Reminder: Contest Entries Due July 31!

Just wanted to remind everyone that you have until midnight on July 31 to submit your entries for the doll design contest. Currently there is only one entry, so your chances of winning are fantastic. Please go here (http://paper-doll-world.blogspot.com/2013/07/exciting-new-contest-starts-today.html) for the rules. I would really love to see what you come up with, and if I say so myself the prize is pretty nice!

You could win this sheet with almost all of the new releases, complete with the two new dolls and Meatloaf!

Please send all entries via email to mypaperdollworld@gmail.com. Can't wait to see your designs!

Paper Dolls Past

While I was cleaning up today, I found some old paper dolls that I thought would be fun to share with you. 

I made Gertrude when I was in kindergarten. As you can tell, I had no idea how to properly size clothes, so I'm sure that the outfit I made has no hope of fitting her (check out those minuscule red shoes!). I have no idea what the brown rectangles are - extra hair, perhaps? 

In addition to Gertrude, I made a brother, George. Again, his body is totally messed up (a few years later I tried to edit his feet and hands, which is why they look a little "off"), and I have no idea what's up with his hair. I like the addition of the gingerbread men, though, even though they also look really bizarre. 

The third doll I found was much more recent - I suspect from around 2010. I don't remember her name, so I used a random name generator to come up with Alice.

Alice was the first doll I made with removable hair - as you can see, the bangs and back can be switched out. Working with Alice today made me realize what a bad idea it was to make the hair separate instead of one piece (little pieces have a tendency to get lost and then reappear just as you've made the replacement). 

Alice's face is different too, particularly her nose. I was going for a more realistic look, but the end result, combined with her pupil-less eyes, is not as nice as I was hoping for.

                                           

Her body was not tape-laminated, and you can see how that has caused problems with her body. When I tried to remove her outfit, she almost tore.

                                   

Alice is wearing a retired AG hiking outfit (it wasn't retired when I made her, which makes me suspect that I made her around 2010) and a pink and green backpack. The outfit is all one piece, which is good for not losing pieces but eliminates mix and match potential.

     

Alice is about Quinn's size, but their faces and body shapes are completely different. Quinn's top does not fit Alice at all, and Quinn is drowning in Alice's outfit. Quinn's face looks more alert and friendly, while Alice's face looks blank and almost upset.

Conversely, Holly's swimsuit, which fits both Holly and the Blythes, is way too big on Alice. Alice's hiking outfit does not even come close to fitting Holly, so I didn't photograph it.

What Alice lacks in appearance, though, she makes up in accessories. I found this sheet with her, evidently planning to make her this set.

These are the accessories to Lanie's camper, rendered in the smallest scale I've ever made food. Alice herself may not be the greatest looking doll, but I really like these little items.

Another doll I found was this baby, also unnamed. She shares Alice's coloring, so perhaps I intended them to be siblings, though I can't place this doll in a time period. I'm sorry that this picture is so blurry, but it just shows to emphasize how small she is, that it is literally impossible to get a clear photo of her face.

                                       

According to the random name generator, her name is Ella. Ella's hair was once removable, but is now taped securely. She's tape laminated, though I don't know if I did it when I made her or later on. 

 I don't think that I'll include these in the weekly photo stories, but they give a nice perspective on how paper doll drawing styles change.

How have your paper doll drawing techniques changed over time?

Beat the Heat: Make a Bike

Biking is a fun activity during the summer, especially when it's not too hot and you're on your way to an exciting destination. Here's a tutorial for a trail bike perfect for summer excursions.

Measure your doll to make sure that your bike will be at the right scale. I wanted to make a bike that all the dolls could use, so I used Perrin, whose height is about average for the dolls, as a model. 

Draw the bike. If you want, you can make the wheels move by drawing them separately and attaching them with paper fasteners. 

Color it in. I decided on the color scheme of the AG trail bike, although I also like the colors of this one from Little Miss Matched.

Cut out the spokes and inner parts of the bike with a pocket or craft knife. You can also use scissors, but your cuts will not be as precise and it will be very difficult. 

Draw two triangles under the wheels to keep it stable.

Cut it out, and you're done! Perrin and Violet are going to meet Juliet for a picnic by the lake; what adventures will your dolls go on with their bikes?

Finished Prize!

I'm finally back home! Hopefully the tutorial will be up tomorrow (I need to finish unpacking and get all my paper doll things set up again), so here's a photo of the prize for the paper doll design contest, all colored in and ready to be sent out to the winner.

If you haven't entered the contest, please do! Find more details here (http://paper-doll-world.blogspot.com/2013/07/exciting-new-contest-starts-today.html). Good luck!

Entry 1 - Lillian Grace (Miss Bliss)

 Hi my name is Miss Bliss. My paper doll is named Lillian Grace. Enter Lillian Grace!

Hi. Since she just announced me I won't repeat my name. What's so cool about my wardrobe is I sewed all my clothes. I am also a home-schooler and have been for all my life. I love being a home-schooler! 

This is my entire collection.

I have been sewing my clothes a long time. In that time I have developed my own unique style.

This is my favorite outfit. I love the hat!

This one is probably my least favorite. But still pretty!

This hat fits really well!

Here is my bed! Only, what's really cool about it is that it flips over to be a different bed!

See? Here's the other side! I am going to use this for storage. I will sleep in one side, my clothes will go in the other!  Thanks!       Lillian Grace, signing out.

Inspiration for Lillian Grace and her collection: freshmodesty.blogspot.com

Thank you Miss Bliss and Lillian Grace! 

Want to enter the contest to win a sheet of the latest AG releases? Go here:

 http://paper-doll-world.blogspot.com/2013/07/exciting-new-contest-starts-today.html

A Trip to the Art Gallery

A photo story with Quinn and my design for an art gallery to be situated by a nearby creek:

When the new art gallery opened, Quinn decided to stop by and see the exhibition. The fabric panel walls glowed in the sunlight.

The paintings were very nice, but Quinn's favorite part was the sculpture by the stone pool. The little card behind it said it was called "The Diver" by Charles Umlauf, and that when it rained the water would flow into the stone pool, so it would look like the sculpture was diving into the water. 

After looking at the art, Quinn stood under the roof and looked out to the river. 

She climbed down the bank to the artist studio. It was all glass except for the roof, which allowed lots of light to come in, and gave a great view of the nature surrounding the space. 

Inspired by the tree nearby, Quinn sketched an oak by a river bank. 

What inspires your art?

Contest Rules Explained

There was a bit of confusion regarding the contest rules yesterday, so here's a quick post to clarify everything.

This contest is open to everyone, and each participant gets one entry. All entries should be submitted to the email address in the sidebar. A completed entry has:

1. A few sentences (or more, feel free to write as much as you would like) giving a backstory for a character you create. The character can be based on one from a book, movie, TV show, etc., or it can be one that you make up yourself.

2. A sketch, Polyvore set, scanned image, etc. of the inspiration for your character and collection. This can be images of whatever the character and items are based on, items that inspire aspects of the character's outfits or personality, whatever you like. 

3. A paper doll representing your character. The doll can be any size you like, but should not be a replica of an existing doll. 

4. 3 outfits for the doll. These outfits should have a consistent theme that fits in with the backstory and character (such as steampunk), and should not be exact replicas of existing outfits. Get creative!

5. A few accessories that help show the character's personality. Pets are fine as long as you make other items as well. 

Please submit 3-5 photos of the doll and items, along with the text for the backstory, before midnight on July 31. There is currently one spot open for a guest judge, so please let me know if you are interested (keeping in mind that if you judge then you can't enter as a contestant). PaperDollies and I are the other two judges, and entries will be judged on their creativity and artistic merit.

The prize is a sheet of paper versions of almost all the new AG releases. The winner will get it as a PDF file, so please give me an email address I can reach you at so I can send it to you if you win. 

Good luck! I can't wait to see what you make.

EDIT: PaperDollies is not going to guest judge, so now there are two openings. Again, let me know if you are interested.