These Free Printable Paper Dolls and Clothes are ready to download, print, and color! This fun craft for kids provides hours of activity with two paper dolls that stand on their own.
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Hours of Fun with Paper Dolls!
Printable paper dolls provide such open ended and fun free play. Who could count the hours that I played paper dolls with friends that lived in the neighborhood?
My friends and I purchased some of our paper dolls. We would cut them out on the lines, then mix and match the clothes for various outfits.
But the dolls that we made ourselves were what occupied us for hours upon hours. We cut out people from catalogs then glued them to cardboard cutouts so they would stand upright.
Next, we outlined our dolls on paper and created outfits, colored them, and cut them out. The trick was to remember cutting out tabs to hold the clothes on the dolls! So many good memories. We learned how to make paper dolls, but we could have used our own paper doll templates along the way, that's for sure!
That's why I made these printable paper dolls just for you and your kids! May these dolls provide your kids with hours of fun, just like I enjoyed as a kid!
Supplies Needed
You don't need much to bring these paper dolls to life!
- Free Printable Paper Dolls and Clothes to Color- Of course you'll need the free template to download and print!
- Colored pencils or markers- I used Prismacolor Colored Pencils, 72 Pack, that's my favorite, but these Colored Markers work well too!
- Cardboard- we will use cardboard as a backing for the dolls to make them easier to play with.
- Other items- a pair of scissors and some clear Elmer's glue will also be great to have on hand for this craft.
Steps to Make Paper Dolls
Would you like something to occupy your kids with imaginative play? Time to start a collection of paper dolls!
This is an idea for kids of all ages that takes low input from you and will come together fast. This is also a great way to exercise fine motor skills for younger kids as they work with adding clothes to the little dolls.
Print off the free template
Start by downloading the free template: Free Printable Paper Dolls and Clothes to Color!
These free downloads are available for your personal use, I hope it brings so much fun for the whole family! You can also enjoy these for classroom use, they are a fun way to get kids coloring and using their imagination along the way.
Color the boy and girl dolls
These fun paper doll cutouts include a boy and a girl, as well as a couple outfits to decorate to get you started.
Just print out the dolls template for as many kids that would like their own paper doll. As you print, you can use any kind of paper. If you aren't using cardboard backing, I would print on a sturdy card stock to make sure the dolls will hold up.
Now it's time to color! The best way to decorate these paper dolls is with colored pencils or markers. You can also paints if you'd like, but be sure to use the right kind of paper for anything like watercolor paints.
Decorate with any skin tones the kids would like, perhaps they would like to create their own dolls that are "twins", that look like them!?
Now glue the paper doll to some cardboard and be sure to let it dry completely. Finally, cut out the dolls and their cardboard backing.
Decorate the paper doll clothes
Next let's print out the paper doll clothing template patterns! Kids can decorate these clothes in their own style and color scheme. Print out as many different outfits as you'd like, it's fun to decorate even the same clothing shapes different ways!
Cut the clothes out carefully, watching for and cutting around the tabs. Older kids will do fine with this task, but little ones might need some help from an adult.
Place the clothes on the body of the doll and fold the tabs around to the back of the doll so they stay on. If this is frustrating to the child you can cut the tabs off and use a bit of sticky tack to hold the clothes on the doll instead.
How to Make Your Own Paper Doll Clothes
Making your own doll clothing is easy too!
Start by making the printable doll from the template. Now simply trace around the body of the doll in pencil to form the shape of the body. From this outline, they can create an outfit to the design they have in their imagination.
This is a fun way to create vintage or historical clothing and seasonal outfits. Not to mention, a way for kids to bring any fashion ideas they want to life! I’m always amazed at the ideas the kids come up with, it's so fun to see their imaginations working.
My granddaughter created a dress for her little girl doll with a series of flowers that flowed down the front. It made me want to copy the beautiful pattern onto a dress for myself!
How to Make Paper Dolls Stand Up
Included in the paper dolls printable pattern is a stand, designed to help the paper dolls stand upright. From experience I can tell you, when the dolls stand up, they come alive in play time! Ha!
Cut the bottom of the paper doll on the two solid lines and cut the stand on the two solid lines. Bend the stand in half and slip the doll down onto the stand.
Of course, YOU need your own doll to color and dress too! Be sure to print off one for yourself and design away. Have some fun alongside the kids!
Who knows, you may have a future fashion designer in your home.
Craft Tips
Here are a few tips to help you with these paper dolls:
- Let them dry- It's very important to let the dolls dry completely after gluing to the cardboard. I didn’t wait till fully dry and the paper tears easily.
- Cutting the shoulder line- you have to cut the girls hair on the line along the shoulder up to the neck. This allows the tabs to go over her shoulders and under the hair.
- Decorating the clothing- It is best to decorate the clothing before you cut them out. This makes them easier to color!
Craft Variations
Want to mix it up a bit? Try these fun variations!
- Make their own dolls- If the kids are enjoying the activity, it may be fun for them to make their own doll as well, just like I did way back in the day. Once they create their doll, trace the doll on blank paper or on patterned scrapbooking paper and make their own outfits from the outline.
- Magnetic dolls- I've also seen people create magnetic dolls by attaching magnet dots to the backs of the dolls. Then you can use a magnetic surface like a cookie sheet to display the dolls as the kids play.
- Printing companies- Did you know there are companies that do this for you as well? They allow you to print your own fabric or own clothing item with your design or artwork. This could be a unique alternative!
FAQ
To make your dolls sturdy, I would recommend backing them with cardboard! Even the box of a recycled cereal container would work great.
Any kind of paper will do! Printer paper works great if you are backing the doll with cardboard. If you aren't using cardboard backing, a heavy card stock is nice since it won't tear as easily. Try scrapbook paper for fun patterns, or construction paper for great colors!
More Fun Free Printable Crafts
Looking for more free printable paper crafts? Check out these ideas from around the blog for hours of fun!
Enjoy!
If you try this craft, let me know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.
Free Printable Paper Dolls and Clothes to Color
Equipment
- Prismacolor Colored Pencils, 72 Pack OR Colored Markers
- Scissors
Items Required
- 1 Printed Download for the paper dolls and clothes template
- Elmer's Glue, Clear
- Lightweight cardboard
- Imagination!
Instructions
- Print off the Free Printable Paper Dolls & Clothes to Color.
- Color the paper dolls, glue to lightweight cardboard. When dry, cut them out.
- Color the outfits for the dolls in whatever design you imagine. Cut them out.
- Place the doll on the stands by cutting the slits and slipping the doll down onto the stand.
- Place the clothes on the dolls by putting the clothes on the body of the doll and folding the tabs back behind the doll.
- Create your own clothes for the dolls by tracing the body shape of the doll and then adapting it to your design.
This post was originally published in January 2022 and has been updated to add more relevant and detailed content.
Laura says
I've got so many memories playing with paper dolls. Thanks for the printable!