Guest Mo Reinig shows how to make this charming little paper doll closet out of a box and some decorative papers. Then make new stamped magnetic paper dolls, clothes and hangers to hang them on!
Paper Doll Closet
Materials:
pencil
scissors
bone folder or stylus
paper glue
glue gun and glue sticks
3" x 5" papier-mache box
1" square magnet
4 pieces of text-weight paper
1-3/4" x 2-1/2" piece of lightweight chip board
1/4" x 3" dowel
Steps:
1. Wrap the box with paper using one color or pattern for exterior and a complementary color or pattern to line the interior. Measure the paper by centering the box and roll it side to side and end to end, adding 1/4 inch to fold over the sides (figure A). Wrap box lid exterior with same paper used to cover exterior of box. Line interior of lid with same paper used for box interior. Glue papers in place, pulling and smoothing edges tightly (figure B). Allow to dry.
2. To make a hat shelf, score and fold the short side of the chip board 7/8 inch from the edge and wrap with the same paper used in the interior of the box bottom. Place the shelf in the inside right top corner of the box bottom. This will form a box within a box. Use paper glue or hot glue on the two edges of the shelf to hold it in place. Let dry.
3. The dowel will create the closet clothes pole. Cut the dowel to fit snugly across the inside of the box. To position the dowel, measure in from the top interior of the box one inch down and one inch over from the edge. Mark the placement of the dowel on both sides of the box interior. Glue the rod in place with hot glue, making sure that it is straight and snug (figure C). Let dry.
4. Place the lid on the box. Cut out a one-inch square piece of the paper used on the lid. Glue the paper to the magnet and glue both to the center of the lid. Let dry.
Magnetic Paper Doll and Clothes
Materials:
scissors
paper glue or Xyron machine with magnet laminating cartridge
black ink pad
watercolors, markers or colored pencils
paper doll stamps
paper doll clothes stamps
2 to 3 sheets of white lightweight card stock
magnetic sheets
cold laminating sheets
1/2" wide metal shims
Steps:
1. Stamp paper doll twice on white card stock.
2. Color one of the images and cut out both of them (figure D).
3. Measure paper doll from under chin to top of legs. Cut metal shim that length and about 1/2 inch wide.
4. Center and glue the metal shim to the front of the uncolored image, and then glue the colored doll onto the shim and other doll, sandwiching the shim between them. Let dry.
5. Stamp doll clothes on card stock, color and decorate (figure E).
6. Glue magnetic sheet to the back of images or run through Xyron with a magnet and laminate cartridge. If Xyron is unavailable, cover the front of the images with a cold laminating sheet and cut out.
7. Attach the doll to the box top and store clothes in the new closet (figure F).
Paper Doll Clothes Hangers
1. Use craft wire to shape hangers to fit in the closet.
2. Fold a piece of metal shim. With the fold at the top, cut out a vest shape (figure G).
3. Place the fold over the wire hanger and place the magnetic clothes onto the vest.
Tips:
- You will notice that a papier-mache craft box lid and bottom are the same shape, but they are often not totally square or rectangular in shape. When installing the dowel, cut to a snug fit but do not force sides of box beyond its original shape. Otherwise, the lid will no longer fit.
- An outfit can be stamped on white card stock and instead of coloring, you can stamp the same image on background papers. Cut out, layer, and glue the clothes to the card stock image. This is a fun, quick way to make great looking doll clothes.
- Laminating allows little hands to play with the dolls and clothes over and over again.
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