Paper Dolls on Parade

What do you get when you take one Spontan Magnet Board:

One roll of adhesive magnet paper:

And a pack (or more) of your favorite paper dolls?  (How could I resist the Red Velvet Art girls?  They come with their own sewing machines.)

Tons of fun for everyone!

I know I said back on my birthday that I wouldn't let Little Miss play with my paper dolls, but I was only kidding.  (Would my coworkers find me a bit odd if they knew that I spent the birthday money they gave me on paper dolls?  Probably.) 

They do live in my new sewing room, however, because Kee-ku would eat them immediately if they lived on our fridge.  He puts absolutely *everything* in his mouth.  Sorry to those of you who come to my house and find that random things you touch are soggy.  No, I don't have a dog.  But yes, I do have a Kee-ku.

I did all the adhesing (that's not a word, I know) and cutting, and Little Miss did all the playing.  Well, ok.  I did some playing too.  With her.  Mostly.

Best part, it not only jazzes up the ole (I mean, new!) sewing space, but it gives Little Miss something to occupy herself with whilst I work on sewing projects.  (For the record, I'd love to teach her how to sew someday, but sometimes I just need to get down to business already.  Time to myself to sew is at a premium as it is.)

While this particular project was not free, you could get away with a cheaper version by printing up some free paper dolls from around the web, snagging some magnet paper with a 40% off coupon (Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc. frequently have coupons in their circulars), and letting your kids go to town playing with them on your fridge (assuming you don't have a Kee-ku of your own). (Though, at $4 a set, the RVA Girls are not beyond reach by any means!)

Some of the cutest FREE paper dolls I found about the web (hooray for free!!):

• Fairy Tale Dressup Paper Doll courtesy of Babalisme
• The Fabulous World of Card Toto paper dolls  (These are vintage dolls from the late 60s.)
• Wee Wonderfuls Free Paper Doll Download (I love Hillary Lang!)
• Museum of Child's Mabel Doll
• Amelia Loves the Rain from Sarah Jane Studios (Remember how she inspired some new wall art for Little Miss?  Ack, everything she makes is lovely!)   
• Patty Reed Designs
• No extra outfits, but these little guys from Fantastic Toys were too cute not to mention
• Clementina by Kireei 
• Betsy McCall
• For those of you who want a little more edge (like a doll with no skin), try this one: La Calavera Catrina (random!)
• The Berenstain Bears (because what kid doesn't love them?!)

I honestly didn't know that Little Miss would get into these as much as she did.  Maybe your little one would like to play too?  :)


P.S. If you dig the ones I got as much as L.M. and I do, head on over to Red Velvet Art. Elsie (the artist) was one of my teachers for my Indie Biz class and she is pretty much awesome.