Paper Doll Hearts

 Welcome!

All kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidaCam

Can you believe it? Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! What happened to January? What happened to 2025 for that matter! No matter if I am ready or not, time marches on. I better get with it, and share some Valentines with y’all.

These are the outside and inside of a card I made recently. The Cupid has been made with an Iris Folding technique. Just type that into the search engine and you should find many examples and directions on that technique in past blogs.

The bow/arrow was cut with my Cricut (pronounce it just like the little critter). The inside was cut using metal dies with my Spellbinders Platinum.

Today however I want to share some heart-felt paper dolls with you. I have chosen ones that can be printed on one page and sent/given to the Valentine of your choice. Many of them are vintage.

Children’s PLAY MATE magazine; 1929-1935

Unknown, most likely magazine

 There was a time when sending paper doll valentines was very popular. Electronic games and hand held devises had not been invented yet. Cutting out paper dolls, making props from things around the house and writing little scripts for puppet plays was a common pastime for both girls and boys.

Vintage Valentines

These paper doll valentines are very collectible now, especially if they are uncut. A brief look on eBay found uncut paper dolls Valentines for sale anywhere from $17 for one 1940’s pre-owned, to 2 uncut ones for $45.50. A 1978 Joan Walsh Anglund one page Valentine was listed for $20.

1993

Joan Walsh Anglund, 1987

I do admit, however, the ones from the 1940’s or so are my favorites!

Here are a couple more modern Valentine-themed paper doll pages:

While animal paper dolls remain a steady favorite, there doesn’t seem to be as many Valentine animal paper dolls as there are little girls. I did find this cute little bear however:

If you are wanting to draw your own paper dolls for a fun Valentine’s Day card, why not try a simple cat, dog or bear shape? The clothes would be much more forgiving to draw and color. Here’s a Dolly Dingle style dog, Fido, for inspiration-

Artist Grace Drayton

And a cute piggy-

Both of these sets have simple shapes with no hands you have to draw, or funny feet. Don’t forget to always add tabs to hold the costume in place.

The next 2 pages are by Lydia Fraser, a well-known Canadian illustrator and artist from the 1930’s. I believe these paper dolls were from Canadian Home Journal.

By Lydia Fraser

This next page is from the artist Hilda Miloche. This popular paper doll artist had the Cherub Valentine published in 1948 in 

The Story Parade Magazine for Boys and Girls.

The next paper doll is by popular artist and illustrator Mary Engelbreit.

Here is a Valentine you can print out and color yourself, or let your recipient color it. It is drawn by Melissa Pepe.

Missmissypaperdolls.com

Can’t have a paper doll blog without including the iconic Betsy McCall-

1957

Here are 2 more vintage paper doll cards-

The next black and white paperdoll is by Laura R. Brock. She drew for a Los Angeles newspaper and this one is from a series from 1933-1934.

Laura R. Brock, 1933-1934

About ready to go find your paper scissors, fire up the printer, and grab some white cardstock?

No cardstock? Then just print on regular copy paper. Glue the sheet onto the back of a box, like a cereal box. Now is the time to color, if it needs it. Draw in the clothing tabs and a paper doll stand if needed. Now cut out, and let your imagination fly!

Let’s close with another vintage paper doll Valentine, from around the 1940’s perhaps-

‘Til next time,

inkspired

A few sites I checked out while writing this blog:

Papergoodies.com

eBay 

Pinterest

worthpoint.com

 

Winter Paper Dolls

 Welcome!

Vintage paper doll

It’s time for paper dolls!

We’ve been shoveling snow for a few days now. It’s time to break out the sweaters and gloves and thick, warm socks.

If we aren’t shoveling snow or drinking hot chocolate, what’s there to do?

Cut out and play with paper dolls of course!

 I haven’t shared paper dolls in awhile, so I have combined the two. Here are some paper dolls that all have a winter-themed outfit(s). Let it snow!

Vintage paper doll; PLAYMATE magazine

Betsy McCall was a featured paper doll for many years in the McCall’s magazines. As styles changed, so did she, with several different artist conceptions. The fun thing about Betsy is that all of her paper doll clothes were available as sewing patterns for you to purchase and make for your favorite little girl.
Here are a few:

Next are some unknown origin paper dolls that appear to be vintage. As always you can print out these crafts/games/paper dolls etc. for your own personal use.

They are not available for you to sell in any shape, way or form.

/

Unknown 

Unknown

Unknown

To get lots of playtime with paper dolls you print out, follow these directions:

*Rough cut the paper doll. Leave as much space as you can around the base, where the shoes are.

*Draw a half circle at the feet. This will be 1/2 of her stand.

*Glue doll only onto sturdy cardboard, such as the inside of a cereal box, or the shirt board that comes inside men’s dress shirts.

*Cut out carefully. Be sure to cut the base as one.

*Cut out clothes, printed on regular typing weight paper.

*Take some extra cardboard and cut a matching half circle to the one you drew on the base. Cut a slot in the middle, going 1/2 way through cut base only, from the top down. On the doll, cut a slit that matches the 1/2 circle one, cutting slot from bottom up.

*Slot together to form a cross. Now your doll can stand!

Add a half circle to the bottom of this doll so she will be able to stand.

Artist M. Emma Musselman

After a half circle is added to this doll, you won’t need the tabs on her outfit’s feet. Just snip those off.

Here are a few paper dolls you can color:

By Virginia Sargent, The Friend, Scandinavian magazine

Julie F. Young, Friend magazine, Dec 2021

The Montreal Beacon, 9/27/1940

By Shirley Simon

Katy Keene was a very popular paper doll published in the Katy Keene comic books. The artist was Bill Woggan, who drew outfits from suggestions by readers. Here is a wintry page for you.

Artist Bill Woggan

Another popular syndicated comic strip paper doll of the 30’s - 40’s and later was Jane Arden:

My next paper doll you color and cut out. Then fasten the pieces together with metal brads so her legs move. She is a perfect doll to glue onto light weight cardboard.

Artist Georgia Brown

Neva Schultz (artist for the Golden magazine, 1960’s) has drawn many charming paper dolls. I chose this set because their clothes look warm and cozy:

Here are a couple of more modern paper dolls, with warm Winter outfits:

From Virtualdollconvention.com

Artist Diana E. Vining

I know this next one is French. I suspect she is vintage and possibly from a magazine. Do you know anything else about her?

Unknown

The last one for today is a black and white cartoon boy with a few great snow outfits! That’s all I know about him.

Unknown

Stay warm!

Let the kids do the snow shoveling!

Build a snow family!

‘Til next time,

inkspired

Kaleidoscope by inkspired