues apace. Along with not seeing a lot of curvy fairies, you don’t see a lot of fairies with natural hairstyles either.

I almost gave her more natural brown skin as well, but then I was like, she’s still a fantasy creature. Plus I have an odd fondness for blue skin.

(Not unlike my odd fondness for afro-puffs.)

If you’re not sure about the blue skin, than there’s a lilac version over on my Patreon page. It’s open the public so anyone can view it. My patrons got to see it on Saturday.

Meanwhile, let me know. Do the B&B girls need more fairies in 2018? And if not, what else would you like to see?

Need to get some more clothing for this Bodacious & Buxom paper doll to wear? Pick out some clothing here

A Set of Fantasy Costumes for the Sprite Printable Paper Dolls

November 16, 2017November 10, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This Tunic and This Dress from my Pinterest Fantasy Board

I had fun drawing today’s fantasy outfits for the Sprites. They’re a little cliche perhaps, but since when I have I let that stop me from doing something?

Part of the fun of drawing the Sprite’s series is thinking of how to coordinate a guy’s outfit and a girl’s outfit to at least seem to go together, if not perfectly match. In this case, the guy’s outfit came first. I love the asymmetry of this tunic. Adding the layers of trimming was a way to emphasize that design detail.

The lady Sprite dress was inspired by this fantasy dress, which I confess isn’t very unusual. I did like the higher waist and I wanted to mirror the trim on the guy’s tunic. I added the metal details to the belt as a way of giving the whole look some more dimension.

In my head, these outfits are for a culture that lives somewhere cold. The boots and the long sleeves are for warmth. There’s also probably some symbolic meaning in the different trimmings, but I’m not sure what exactly.

I think the color scheme is also making me think frozen Northland or, at least, slightly temperate Northland. Interestingly enough, there’s a whole different color scheme to see and download on my Patreon page. It’s open to everyone, but donations to the blog’s upkeep are always gratefully accepted.

Meanwhile, let me know what you think of today’s Sprites outfit in a comment.

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

The B&B Curvy Paper Dolls Get An Autumnal Sorceress Gown

November 8, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations:Falling Leaves and Layered Gowns

After I finished the Elements dresses for the Sorceress Gowns Project I wasn’t sure what to draw next. The elements made a lot of sense to me, but then I was like… What other sorts of gown themes can I explore?

However, as autumn has come to Alabama and with it there are lots of leaves turning, I decided an series on the seasons would be a fun thing to work on next. So, today’s Sorceress Gowns Project paper doll outfit is based on the themes and colors of autumn.

I wanted to use colors that I see in the hills around town these days. The rich reds and yellows of turning leaves. I chose to do several different leaf designs.

The staff was inspired by a tree branch, though I’m not sure it entirely works.

And like all the Sorceress Gowns, she has some pretty cool boots.

I haven’t drawn winter, spring or summer yet, so this might end up the lone gown, but I plan on them. I just haven’t decided what I want them to look like quite yet. I’ve been working on thumbnail sketches for those dresses. I think I have a decent idea of what they might look like.

Of course, I tend to change my mind a lot, so it is also totally possible that I will before I do the final dresses.

Meanwhile, Friday there will be a super fun Sprites fantasy set.

As always, let me know what you think of today’s paper doll gown in a comment. I adore hearing from you all.

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

Marisole Monday’s Fantasy Peasant Costume

November 6, 2017November 6, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Um… Not Suew What to Put Here

I’m not entirely sure how to describe today’s paper doll outfit. It’s a fantasy outfit, but it is not really a princess theme. I tend to think of princesses as being more formal. This is less princess and more something a charming milk maid wears in an opera.

Opera costumes are on the list of things I’ve never drawn, but kinda want to draw someday.

Anyway, I’d love to say something deep and meaning full about this one, but I really don’t have anything. I don’t even remember if there was a specific inspiration.

I’d love to say it was operatic milk maids, but it wasn’t.

(Also, is it just me or would Operatic Milk Maids be a pretty good name for some sort of feminist punk band? Sort of Emilie Autumn, but with more cows.)

Anyway, the top is kinda 18th century-ish. The skirt is sort of 1980s. The stockings and shoes have a vague 19th century thing going on. Mostly with the garters, as elasticized garters with metal fasteners were a thing in the 1890s.

Elastic is actually much older than most people think. It was invented in the 1820s for fastening gloves and such.

Oh, before I forget, there’s a second version of today’s design on the Patreon page for my Patrons.

By the way, this week is a themed week. I really enjoy sorting things and organizing them into themes. (Yeah, not really shocking given that I’m a professional librarian.) This week’s theme is fantasy and especially different styles of fantasy. So, today we have a fantasy peasant dress, tomorrow there will be an entry into the B&B Sorceress series and on Friday a medieval fantasy set for the Sprites.

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

Mini-Maiden’s Might be Pirates in Today’s Set of Paper Doll Clothes for Coloring

May 12, 2020October 20, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: This Amazing Leather Bodice

I don’t really know what is going on with today’s printable paper doll clothes for the Mini-Maidens. Is she a pirate? Is she a warrior? Is she just someone who super adores thigh high boots?

The possibilities are truly endless. Endless I tell you!

This incredible leather bodice with cut outs inspired this whole outfit. The moment I saw it I knew I wanted to draw it. Beyond that, I wanted to do something different with the boots.

I draw a lot of boots, but I honestly don’t think I’ve ever done a strap pattern like this before. Because I didn’t want the bodice to overshadow the boots, I treated the straps as almost jewelry. That’s why they got the elaborate studding detail and the fancy clasps on them.

This outfit came out beautifully, I think. I still don’t know if she’s a pirate or something else, but I want to find out. (Also I think she can kick my butt.)

So, let me know in a comment what you think of today’s paper doll clothing to color. It’s one of my favorite sets.

Meanwhile, if you need more boots and leggings for the Mini-Maidens than pop over here or here or here. Also, this set works, too.

Man, I do have a fondness for leggings and boots. I never noticed how many I have drawn.

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

A Mini-Maiden Fantasy Gown Inspired by Hanfu

October 11, 2017

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Today’s Printable Paper Doll Inspirations: Fantasy versions of Hanfu Gowns like this one, this one and this one

On Monday, I posted a Lord of the Rings Marisole Monday paper doll gown which was a very European fantasy look. It was, after all, based on English and French fashions form the Medieval era. Today’s Mini-Maiden paper doll gown was inspired by Chinese historical clothing.

The hanfu, specifically. There’s something about these gowns like this one and this one that I just think are so elegant. I realize they aren’t exactly historically accurate, but I think they are still beautiful.

And lord knows, I’ve never been one to let a lack of historical accuracy stop me.

I think this would be a fun dress to color and I might even add some pattern to the long outer robe, if I were to color it, I think.

Most of my inspiration for today’s paper doll gown comes from Pinterest. Gowns like this one, this one and this one from my Fantasy Clothing Pinterest board. More examples would be this dress and this dress.

Personally, I love wandering around, metaphorically speaking, on Pinterest. I always see things and I think, “Huh. I want to draw that.”

Love this dress? Hate it? Let me know in a comment. I always love to hear from you all.

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