Paper Dolls

Cutie kept asking me if she could cut paper. "I have work to do, Mom. I need scissors!" she kept saying. So I thought we'd try cutting paper to decorate paper dolls.
I cut out the doll from white paper and then let them add the clothes, shoes, hair and eyes. (Click on the pattern to enlarge and print. Then trace onto cardstock and cut out.)

Soon the paper scraps were flying. Because they are still learning to cut, they were cutting only straight lines. Rectangles of patterned paper were cut into smaller and smaller pieces.


After they had cut MORE than enough pieces, they started trying different pieces on the paper dolls, experimenting with different patterns and placement. I had my double stick tape, so I would stick a piece on wherever they decided the pants or shirt or hair should be. Then they added the googley eyes. I love how big the eyes really gave the dolls some personality.


I had to be really deliberate not to intervene and say, "Do it this way. Or try this." I wanted to see what they would come up with on their own. I was thinking they would make four little girls in different patterned dresses, but they instinctively chose to make our family. I thought we would make the clothes to fit the arms and legs, but they wanted to put extra-long legs on Mom and Dad, which I would never have thought of doing.
This was such a simple craft, but they LOVED it. They really got to be creative. They want to do it again tomorrow.