short hair

Paper Dolls in Masks! (A Pandemic Paper Doll Extra)

I have been really debating what to do about the pandemic. On one hand, I am not in anyway qualified to give anyone medical advice. (I’m qualified to maybe give archives/library/paper doll advice.) On the other hand, I wanted to respond to the current crisis somehow. It felt weird to pretend it wasn’t happening out in the outside world beyond my small isolated corner of it.

So, I decided to respond in paper doll fashion, plus I figure people need kids activity ideas right now. You need to occupy children at home and while I don’t have kids, I have a lot of empathy for folks who do.

So, behold- paper dolls in face masks!

Sapphire, Ruby and Pearl With Face Masks

Three printable paper dolls in black and white.
Three paper dolls in color to print- Diverse curvy paper dolls with different skin-tones.

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

When Alaska mandated facemasks a few weeks ago, I pulled out my trusty fabric stash and sewed up a few for me, my partner and some friends who didn’t sew. I’ll openly confess I’m not a great seamstress and mostly I work in doll clothing creation, but the mask pattern was easy enough. I used the New York Times pattern for the pleated mask. Now the mandate is lifted, but I still wear my mask when grocery shopping, as the CDC recommends.

Originally, I had planned to make the face masks for the paper dolls removable, but my prototypes did not work. So, instead, they are permanently attached to each doll. I thought about doing extra heads- the way Dolly Dingle sometimes does- but frankly that kind freaks me out. Paper doll decapitation feels weird for a kids activity idea.

Opal, Amethyst and Lapis With Face Masks

Three printable paper dolls in black and white. A kids activity idea for dress up. Three fun curvy paper dolls.
A kids activity idea for dress up- three paper dolls to print in different skintones- diverse curvy paper dolls.

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

I’ve done all the Jewels and Gemstones paper dolls here, so each page has three dolls and there are 9 dolls in total- Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Diamond, Opal, Topaz, Amethyst, Lapis, and Jade. I try not to have favorites, but I really like how Opal’s bangs came out in this set.

I also wanted to do a variety of mask styles. None of these are N-95, but rather the sorts of masks you might wear to the store. There seem to be two major styles- the curved one and the pleated one. I have a pleated mask, but I have seem lots of patterns for curved masks and those seem more popular among the folks I see during my rare grocery forays.

Topaz, Diamond and Jade with Face Masks

A kids activity idea for dress up- three paper dolls to color- diverse curvy paper dolls.
A kids activity idea for dress up- three paper dolls to dress- diverse curvy paper dolls.

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

These cute girls can wear any of the Jewels and Gemstones 2.0 clothing, so they can dress up as princesses, evening gowns or to go fishing. They can wear any of the Jewels and Gemstones 1.0 clothing by printing those outfits at 80%. There’s dozens of different outfit options at the moment.

I think my favorite mask might be Topaz’s one all covered in abstract roses/flowers/swirls. Do you have a favorite?

Everyone stay safe out there.

Spring Evening Gowns for Paper Dolls

I like starting paper doll series with evening gowns. I don’t 100% know why, but I think because they are fun to draw and everyone needs a few amazing evening gowns, don’t they?

Plus a lot of things I like draw are evening gown adjacent like fantasy dresses and evening gowns help me plot out how many pieces I can fit in a single paper doll page.

See… there is a method to my madness.

A paper doll coloring page with three evening gowns and three pairs of shoes.

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

These dresses are all based on designs from David’s Bridal and other online retailers. I could spend hours looking at fancy dresses that I have no reason to wear. My life is not that exciting.

Anyway, some of the inspirational dresses were this corset bodice and this one. Other dresses included this one shoulder gown and several other dresses like this one and this one.

I guess this paper doll could be subtitled: Rachel Spent Time on David’s Bridal Website while Social Distancing!

A paper doll with contemporary spring evening gowns, dark skin and blond hair. Free to print from paperthinpersonas.com.

Download Black and White PDF | Download Color PDF | More Jewels & Gemstones 2.0

And since it is spring, or so the calendar tells me, even if there’s 24 inches of snow on the ground outside, I wanted to focus on a color scheme that was spring colors- pastels mostly, but since I find a lot of pastels overly saccharine, these are pretty smoky.

I am excited by the fact that I can fit three pairs of shoes along the bottom of each paper doll sheet! This is a little thing, but I get joy out of small things.

I hope everyone is staying safe and doing okay in this strange time we’re all living in.

By the way, I am still sharing weekly extra Jewels and Gemstones outfits with my Patrons.

Topaz as a Woodland Fairy

A curvy fairy paper doll in color with pink hair and a cute dress.A curvy fairy paper doll in black and white with short hair and a cute dress.

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

I find I go through periods where I am drawing a lot on a similar theme. So, I created this woodland fairy paper doll during a period when I was drawing a lot of mermaids and fairy outfits. Most of them ended up on Patreon, but I try to split things pretty evenly, so I wanted something to share here on the same theme.

Additionally, I think fairies are a playful theme and kinda fun to play around with. I always like to think about drape when I’m drawing woodland fairy clothing, sort of a dress made from cloth being wrapped around the body rather than tailored together.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll

As I said above, I really was on a sort of “fairy kick” when I created this paper doll. I go through phases, after all. Despite my personal preference for darker fairy tales, I never know how to illustrate those. So, instead I tend to lean towards Victorian flower fairies (like this card from 1905) for this one.

Learn and See More

On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & more Fairy Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: My Fairy & Fauns Pinterest Board & This fascinating article on the Cottingley Fairy Hoax

Last Thoughts on Today’s Fairy Paper Doll

If you’ve never read about the Cottingley Fairy Hoax, than I would highly recommend a read. It’s a fascinating story about how smart people can be blind to things and the strange Edwardian obsession with spiritualism. There’s something really telling about the desperate desire to believe even in the face of extreme mounting evidence to the contrary.

On Friday, I post extra paper dolls on Patreon and I’ve shared a lot more fairy stuff there for my patrons whose support I am super grateful for.

Also, there’s some new pieces up in my Etsy store if you haven’t checked it out recently head over there.

Topaz: Casual Shoes

A printable paper doll with tan skin, short curly hair and three pairs of sandals. She can wear any of the Jewels and Gemstones paper doll clothing.

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

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Every-time I introduce a new Jewels and Gemstones paper doll. I try to makes sure I do a “shoe set” for her, so she has lot of shoes to wear with the different outfits I create for the paper dolls. Shoes aren’t as mix and match able, because skin-tone is often visible.

This doesn’t matter with black and white paper dolls, of course, because you can color their skin any way you like. But while I do offer coloring page versions of the Jewels and Gemstones, the paper dolls are, in my head at least, very much a color collection.

I was never a big colorer as a kid and so I think I tend to prefer paper dolls in color, though there are some artists whose black and white work is really beautiful and doesn’t need to be colored.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Her hair was inspired by a hairstyle magazine I picked up. I love hair style magazines for ideas. Anyway, it reminded me of a sort of modern take on a 1930s wave.

Specific Source Images: One of my many hairstyle magazines.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls & the other Topaz paper doll
Around the Internet: I do keep a Hair! Pinterest Board 

Last Thoughts
Quick shout out to myPatrons– thank you all for your amazing support.

I’ve been watching absurd amounts of the Great British Baking show and I find that I now really want to learn to make a jelly-roll cake, which probably isn’t something I really want to do, but watching other people make them is intriguing. Actually, the one thing I would love to learn to make are French macaroons.

I do sometimes think the thing that keeps me from eating French macaroons all the time is that I don’t know how to make them. Maybe I should keep it that way.

Meet Diamond, a New Asian Paper Doll with Practical Fantasy Armor

An Asian paper doll with practical fantasy armor and weapons for slaying/riding dragons or generally just having a good time. Print her in color or as a coloring page. Great rainy day activity.

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

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
This Diamond, a new Asian paper doll for the Jewels and Gemstones family. I really wanted to draw a paper doll with some practical fantasy armor for slaying/riding dragons or making friends with them I suppose.

I just recently divided the Jewels and Gemstones into two subsections- one for dolls and one for clothing. I figure sometimes people want a doll and sometimes people want clothing (though all the dolls have clothing, so arguably my taxonomy isn’t perfect.)

But then, what is?

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I keep a running list of themes I want to be sure to draw for any new series and “practical fantasy armor” is always on the list. While I love my pulpy fantasy armor (and I always will), I also think it is important to draw armor that might actually protect someone in a fight. Not that I recommend testing it.

Specific Source Images: This illustration and this Illustration, both from Pinterest

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones paper dolls &  more armor designs in my armor tag
Around the Internet: I collect drawings of Fantasy Armor on my Pinterest board. See also, Women Fighters in Reasonable Armor and Bikini Armor Battle Damage from Tumblr.

Last Thoughts
Not to start a battle over the best armor, but which do you prefer? Practical armor or pulpy armor? I’m evenly divided on the topic. Meanwhile, do you have a favorite source of armor illustration that I missed? I’d love to see it.

Patreon is the best way to show the blog some love and get extra content each week. Join us!

Also, am I the only one who thinks Daimond’s hair here could also stand in for a punk look? I really should draw some punk clothing for the Jewels & Gemstones. I haven’t yet.

Ruby & Her Casual Shoes: A Curvy Blond Paper Doll

Today's paper doll is a cruvy blond with a pixie cut and sandals. She can be printed in color or as a coloring page.

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

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Sometimes, I have a lot to say about a paper doll set. Other times, not so much. This is falling into the not so much category, as are most of my posts this week. Sorry. I just don’t have that much to say about these paper dolls.

When it came to coloring today’s paper doll, I decided to go a little cliche and just do blue eyes and blond hair. Of course, there is a black and white version you can color anyway you like if you’d prefer a different combo.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
For Ruby, I chose to go very casual with her shoes. Mostly, because the other version of Ruby has such formal shoes. I figured she didn’t need another set of super formal shoes. Her hair was my attempt to practice drawing short hair. I love pixie cuts, but I don’t draw them much.

Specific Source Images: This hair & these sandals.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls and my formal version of Ruby from January.
Around the Internet:All my hair sources tend to come from my Hair Pinterest Board. I do also use hairstyle magazines as well.

Last Thoughts
Totally unrelated to paper dolls, but I’ve been binge watching Umbrella Academy on Netflix. I have two episodes left. It’s so fun! I find the exploration of how messed up having super powers would probably make you super interesting even if some of the content is a bit cliche.

Also, if you love the blog and want more paper doll content there’s Patreon. You get extra paper doll content and fun perks like polls and things.

Pearl and Her Sandals: A Curvy Printable Paper Doll

A free printable paper doll with warm brown skin, black hair and lots of sandals. She's printable in color or as a coloring sheet.

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

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
So, today’s version of Pearl can, of course, share shoes with armored Pearl from January.

I really try hard to have a variety of skin-tones in my paper dolls. I also want versatility, which means limiting myself to some degree. It’s a hard line to walk and I am constantly debating the tension between versatility and variety.

There’s also a practical consideration which is that a lot of nuance doesn’t translate to print well. I assume most people print my paper dolls on home-printers and I’m aware their color registration isn’t always great. So, tiny variations in skin-tone or hair color won’t be picked up.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Um…. I don’t really got much. I did want to celebrate summer with her sandals, so I tried to chose summery colors and I wanted at least one pair of have painted toenails. I love a nice pedicure in the summertime.

Specific Source Images:This pair of sandals.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls and my other version of Pearl from January.
Around the Internet: I keep all my hair images on this Hair Pinterest Board, but I also use hair style magazines. I don’t recall the source of her hairstyle.

Last Thoughts
So, I confess that I’m not totally happy with her hair. I was going for a layered bob, but I don’t think I quite captured it.

If you don’t want to see my sketchbooks and things by joining Patreon, you can also follow me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. I post a lot less there and much later, but I do post things. Also, I secretly hate Facebook, so it might be the worse way to get a hold of me. Just FYI.

And tune in tomorrow for Ruby whose getting a blond version. Anyone who has followed me for a while, knows that I seem to rarely do blond paper dolls. I think it’s because when I grew up there were so many blond paper dolls and I always wanted redheads.

What were your favorite paper dolls when you were a child?

And this is Amethyst

This is Amethyst, the curvy girl paper doll with shoes! I’ve had so much fun drawing for my curvy Jewels and Gemstones paper dolls. She’s also available as a coloring page, if you prefer.

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

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
So, there’s something a little mass production about how I think about paper dolls sometimes. It’s like, if one is hard than two isn’t that much harder. This isn’t always the best trait in the world and I blame my father for it. He’s a man who always thinks in terms of manufacturing. I love him, but once in a while, I just want to make one batch of cookies (not three), you know?

Anyway, back when I was planning the Jewels and Gemstones debut I decided it would be just was easy to draw two of every doll (because really what’s one extra hairstyle?) as it would be to draw one and then I would have some built in backlog.

But wait, you say, I don’t recognize Amethyst from the first week.

And that is because she was a Patron exclusive when she debuted.

But this version is not, so now everyone gets to see Amethyst.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
Her skin tone is based on Karen David whose in the show Galavant. Galavant hasn’t been on for a while, but I love that show with a passion that is no totally rational. Seriously, guys, it’s a sitcom with singing set in a medieval fantasy world. How could that possibly be bad?

Specific Source Images: Nothing super specific this time. I probably looked up sandals in Pinterest. I usually do.

Learn/See More
On the Blog: More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Amethyst Snow Princess on Patreon (Patrons Only)
Last Thoughts
So, if you haven’t seen Galavant, just watch this youtube video of the song “Lords of the Sea” about pirates on land and I hope it makes you giggle. It makes me giggle every time.

Tomorrow, there will be a fantasy outfit with a sword and then we’ll see where the week takes us. Probably to coats, but I’m not sure yet.

As always, I love to hear about what you think of today’s paper doll, so please feel free to leave me a comment. (Right now, because my spam filter is acting up a bit, I am having to manually approve comments that go through the filter, so just be aware there might be delay between commenting and me seeing the comment and approving.)

Steampunk Sapphire with her Fantastic Top Hat

Today's black steampunk paper doll has her own fancy top hat and a great outfit, plus two pairs of shoes. You can print the paper doll in color or black and white, if you like to color.

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

Thoughts on Today’s Paper Doll
Continuing my Gemstone naming theme, Sapphire is today’s black steampunk paper doll. I probably should get better at spelling Sapphire, because I keep wanting to give the word two Rs.

Steampunk, which is today’s paper doll style, is a style based on the idea of Victorian clothing crossed with anachronistic styles. So, corsets, bustles, top hats and such combined in ways they never would have been combined in the actual 19th century.

Personally, I’m a bit conflicted about steampunk (especially the fiction), because I rarely see the genre engaging with the inherent colonial and racist underpinnings of British and American empire building in the 19th century. So, while I love the fashion, but I don’t want to glorify that period in history, or any period, actually. There’s no magical Golden Age.

One interesting thing I recently discovered is steamfunk which is an afro-futuristic approach to steampunk and engages in this same issue. I need to learn more about it. I literally discovered it last week.

Inspiration for Today’s Paper Doll
I wanted to do a steampunk paper doll. That’s all really. Also, I’m kinda in love with her hat.

Plus, I know I have some Patrons who love steampunk fashion and I couldn’t imagine starting out the new series with out doing at least one steampunk set.

Specific Source Images: This Wig & King’s Road Corset from Violet Vixen (the corset isn’t on their website anymore, hence the Pinterest link)

Learn/See More
On the Blog: Steampunk Paper Dolls, Victorian Inspired Paper Dolls, & More Jewels & Gemstones Paper Dolls
Around the Internet: Steampunk as Defined on Wikipedia, My Steampunk Pinterest Board, The Intersection of Race and Steampunk from Silver Goggles (from 2009, but still well worth a read), & Chronicles of Harriet article on Steamfunk

Last Thoughts
Is it wrong that a part of me still sees steampunk fashion as super close to old school Victorian inspired goth fashion? I feel like there are steampunk purists who would question that.

I do have a Patreon page where I have exclusive content and such, if you’re interested.

Steampunk? Are you into it? Not into it? Have a book recommendation for me in the genre? Drop me a note in the comments.

A 1960s Twiggy Inspired Aisha

A 1960's Twiggy inspired paper doll with three pairs of historical shoes to print in color or black and white. Her Rudi Gernreich inspired underwear is also historically accurate.
Printable Black & White PDF Printable Color PDF More Paper Dolls & Clothes

If Monday’s Abigail was an ode to the beehives of the early 1960s, than today’s Aisha is a nod to Twiggy and the styles of the later sixties. Twiggy, real name Lesley Hornby, was a famous model of the later 1960s. Her androgynous look was long eyelashes, short hair and big eyes. Well, all my paper dolls have big eyes, but I did add additional eyelashes to Aisha. Here is the official Twiggy website with photos of her modeling work in the 1960s.

Interestingly, Twiggy was the beginning of the fashionable obsession with youth. She was only 17 when she reached her stardom. Today, trends are driven by younger and younger consumers. There has always been an interest in “looking young” in fashion, but the late 1960s really instilled it into our culture, I think.

As with all my historical paper dolls, there are sources. The hair was obviously Twiggy inspired. Her underwear is based on this Rudi Gernreich bra from the Met Museum. Rudi Gernreich is most famous for his topless monokini. The bra she wears is based on his “no bra” concept, which was a bra, but without any support or padding. It is notable that this design was only available in small cup sizes. This highlights the obsession with the “youthful” boyish figure of the era.

Let’s talk about shoes (one of my favorite things to draw). The black and white pair of shoes are from 1966-1968. The white strappy pair are from the 1960s. The ones with the bow were originally pink from 1962. All are from the V&A museum which has a great costume history collection.

One last announcement, I should make the Dames and Dandies series will be going on hiatus in 2019, so I can debut my new series called Jewels & Gemstones (Thank you Patrons for voting on that). It will be a single doll pose for the first quarter of 2019. After that quarter, it will be time to reassess where things are. I’ll share more Wednesday of next week. Monday will be the last Dames & Dandies post for the foreseeable future. It’s more 1960s stuff.

Feel free to ask any questions you might have and I’ll answer if I can. You can see a preview of the new doll on my Patreon page.

Need some clothing for today’s paper doll? All the A Pose Dolls & Clothing