Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Why I Love Paper Dolls

Sorry for the lack of posts - my hard drive died and I've been without a computer for a while. I planned a photo shoot for today, but since I can't do that because I'm out of town, here is a list of why I love paper dolls.

1. They are much cheaper than plastic dolls. To make a paper doll, all you need is some paper, a pencil, and markers (or crayons or colored pencils). A good pack of markers usually won't cost you more than $10 (my set of 50 markers was $7 at Target), and you can make as many dolls, outfits, and accessories as you want. In contrast, most plastic dolls of good quality cost at least $30 (some of my favorite dolls, American Girl dolls, cost $105), and you have to pay more money for accessories and outfits.

2. They are easily replaceable. One of my paper dolls was eaten by my dog back in November, and I was able to make a new one for free. If it had been a plastic doll, I would have had to pay quite a bit of money (of course, the exact amount would depend on the doll) to replace it.

3. I can customize my dolls and their things. If I think a purple dress would be prettier in blue, it is no trouble at all to get it the way I like.

4. Retirement is no issue. Say I want a doll that is out of stock, or retired. All I need is a picture and I can make as many as I like.

5. They are easy to store. Since they are flat and small (none of my dolls is taller than three inches), they do not take up very much space in a room or a suitcase. They are also easy to conceal from those who think I am too old for dolls :) .

Of course, none of this is meant to imply that plastic dolls are not worth having or that paper dolls are flawless; to the contrary, I would love to have a collection of plastic dolls someday, and certain things are extremely difficult or impossible to recreate in paper. But if you, like me, are low on cash to spend on a doll collection, paper dolls are a great alternative.

4 comments:

  1. I love this idea!!!! But I have one question, do you change their clothes or draw another doll wearing the outfit? Also, I'm not very good at drawing. Do you have any suggestions on how to make a cute paper doll?

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    1. Hi myagrocks! The clothes are removable, so I can change outfits. I'm planning to post a tutorial on drawing paper dolls soon, and I hope you find it useful!

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  2. I really enjoy your paper dolls. I do something similar with the AG mini dolls. There's no way I can afford all of the historical and other AGs I'd like, so I get the mini doll, cheaper still at amazon, and make things for them. To me the making and being creative is more fun than buying. It's the same with your paper dolls!

    I really like the way you did Saige's braid. Did you glue on an extra piece of paper?

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    Replies
    1. It's much more fun (and easier on my wallet) to be creative! Plus, you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

      The braid is removable - there's going to be a tutorial on that next Tuesday.

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