These pretty collaged cards require just a blank card (or a home-made one using folded paper), a small blank paper doll (either cut from a paper doll chain, printed up from the internet or self-drawn) and a few simple card-making items such as recycled wrapping paper, stickers and glitter glue. They make beautiful greeting cards for all sorts of occasions including Mother's Day, birthdays and even party invitations.
Although I've listed specific materials, the beauty of these cards is how easy it is to personalise them. Therefore, whether you have all of those listed below or just a few of them, it doesn't really matter. Just use the method I've described as a basic guideline and see where your imagination takes you.
Please note: Younger children will probably need assistance with some parts of this activity.
Time: One hour
Age: 5-10's, Over 10's
Level: Medium
Materials
Blank cards or cardboard (to make your own card)
Blank paper doll chain. Alternatively, draw your own simple paper doll figure or print a blank doll shape from the internet .
An assortment of pretty scrapbooking papers and / or recycled gift wraps
Miscellaneous scrapbooking supplies such as flowers, rhinestones, ribbons and stickers
Small pieces of coloured craft paper for the doll's hair. I generally use black, brown, yellow and orange, but if you want your doll to be a bit unconventional you could use anything.
Child-friendly paper scissors
If you have a paper doll chain, cut the dolls so that each one is separate. Ensure that they're the right size to fit onto your card. Alternatively, draw your own simple doll, or print one that is a suitable size from the internet. If you're drawing your own or printing one from another website, be sure that they are blank so you can personalise them with details of your choice.
Paste the dolls onto the cards, and allow the glue to dry.
Measure and cut some of the pretty papers to create dresses, trousers or other clothes for your dolls.
Using the small pieces of single-coloured paper, personalise each doll with her own special hair colour and style. I usually create a style with a fringe as this simply involves cutting a half-circle in the desired colour, which I carefully cut to give the appearance of hair. I then cut matching bits of paper to look like braids or pony tails.
Glue the hair onto each doll.
To further personalise each doll, glue on the wobbly eyes and draw on a mouth with a red or pink felt-tipped pen.
Now that the basic card has been completed, all that needs to be done is to add any extra embellishments that you desire such as doodles with a glittery gel pen, glitter glue (or glitter), stickers, flowers, ribbons or adhesive rhinestones.
Your paper doll cards are now ready to share with someone special.
