Here is a fun paper doll project that allows for personal creativity. There are links at the foot of the article to make a long ballet tutu, and also a short tutu for your new paper doll.
The paper doll is on graph paper made up of 1 inch (2.5cm) squares. Actually you may be able to print out this pattern directly in the correct proportions as I made the JPG image 100 pixels wide per inch. Now, wouldn't that be a time savings. Give it a try by clicking on the printer friendly view of the article with the button below this article, then printing it out.
If that doesn't work for you here are instructions to make your 1 inch (2.5cm) square graph paper.
First, take an 8.5 by 11 inch piece of plain paper and draw 1 inch (2.5cm) squares - I do this by drawing horizontal lines 1 inch apart down the page, and then vertical lines 1 inch apart across the page.
Next, looking at the JPG image you want to enlarge, copy what is in each of my squares into your squares.
After you've cut out your dancer paper doll use coloring pens to bring her to life. If you print out several dolls you can have a whole ballet class of paper dolls, all colored in a bit differently.
Do you see the tabs on the sides of the dancer? Those are to stand her up on a very easy doll stand I will now describe:
1. Take a plain piece of 8.5 by 11 inch thin carton - letter size - and fold in half so each side is 8.5 by 5.5 inches.
2. Then fold in one inch at both the top and bottom edges. You can now stand your construction up like a tent.
3. Now stand your doll against one side of the tent and with a pencil mark the spot the doll tabs at the leg edge meet on the paper. Put the doll aside, open the page again and carefully with scissors make a slit just large enough to slip each tab through.
4. Then you doll can stand up while you're playing with her. After cutting the slits, use a piece of sticky tape to bring the edges of the stand together to keep its shape.
You can make many of these stands and pretend they are scenery or a backdrop for the paper dolls.
After cutting out the paper doll from the graph paper, I recommend tracing her onto cardboard and cutting her out, to give her some strength to stand. The inside of cereal box carton is free and a good way to recycle the box.
Have fun and be creative!
Dancer paper doll by Susan Kramer. You may make this doll for personal use but not for commercial purposes.
