January 7th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Japanese Paper Dolls
Having too much time in hand over the weekend, I suddenly have the mood to do some handicraft work. Yes. This bitch can do handicraft work. Ever since I started working, I was simply too tired to do anything.
I have the idea of making these as Christmas presents but couldn’t find the time. I was too busy pigging away.
So this time, I tried my best to make some Japanese paper dolls. I used to give them as birthday presents to friends when I was in school. Nice or not?
Well, what you need are very basic things like gift wrapper, sugar paper (black for the hair – or you can have yellow or red, depending on your preference for the hairstyles), UHU glue (this is the only glue that stick fast and do not blotch), scissors, some color paper.
I was lucky enough to have gotten this nice Japanese prints gift wrapper from popular bookshop at only RM1.99 and one piece of wrapper could make up to 40 Japanese paper dolls!
To illustrate how to make it, I think it would be easier for you guys to look at pictures. So here goes…
1. Cut the shape of the face of the doll (Sasha asked me what the spoon is for? Hahahaha!). Preferably round almond shape faces. Shape the hair according to the width of the face. I think the hair is about 2 cm wide. The length is up to you lah.
2. Fold the black sugar paper to make its fringe. At this point, the doll will look a bit like Lam Ah Chan without a nice hair cut… so…
3. Give your doll a nice hair cut. My cousin sis was very creative. She made her doll curly hair.
4. Prepare the gift wrapper into 7 cm x 10 cm. Fold the shorter side as shown in picture to form collar.
5. Paste the head with the nice hair cut in the middle of the paper.
6. Fold into a kimono as shown.
7. Fold again as shown. Ensure both sides of the doll’s shoulder blades are proportionate. This one needs practice. Practice makes perfect.
8. Try to make the paper doll as thin as possible. There are rarely fat Japanese girls.
9. Cut the color paper into 6 cm x 2 cm width to form the doll’s obi (wide belt to secure the kimono).
10. Wrap the obi around the waist of the doll.
11. Use another 7 cm x 10 cm wrapper, fold into two to form the sode (kimono sleeves). Cut a hole in the folded paper as shown.
12. Paste the sode behind the stick thin doll.
And dozo! You got your own Japanese paper doll which can be used as a book mark! (Or the alternative el cheapo way to give as birthday gifts as opposed to giving those ripped-off birthday cards to your friends!)
Geez… I can’t believe this blog is turning into handicraft blog!