Paper Dolls: A Fun and Creative Craft for Kids
Do you remember playing with paper dolls when you were a child? Paper dolls are figures cut out of paper or thin card, with separate clothes, also made of paper, that are usually held onto the dolls by paper folding tabs. They can be a figure of a person, animal, or inanimate object. Paper dolls have been inexpensive and popular children's toys for almost two hundred years, and they are still being created today. In this article, we will explore the history, types, benefits, and methods of making paper dolls at home.
What are paper dolls?
The history of paper dolls
Paper dolls have been around as long as there has been paper, perhaps hundreds or even thousands of years by some estimates. Faces or other objects were applied to the paper and they were used during religious rituals and ceremonies in the Asian cultures many centuries ago. The Japanese used paper for origami, the art of paper folding, and dating back to 800 AD they folded paper figurines in the shape of kimono. Balinese people made paper and leather into puppets since before the Common Era. Other cultures around the world have had paper formations or paper art, including in Poland, where they were called Wycinanki. These early types of paper figures differ from typical paper dolls today, as no clothes were made to be used with the dolls.
paper doll
The first manufactured paper doll was Little Fanny, produced by S&J Fuller, London, in 1810. In Europe, particularly France, the first paper dolls were popular since the mid-18th century. The oldest known paper doll card is hosted by Germanisches Nationalmuseum and was printed around 1650 in Southern Germany, showing two female figures with a number of dresses, pieces of headgear, hairstyles and accessories. The paper was jointed and they were called pantins meaning dancing or jumping jack puppet. They were intended to entertain adults and spread throughout high society. They were drawn or painted like people with fashions for each doll. These were more similar to contemporary Western paper dolls.
The first American manufactured paper doll was made in 1812 and called The History and Adventures of Little Henry. It was published by J. Belcher of Boston. Paper dolls have been used for advertising, appeared in magazines and newspapers, and covered a variety of subjects and time periods. Over the years, they have been used to reinforce cultural beliefs regarding the appearance of ideal women. Today, they have become highly sought-after collectibles, especially as vintage paper dolls become rarer due to the limited lifespan of paper objects.
The types of paper dolls
Paper dolls come in all varieties. Some need to be punched out. Some need to be cut out. Some even allow children to color them in, thus engaging even more creativity. Paper dolls can be based on historical figures, celebrities, fictional characters, animals, or objects. Some examples of popular paper doll themes are:
Historical Paper Dolls: These paper dolls feature costumes of people from different eras and cultures.
Paper Dolls in Science: These paper dolls teach children about anatomy, biology, astronomy, or other scientific topics.
Multicultural Paper Dolls: These paper dolls celebrate diversity and introduce children to different ethnicities and traditions.
Everyday Dress-Up Dolls: These paper dolls allow children to dress up their dolls in different outfits for different occasions.
Fantasy Paper Dolls: These paper dolls spark imagination with magical creatures, fairy tales, or superheroes.
What What are the benefits of paper dolls for children?
Paper dolls are not only fun and creative, but they also have many benefits for children's development. Here are some of the advantages of playing with paper dolls for kids:
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They stimulate creativity and imagination
Paper dolls allow children to express their artistic skills and create their own stories. They can design and color their own paper dolls, or use the ones that are already made. They can mix and match different outfits and accessories, and create different scenarios and characters. They can also use other materials, such as stickers, glitter, or fabric, to decorate their paper dolls. Paper dolls encourage children to use their imagination and explore their own interests and preferences.
They foster social and emotional development
Paper dolls can be used as a tool for social and emotional learning. Children can play with paper dolls with their friends or family members, and learn to share, cooperate, communicate, and empathize. They can also use paper dolls to express their feelings, emotions, and thoughts, and cope with difficult situations. Paper dolls can help children develop a sense of identity and self-esteem, as they can choose paper dolls that reflect their own personality, culture, or aspirations.
They enhance fine motor skills and language skills
Paper dolls can also help children improve their fine motor skills and language skills. Cutting out paper dolls, folding tabs, dressing them up, and moving them around require hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and precision. These skills are essential for writing, drawing, and other activities. Playing with paper dolls also exposes children to new words and concepts, such as clothing items, colors, shapes, patterns, body parts, emotions, actions, etc. Children can learn new vocabulary and practice their speech by talking to their paper dolls or narrating their stories.
How to make paper dolls at home?
What materials do you need?
Making paper dolls at home is easy and inexpensive. You only need a few basic materials that you probably already have in your house. Here is a list of what you need:
Paper: You can use any kind of paper you like, such as printer paper, construction paper, cardstock, or scrapbook paper. You can also recycle old magazines, newspapers, or catalogs.
Scissors: You will need scissors to cut out your paper dolls and their clothes. Make sure you use child-safe scissors if you are working with young children.
Glue: You will need glue to stick your paper dolls together or to add other decorations. You can use any kind of glue you prefer, such as white glue, glue stick, or hot glue gun.
Markers: You will need markers to draw your paper dolls' faces and details. You can also use crayons, colored pencils, or paints.
Tape: You will need tape to make tabs for your paper doll clothes. You can use any kind of tape you have, such as masking tape, clear tape, or washi tape.
Other materials: You can use any other materials you want to make your paper dolls more unique and fun. For example, you can use stickers, glitter, sequins, buttons, ribbons, fabric scraps, yarn, etc.
What steps do you follow?
Once you have gathered all your materials, Once you have gathered all your materials, you can follow these simple steps to make your paper dolls at home:
Draw or print your paper doll template. You can draw your own paper doll on a piece of paper, or you can use a template that you can find online. There are many free printable paper doll templates that you can download and print. You can also use a photo of yourself or someone you know as a template.
Cut out your paper doll. Use scissors to carefully cut out your paper doll along the outline. You can also cut out some hair for your paper doll, or leave it blank if you want to draw it later.
Decorate your paper doll. Use markers, crayons, paints, or other materials to draw your paper doll's face and details. You can also add stickers, glitter, sequins, or other decorations to make your paper doll more colorful and fun.
Make clothes for your paper doll. You can use the same paper as your paper doll, or you can use different kinds of paper to make different outfits. You can also use fabric scraps, ribbons, buttons, or other materials to make clothes for your paper doll. You can draw or print clothes templates, or you can design your own clothes by tracing around your paper doll. Cut out the clothes and add tabs to them by folding a small piece of tape over the edges. The tabs will help you attach the clothes to your paper doll.
Dress up your paper doll. Use the tabs to put the clothes on your paper doll. You can mix and match different outfits and accessories, and change them as often as you like.
Play with your paper doll. You can move your paper doll around and make it act out different stories and scenarios. You can also make more paper dolls and play with them together. You can create a paper doll family, a paper doll school, a paper doll party, or anything else you can imagine.
Some examples of paper doll crafts
Here are some examples of paper doll crafts that you can try at home:
Paper Doll Craft
Description
Paper Doll Chain
This is a classic paper doll craft that involves folding a piece of paper accordion-style and cutting out a paper doll shape along the folds. When you unfold the paper, you will have a chain of connected paper dolls that you can decorate and play with.
Paper Doll Bookmarks
This is a cute and useful paper doll craft that involves making small paper dolls with long dresses or skirts that can be used as bookmarks. You can make different characters and themes for your bookmarks, such as princesses, superheroes, animals, etc.
Paper Doll House
This is a creative and fun paper doll craft that involves making a house for your paper dolls out of cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, shoe boxes, or other materials. You can decorate the house with paper furniture, wallpaper, curtains, rugs, etc. You can also make different rooms for your house, such as a bedroom, a kitchen, a living room, etc.
Conclusion
Paper dolls are a fun and creative craft for kids that have many benefits for their development. They stimulate creativity and imagination, foster social and emotional development, enhance fine motor skills and language skills, and provide hours of entertainment. Paper dolls are easy and inexpensive to make at home with some basic materials and simple steps. Paper dolls come in all varieties and themes, and children can design their own paper dolls according to their preferences and interests. Paper dolls are a timeless toy that can be enjoyed by children of all ages.
FAQs
What are some tips for making durable paper dolls?
Some tips for making durable paper dolls are: use thick or laminated paper for the base of the paper dolls; use glue or tape to reinforce the joints of the paper dolls; avoid bending or folding the paper dolls too much; store the paper dolls in a flat or closed container; handle the paper dolls gently and carefully.
What are some ways to display or store paper dolls?
Some ways to display or store paper dolls are: hang them on a wall or bulletin board with pins or magnets; attach them to a string or ribbon and make a garland or banner; put them in a photo album or scrapbook; use clear plastic sleeves or envelopes to protect them; use shoe boxes or plastic containers to organize them.
What are some other crafts that can be made with paper dolls?
Some other crafts that can be made with paper dolls are: make paper doll cards or invitations for birthdays or other occasions; make paper doll magnets or stickers for the fridge or other surfaces; make paper doll puppets or masks for role-playing or storytelling; make paper doll collages or mosaics for art projects or decorations.
Where can I find more ideas and inspiration for paper doll crafts?
There are many online resources and books that can provide you with more ideas and inspiration for paper doll crafts. Some examples are: [The Paper Dolls Project], a website that features free printable paper dolls from different artists and cultures; [Making Paper Dolls], a book by Marilyn Scott that teaches you how to make paper dolls from various materials and techniques; [Paper Dolls of the World], a book by Judy M. Johnson that showcases paper dolls from different countries and eras.
How can I involve my child in making paper dolls?
There are many ways to involve your child in making paper dolls. You can: ask your child to choose the theme, style, or character of the paper dolls; let your child draw, color, or decorate the paper dolls and their clothes; help your child cut out the paper dolls and their clothes; encourage your child to play with the paper dolls and create stories and scenarios; praise your child's work and creativity.
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