The creation of paper dolls has been around for years. Many years ago I saw them made from all types of cardboard even wheat bix packets.

The best part for the kids is all the different scenarios the kids can create with them by changing their clothes. They could create an old-fashioned look or a beach scene by dressing them to suit the occasion. This is a very easy and cheap form of craft making anyone to make.

I played with them as a child, we had the cardboard template, and the clothes were made from paper with small half-inch tabs on the shoulders that folded down behind the template. This held the outfit in place, stopping it from falling off.

The idea does not stop at dolls. Today you can make hundreds of templates with animals to represent different occasions.

To make a dog with a bone, or an alien, a troll, snowman and many more, go to this web site for more information http://www.daniellesplace.com/HTML/paper_dolls.html

Easy Doll Creation

Required materials - Newspapers, magazines, glue, scissors, and thick cardboard

Directions - Look through magazines and find a picture of a woman modeling underwear. Cut out the picture and paste onto a piece of solid cardboard. Leave this to dry. Cut out this cardboard figure leaving a two to three centimeter piece longer at the base, (past her feet and out wider on either side) on the bottom. This needs folding under from the base of her feet. The figure will then stand up by itself, instead of using another prop, (a piece to hold it up from behind).

Now go through the magazines and cut out heaps of different clothing that will fit on your model. Cut these from pictures of models the same size as the model template. The catch to this is, you must allow a one-centimeter tab to stick up, this will fold down on the dolls shoulders to hold it on. For shorts, you need to leave a one-centimeter tab on either side to bend back around the dolls hips. Do the same for socks, and any form of clothing at all. They all need that tab to hold garments onto the doll template.

The more clothing you cut out the more images you can create with different scenarios to play with. Try making a male template in the same manner. Then create your whole family with your friends and add the cat and dog or even a bird. You could even create the high rise buildings to use as a background, do not forget to leave extra on the base of buildings to fold under so it will stand up.

Let your imagination create any scene that you can think of. You can spend hours with your friends making these dolls, and it will not cost an arm and a leg. Whatever you make, you will have lots of fun creating these dolls.

Other web sites to visit for these dolls http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10559

Japanese dolls http://www.glueguncrafts.com/2006/09/japanese_paper_dolls.cfm