Mermaid paper dolls

 Hello!

Original Paper Collage Painting by inkspired

All paper collages are hand cut from recycled junk mail - catalogs, flyers, magazines, etc.

Let’s have some fun with mermaid paper dolls!

Unless noted, these are all free for you to download and print for your personal enjoyment. Let’s play nice and not try to sell them or mass produce any.

Unfortunately most I have found on Pinterest with no identifying info on who drew them or where you could find them.

As always, I try to give credit where it is due. If you know information about any of these please let me know so I can give credit.

Some of the paper doll clothes do not have tabs, so be sure to add those when you are cutting them out.

Artist: Milka Tertsunen; ArtStation

Cory Jensen is a favorite paper doll artist of mine for two reasons. He is incredibly talented, and most of his paper dolls he offers for free! Here are a few of his:

Paper dolls by Cory Jensen

By Cory Jensen

Here are a few more versions of The Little Mermaid; many are styled after Disney’s Ariel.

By Cory Jensen

Unknown

By Cory Jensen

‘Irina’ Collage Art Doll by inkspired

Paperthinpersonas.com

If you like these paper dolls the artist offers free ones when you sign up for her e-mails.

Artist: Audrey Kaiser

Print out your mermaid twice. The first one glue to thin cardboard, like a cereal box. Or you can print onto a heavier weight cardstock. Then cut out. Draw a stand on first if you want, and cut as one.

The second print is printed on paper. Cut the costumes out, remembering to add tabs if there aren’t any. If it needs to be colored, do this before you cut out.

Paper dolls by Cory Jensen

I thought we needed some mer-men to compliment our mermaids.

Here is a jointed merman by a different artist-

Artist: Shawne Johnson

Here is another jointed PaperDoll, a mermaid, you can put together with brads, eyelets, or string.

PheeMcFaddell.com

Here is one by the same artist that you can color yourself-

This next one is just the mermaid. I thought it was such a great, simple design that you might like to draw some outfits for her. 

Print her out. Go over the major lines with a black Sharpie. Place on a window, with a plain sheet of paper on top. Trace the main lines. Now you have the basic shape and you can start creating outfits to fit!

Make a few copies of the basic shape. Draw your clothes slightly larger, and don’t forget to add tabs. Since she is a mermaid, draw a stand so she can stand alone for playtime. You could draw a piece of coral or seaweed for her to ‘sit’ on.

Have fun!

www.finfriends.com/printable-mermaid-easter-paper-dolls/

Posted on Pinterest by Crafty Annabelle

Now it’s time to go take a break and drink some water and eat goldfish crackers!

The next 2 mermaid paper dolls are by the same artist, but very different styles-

Artist: Julie Allen Matthews

Artist: Julie Allen Matthews 

Next I have 2 more by Cory Jensen-

Paper dolls by Cory Jensen

The next 2 paper dolls are Lucia and Rina, drawn in manga style-

Artist unknown

 I’ve covered many different styles of mermaids for you. Now the hard part - which one to pick to print and play with first?

‘Til next time,

inkspired

You can find me on Pinterest as

Karen Kloberdans

Antique theaters

Welcome!

All kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidoCam app

I was browsing through some of my Pinterest boards

looking for fairytale ideas to share.

I found some wonderful posts of

antique paper theaters.

I thought perhaps you have never seen one,

or don’t know what they are?

Bloomberg.com

These paper theaters were made to entertain and keep busy children and were quite popular in the Queen Victorian era.

Since they were made of primarily paper we have some good examples to treasure; unlike the beautiful ornaments of that time that were made of wax and stored in attics.

(‘I’m melting...I’m melting!
Oh! What a world, what a world!”)

 - the Wicked Witch of the West

By using copy/paste we can print out many 

of these antique examples of Victorian theater play.

Here are a few examples:

Courtesy of Open House Miniatures, Pinterest

The above reproduction is sized to go in a dollhouse!

Similar to Auric’s Illuminated Toy Theater, type Orphee.

Yes! You can even print out full orchestras to go with your paper theater, along with audiences and

tons of accessories to go on stage or off.

French Opera Theater, courtesy Ruby Lane

The above theater looks like it has used 

a cigar box for the base.

Good idea!

Posted by geheugenvannederland.nl

To make your own reproduction theater you will need:

Color print outs of-

*several back drops of scenery

*actors printed and cut out

*the decorative front of the stage

*optional accessories such as piano, side tables, potted plants, or anything to help tell your story

You will also need:

*a sturdy base

*a support of some kind to hold the backdrops

*thin cardboard like a cereal box

*glue or spray fixative

For fun embellishments you might want:

*fun flocking

*glitter and a fine tip glue dispenser

*decorative pens

*glitter glue such as Stickles

*tiny buttons, ribbons, embroidery floss

*stickers, assorted

Really, anything you want to make your theater special.

Perhaps you want a fabric curtain to open and close

instead of a printed one.

Maybe bottle brush trees at the sides would suit you

better than a paper one.

Let your imagination

run wild!

Tiffinboxdesign.blogspot.com.ru

This one uses an old suitcase as its’ base.

Great for storage when not in use!

Janinasdesign.blogspot.com

Ideally your bottom platform should have grooves in it, 

running from side to side.

You can mount your characters onto thin pieces (like balsa wood) that you then slide back and forth in the grooves.

Posted by Craftsman on Pinterest

If you look carefully you can see the thin slats 

that the actors are mounted to.

If you would rather move your actors around like chess pieces,

using spools (decorated or plain) works fine.

I would probably glue a paper clip partially down the inner hole of the spool. That way you can change actor pieces around, but won’t have so many spools to store.

Found on Pinterest

Another option that is especially fun with

action scenes or ballet & dance

is to glue a metal thumbtack or a small weaker magnet

to the bottom of each actor.

Then mount a stronger magnet onto a piece of thin wood, sturdy cardstock or even to the end of a wood spoon.

Having a longer handle is helpful.

This magnet goes under the stage floor.

As your actors with the metal ‘bottoms’ are placed on the stage, you can move the under-stage magnet

and your characters will dance and twirl!

This simple stage would be perfect for dancers:

By French Laundry

You can build your entire theater from cardboard

that is sturdy, like from a box.

Use strong, wide tape and glue to keep it all together.

I would then cover with decorative papers

or printed antique theater papers.

If spray fixative is your friend, use that to place papers.

Unfortunately spray fixative is not my friend

so I use a combination of double stick tape

(Viva Las VegaStamps has the best -

vlvstamps.com)

and Aleene’s Tacky Glue in the goldish bottle.

From Salaludica imagery, June 6, 2017

The above colorful theater is a great example!

You can see the decorative papers on the front and sides;

 and the grooves on the inside floor 

to move actor pieces around.

You also can see how multiple backdrops really

give the whole scene a lot of richness and depth.

One thing I haven’t mentioned is 

I suggest that you glue ALL paper pieces 

onto thin cardboard, such as what cereal comes in.

It will drastically reduce your frustration 

over torn or ripped pieces.

Antique theater backdrops
shared from different sites and museums.

That’s all I have time for tonight.

More pieces and diy directions coming!

‘Til then,

inkspired

Truth, usually experienced before 10am

or coffee...

Stay at the door and watch The Dog when you let her out. Otherwise it may be an hour before you wake up again and realize she has been outside the entire time.

Being the Good Dog she is,

she is too polite to bark to come in.

However, bad weather will make her grouchy,

as will an empty stomach.

Head Start for December, 2020

Welcome!

Kaleidoscope by inkspired 

Did you feel so rushed in the last couple of weeks?

Were there decorations you didn’t have time to finish?

Did you plan on sending handmade cards,

 but only had 3 to send?

Are there handmade gifts you had hoped to give,

but there wasn’t time to complete?

No fear!

It’s not too late dear!

For 2020 holidays that is!

By Kathy Hering

I want to inspire and encourage you today.

Start with making a list,

itemizing what you would like to have done for 2020.

My list looks something like this:

Make a list of friends & family.

Make Christmas cards for all on my list.

Start an idea list of gifts.

Complete and frame 1 holiday papercutting.

Finish paper nativity set.

Choose color/theme for 2020 Christmas tree.

Start homemade ornaments for tree.

 A fairy peek-a-boo box, ready to start.

Now, that’s MY list.

Make yours to fit YOUR wishes.

A wonderful papercutting pattern, found on Pinterest.

Artist Unknown

Let’s look at some ideas that might be on your list.

 A vintage paper doll

Start looking at free/vintage paper dolls that you can print.

Decide if you want to give uncut,

or if you want to cut out and mount on sturdy card stock

(like cereal boxes!).

If you cut them out you can add all sorts of embellishments!

Gingerbread House found on Pinterest

Start looking at different gingerbread houses.

There are a ton of them out there.

Sketch out some ideas for your gingerbread creation.

Posted on Pinterest by OhMyFiesta

Why not start making a table centerpiece featuring
this simple sleigh pattern?
You could use heavy card stock, stiff poster board,
a piece of foam core, balsa wood...
Resize on your computer as desired.
Fill it with Christmas candies,
silk florals and greenery,
shiny Christmas ball ornaments,
or....?!
Then, if you like how it turns out,
make a few more to give as gifts!

All iris folded cards found on Pinterest.

If you challenge yourself to make 5 handmade cards
each month, starting now,
You will have 60 cards finished for Christmas 2020!

FYI iris folding makes up very quickly
with stunning results!


Here are a couple of different sleigh patterns for you,
one to cut and frame and one to print and cut.

Apologies, but artist credit is in Russian I think.

Posted on Pinterest by Knick Of Time

Unknown artist

Unknown artist

Another simple papercutting pattern, 
you could use as a Christmas card front, or frame and hang.
And
A fun iris folding snowflake pattern.

Hand painted card by Sharon Krohn

Well, I do hope you feel inspired!

You know,
Christmas is not meant to be a one day affair,
But an everyday way of living.
Enjoy!

‘Til next time,
inkspired

Truth: (usually experienced before coffee and/or 10 am)
Before taking your morning multi-vitamins,
make sure you are grabbing the correct cup.
Hot coffee is not meant to gulp down pills.
Also
there is no need to ‘blow’ on your cup of water
to help cool it down.

Kaleidoscope by inkspired