A few weeks ago, I was clicking around Pinterest when I came across a picture of a sweet little illustration that was made with a black pen and a scrap of fabric. It was such a simple concept and of course, being a card-lover I had to give it a try.
I made a few in my sketchbook and then turned one of these girls into a card. You could easily whip up several of these to make as a card pack for a sweet gift. And you don’t have to draw little girls if that’s not your thing–houses, ornaments, animals, etc. would all work great here. The key is to find a part of the illustration that you can sub fabric or scrapbook paper for.
How to Make a Paper Doll Card
You will need:
Plain piece of paper (I used a sheet out of a journal.)
One blank card
Scrapbook or gift wrap paper
Scissors
Pencil
Watercolor pencils (These are the ones I love; they last forever!)
White glue
Water and paintbrush
Pen
You could also use regular colored pencils if you don’t want a watercolor effect.
Begin by lightly sketching your design onto a piece of paper. In the example above I also drew where the dress would go so I could get a rough idea as to how to cut the scrapbook paper.
Take a piece of scrapbook paper and cut it to size to make the dress. This is where a light box comes in handy–you can place the card on the light box and trace the scrapbook paper (or fabric) for an exact measurement. Honestly, you don’t have to make a very intricate outfit. Dresses can be little triangles too.
Tip: When you’re cutting, cut the paper slightly larger than you think it should be since you can always trim off the excess later.
Apply glue to the back (use it sparingly so the paper won’t curl) and affix the paper to the card.
If you would like, you can add detail to the piece of scrapbook paper at this point. You could also leave it plain. I added a little bit of color to my little girl’s cheeks with the watercolor pencil. You could also color your paper doll completely. When using watercolor pencils, first color in, then add a little bit of water to a paintbrush and lightly paint. A little bit of water goes a long way.
Cut the paper down to size and attach it with glue or double-stick tape to your card.
This paper doll card idea can be used for gift bags, cards, gift tags, and even simple art for your home. Add a sweet hand-lettered message and you’re done!