Photo Paper Dolls

It is fun and easy to create your own personalized paper dolls, a craft that you can share with your family and friends.

Supplies:

A subject (the person who will become a doll)
Camera
Film
Several outfits
Scissors
Optional: copy machine or scanner and printer (for enlarging the photographs)

Directions:

1. Photograph your child in her swimsuit against a plain background that contrasts with your child and their clothes (if she is wearing white, use a dark wall). This photograph will be the doll. The pose should be one that is easy to recreate for each different outfit and the lighting should be consistently the same for each photograph. Make sure that the child's entire body is in the photograph, with some space below their feet (to use for the base). Keep the camera at the same distance from your child for each photograph.
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   TIP: use a tripod for the camera and place tape marks on the floor for your child to insure that you get consistent results.
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2. Repeat step one with several different outfits. Don't forget accessories like hats, sunglasses and gloves. If posing becomes a challenge, lay the clothes on the floor and photograph them from above, or cut outfits out of fashion magazines.
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3. Have the film processed at your local photo lab (4x6 prints recommended). For larger dolls, enlarge the pictures on a copy machine or on a scanner and printer (make sure you enlarge each photograph the same amount).
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4. Cut out the picture of your child in his swimsuit. Leave part of the photo at the bottom to be used as a base.
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5. Cut out the clothes and accessories. Don't forget to leave tabs to be folded behind the doll to hold the clothes on.
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6. Have fun!