Favorite Tutorial Ever

You might remember that the reason I started Paper Doll World is that I wanted to find better storage solutions for paper doll storage than the solutions I had developed (ie, accordion-folded closets). At last, here is a better storage solution. It's more than a doll closet; it's a portable doll house and photography studio.

You'll need an index card box (any sort will do), index cards, scissors, tape, and whatever materials you use to set up photo scenes.

Depending on the size of your materials, you may want to trim them to fit your box.

Use a little tape to attach your dolls to an index card. If your box has a pocket in front, cut the card to fit and slide it in. If not, put the card inside the box like you would any other card, or tape the card to the inside of the lid.

I put Aisling on the bottom of the card to avoid damage to her face when opening and closing the box; this way, all the dolls are covered by plastic. To recreate this with a standard index card box, cut a sheet protector and tape it over the card.

Attach all the doll clothes to a different index card, and arrange them to your liking. I found it helpful to divide the shirts, pants and skirts, dresses, shoes, and small pieces. The lines also serve to limit the amount of clothing per section, to avoid excess. 

Repeat with your other doll items. Depending on what you have, you may want to arrange things differently; I set up a card for food and a card for props. 

Place the cards in the box, and place all the scene items behind the cards. Now you have a portable doll closet that you can set up as a doll house or photography studio in minutes - all required props and outfits are in one small, centralized, easily transported container. 

 Just for fun, here are some more photos of the new, as yet unnamed, doll.

Two names I really like right now are Tesla and Rani, though I'm worried that neither truly suits her.

I also like Isabella, but I'm not sure if that will be her name because the 2014 girl of the year is rumored to be named Isabella.

Not figuring out her name is driving me absolutely nuts! I don't think I've ever had a doll that was this hard to name. 

Anyway, I hope you liked this tutorial. Anything in particular you want to see next (besides fall items and saris)?