Paper Doll Collaboration 2017: Mythological Creatures

It's June so we're half way through the year-long paper doll collaboration project.  I'm just loving this! Having a list of themes that we work from has made this so much fun.  So many of these ideas are things I never would have thought of....like today's theme!

Download the pdf here

Grab the doll here

I could have taken the easy route & done something I was comfortable with, like a mermaid or an angel.  Nope! I really, really wanted to try my hand at a centaur.  I'm not overly familiar with horses so forgive my inaccuracies! I knew I wanted a Greco-Roman inspired centaur.  It's pretty great,  I think!! This whole project is so much fun.  I hope every one else is enjoying it too!!

To grab the other parts of the series, go to Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture and Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy's Paper Dolls.

The Eclectic Wardrobe of Josephine - Coloring Sheet 5

We're settling into our summer routine now... We had a super busy first week of vacation and now things are starting to quiet down.  I'll get some new material up next week.

Hopefully summer (or winter, as the case may be!!) is as pleasant where you are as it is here.  So far, it's been mild, which is just the way I like it.  And my first ever garden is thriving! I have zucchini and pumpkin plants that are just massive.

Anyway...here's Josephine.

Right-click to download and print

Tween Fashion Friday - Black and White Coloring Set 4

Summer is now in full swing at my house! We went to Boston to see the tall ships, we picked up our summer reading kit at the library, and we're off to the Peabody Essex Museum today.  The local lake opens for the season tomorrow & we'll be spending plenty of time there, too!

Today's download is another tween coloring sheet.  I'm hoping these coloring sheets provide a fun distraction for all of you this summer!

Right-click to download and print

I'm still working on the At the Beach companion paper doll.  I'm also eager to start a new paper doll series but I'm not sure what.... Hopefully that'll happen soon :)

There's one more coloring sheet for Josephine on Tuesday, and then another collaboration paper doll coming up after that!

The Eclectic Wardrobe of Josephine - Coloring Sheet 4

There are a few things I would like to share today.  One is a new coloring sheet for Josephine.  Another is a new project.  And third, I'm celebrating an anniversary.

Let's tackle that last one first.

It occurred to me over the weekend that this little blog is five years old! You can see the first post here and take a stroll down memory lane.  I'd love to throw some statistics at you, but that isn't my strong suit.  I will say that I have written about 580 posts, sold 188 paper doll books (a big thank you for that!!), and I've created so many paper dolls that I don't actually have an accurate count.  I really should do that sometime.

A few more random things.  My most popular post ever is this one about the basics of anatomy.  To this day, I'm not sure why.  I'm not really good at tracking, marketing, etc.  My most popular paper doll is the wedding set that I set to Paper Doll Studio Magazine as my first ever submission to, well, anything.  Although I will say that the Josephine set has been steadily gaining popularity, and the December angel paper doll series ranks relatively high on the list, too.

I started this blog to keep myself busy while home with my sons.  I know that sounds like a silly thing, but honestly, being home with kids can be very isolating.  There aren't any people home in my neighborhood, all of my friends work, and I'm not very outgoing.  Playdates are pretty much my living nightmare.  This blog helped save my sanity & encourage me to do at least one thing that was just for me. So thank you to all of you who keep encouraging me to keep creating!

Next up, here's what I'm working on! It's a companion paper doll book to go with the At the Beach book.  I might take these two dolls and expand them into a whole series.  Not sure yet.  It's fun making a companion set, though.  I'll keep you posted as I keep working on it.

And finally, here's a Josephine coloring sheet.

Right-click to download and print

I'm close to finishing up a Josephine book.  This one will focus on contemporary fashion.  I'd like to create a fantasy book next.  I've already got a steampunk set, whatever this is, a Renaissance/harem mash-up, and a goth set.  What other crazy themes can I tackle for the book? Suggestions?

Another black and white coloring sheet for the tweens on Friday!

Tween Fashion Friday - Black and White Coloring Set 3

I know I've said this before, but some months of the year are WAY more busy than others in my house.  December is a tough one (two birthdays, Christmas, a ton of family, etc).  May is busy but manageable.  This June, however, I am convinced is never going to end! We have three birthdays, Father's Day, and end of the school year activities (school and Cub Scouts).

Honestly, it's kinda fun.

Most of the time, my days are pretty quiet.  My husband goes off to work.  My oldest son goes to school.  My youngest son & I are home. We do a little preschool work and keep the house running.  And that's pretty much it. So a change of pace is fine.

Today I have another black and white tween paper doll.

Right-click to download and print

I've been working on some stuff in between the craziness.  Not all of it's paper doll related - I've painted two rooms in my house this month - but some of it is.... I'm putting together a Josephine book.  There are a lot more pages to Josephine than I remembered!  The first book is going to be just the contemporary mix & match stuff.  I'd like to make a second volume of fantasy stuff.  And maybe a third with historical fashions.

Anyway, the first volume is almost done.  I'll let you know when that's ready!  Tuesday will be another coloring sheet for Josephine!

The Eclectic Wardrobe of Josephine - Coloring Sheet 3

This is going up a little late today because oh my goodness, the end of school is crazy busy!

My oldest son had an adorable assembly yesterday.  It's always nice to go to the school & see him with his friends.  He has a really good group of kids in his grade!  Aside from that, he has a field day/fun day, a field trip to Boston, a "stepping up" day, and a Cub Scouts end-of-the-year party. We also have a t-ball end-of-the-year party.

So yeah.  It's been busy.

Also, all of you working parents deserve so much credit!! I could not imagine balanced all of the kid stuff AND work full-time.

Anyway...

Today we have another Josephine coloring sheet.

Right-click to download and print

I thought the retro set would make a nice coloring sheet.  I love the lines on the skirt! And that hair is adorable!

I'll have another coloring sheet up on Friday.  Hopefully everyone else can get through the end of the school year, too!!

Tween Fashion Friday - Black and White Coloring Set 2

Ok, I need to confess: I spend WAY too much time online.  There.  That felt pretty good :)

Often, I run across awesome stuff.  Like this.  I will warn you now, you will lose half a day to this Google Arts & Culture site!! Totally worth it, though...

For today, I have a black and white tween set to download and print.  This one is a bit less summer appropriate, but I love her hair!

Right-click to download and print

What does everyone think of black & white sets? I don't usually color (my mother loves it....maybe I'm an outlier....) and so I rarely make black & white sets.  But if all of you are loving these sets, let me know.  I'll make more!

The Eclectic Wardrobe of Josephine - Coloring Sheet 2

Josephine gets some more coloring sheets today. I'm sticking with the contemporary fashion sheets at the moment.  For the most part, it's been fairly straightforward creating coloring sheets from my colored files.  There are a few challenges here & there, but overall, not a big deal.

Right-click to download and print

The earrings on this sheet are still technically in color, but since they were a light silverish color, I just let it go.  It honestly wasn't worth the hassle of trying to change it!!

Friday I'll have another tween coloring sheet!

Tween Fashion Friday - Black and White Coloring Set 1

Happy June! Can you believe it?! I feel like it was just barely December and I was working on the angel paper doll series....

Today is my oldest son's first field trip and I get to be a chaperone! My husband is home with my youngest and they're both pretty happy about that arrangement.  Noah & I are going to the local library -- a perfect first field trip, in my opinion. I love libraries! This library is one of the reasons we bought a house in this town.  It's beautiful, full of amazing staff, with a fantastic assortment of activities & services.  Really can't say enough nice things about it!!

Right-click to download and print

For this first Friday in June, I have the first black and white coloring sheet for the tween paper dolls.  I'll put together a PDF at the end of the month.  In the meantime, feel free to download and print it from the image.

Tuesday will have another Josephine coloring sheet and more tweens to follow!