Originally posted HERE on Sept 26th, 2007 but it’s still a favorite gift around these parts:
This summer I finally had the chance to explore and expand upon this idea of making a fabric scrap paper doll. Here’s how you do it:
-Download Sarah’s doll template from Kiddley, one of my 6 doll or animal templates, or draw your own doll shape. I decided to draw my own so I could make her look like the birthday girl.
-Copy the picture 50 times on white cardstock.
-Grab a handful of random fabric scraps from your overflowing scrap box and a handful of trim scraps and placed them in ziploc bags. Start saving scraps ahead of time. Even the tiny and odd shaped pieces are great for this project!
-Add a couple gluesticks/tacky glue (dries slower but holds better) and a couple pairs of good kid scissors (it’s fun to create with a friend!)
-Make a “sample” to show what the kit is all about. I had Princess do this step for me and by the end, she was begging for her own kit. Oh, my little budding fashion designer.
-Place it all in a fun box.
This is a great way for sewers/crafters to use up all those scraps of fabric and trim – no matter how small or strange shaped! If you are an avid scrapbooker, you could do the same thing and save your patterned paper scraps to use instead of fabric. If you are neither a sewer, crafter or scrapbooker, ask a friend, mother, aunt or grandma who is to start saving their scraps for you so you can make this fun, creative and cheap project.
Variations on the Fabric Scrap Paper Doll
American Girl Doll Party Craft
Mermaid Party Craft
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i love this idea. i am going to make it for my daughter
My kiddos give this 3 thumbs up.
Adorable! I always hate to get rid of my tiny bits of cool fabric, but I think "what am I going to do with such a tiny piece?" Thanks for such an awesome idea!
How adorable!
Oh my goodness, I love this!
Awesome idea! I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to use scissors.
My oldest grand-daughter is 5 1/2 and will LOVE this. It will be part of her Christmas present. Thanks for sharing!!!
Thank you for this charming and delightful idea.
This is SO COOL!!! I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-scrap-fabric-paper-dolls/2009/08/15/
–Anne
OK! This is Awesome! Thank you SO much!
I LOVE this idea!!!
I'm repost and send a link to you…
from a house full of boys…I love making these girly things for my nieces!
I LOVE this idea! And I think my daughter would love it, too. My daughter loves crafting but I am having a really hard time to find things that are suitable for her age (4 years). Often I have to help alot and I think it would be much more fun for her if she could do it on her own. I think this could be such a thing that she actually does on her own! Will have to try this!
Thanks for sharing this!
This is so cute & clever!! LOVE it! I also wanted to invite you to link up at my TGIF LInky Party – http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkey%20Parties – I am also your newest follower! I’d love for you to follow me back, if you want to =)
Beth =-)
Love it! Tks!
Beijinhos
Ana
I can’t find where you posted YOUR template. I do like your girl template very much.
This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
I have updated that post a number of times, but you happened to stumble upon an older post. Here is a link to the most updated post with a link to 6 downloadable templates.
http://thismamamakesstuff.com/2010/09/tutorial-fabric-scrap-paper-dolls/
How adorable and what a great idea for fabric scraps!
Thanks for posting!
Hi:
What an adorable idea. I just thought I would tell you about my late mom and I making these back in the 60s….We used a old Clorox bottle and cut the doll out of that. Used the same doll over and over and she had her own wardrobe. Cut the round sides and then kept the plastic from the jug under weight a couple of days or so. The “house” for the doll, we used cigar boxes and made them look like a little room with pictures on the wall, etc. I made this for my own daughter, who is now 52 and an elementary school teacher. Just want to comment and tell you how we did it. We made most of the clothes out of felt and sewed snaps on the “around the neck” part and they went on like “paper doll” clothes…….Thanks for letting me bend your ear with a wonderful memory of something I used to do with my Mom. She and I did crafts since I was a child and now I have adult granddaughters that still do crafty things. Regards, Peggy
This project looks great! Thanks for sharing. Forgive my ignorance, is there a way to get the dolls to print smaller?
This is Carrie
Twitter: thisiscarrie
Reply:
December 4th, 2012 at 8:51 am
There is usaully a “scale” option on most printing selections. Otherwise, you can download and open in a photoshop like program to resize.
Thanks so much for this. I am having my 4th (and final) baby in March so this will go in a big sister bag. I do have one question, what type of tin did you use? It looks bigger than an altoid tin. Thank you 🙂
I made this for tow of my cousins’ daughters. I used the wooden boxes from Michael’s and painted a picture of the doll and the girl’s name on the outside. one of them was so excited, a few days later she told me she had already made 12 of them. thanks for the great idea!
I added this little poem to describe how to play:
“Pick some scraps.
Cut some shapes.
Glue them down.
That looks great!
Add some trim
and have some fun.
Please clean up
when you are done!”
I think I must be missing something. Lol everyone else seems to know the size of box or examples of specific items that can be recycled to make the carry case for the dolls. The example looks like it’s luggage or is it a lunch box? The dolls appears to be larger than a lunch box but again I dont see any dimensions. Did I miss this part? If not, would you mind expanding your tutorial & maybe yo ur followers couldve examples of what they used.
Thanks. Julie
V Reply:
May 13th, 2014 at 10:26 pm
Found this in the original post…
“-Place it all in a fun box. I was lucky enough to find a cute patterned suitcase at HomeGoods for $6 and tied a bow around the handle (no need to wrap!).”
I know this is late but I hope this helps.
Thank you so much for this doll idea! My twin girls LOVE this project. It’ll keep them busy for hours. 🙂
Love this idea. Every little girl would love these. May I have your permission to sell these at our church bazaar. The proceeds from the bazaar go to missions in our area and state. Please let me know of any info from me that you might need. Thank you
Joanie
Howdy! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted
to give a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading
your blog posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects?
Appreciate it!
Great idea! I had everything on hand to make 2 packets for my kids. We are leaving soon for a long road trip and I figure that this will keep them busy a long time. Thanks for sharing!
I have a 10 year old granddaughter in the 5th grade. Do you think she is too old to enjoy making the fabric scrap paper dolls. I know my 6 and 8 year olds will love this!
I made this for my nieces and posted about it on my website and linked back to your post! Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful kit!
This is so fun! I loved playing with dolls as a little girl. My friend’s daughter got a doll kit with story included and she is obsessed. I think this is such a great way to help support our children’s creativity and happy childhood memories.
Iam thinking about making these for the girls in the hospital .Where can I get the tins in balk
I Live in N.Carolina.
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