http://openhouseminiatures.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/mary-bell-and-rhoda/

1. Mary Bell & Rhoda
Victorian Paper Dolls

2. These are larger than 12th scale
Each of the miniature dolls stands
under 1 inch (2.45cm) tall, when cut
out.
In order to clearly demonstrate the
folding technique I used to make the
booklet, I made a larger version of
each doll.
The larger version is smaller than the
original dolls, which were about
4 inches (10 cm) tall.
Why am I being so pedantic?
There is an amazing amount of
mis-information in the internet and I
don’t want to add to it.

3. To make the miniature version I used • a sharp knife
• a metal ruler
• 100 gsm
photocopy paper (this is
a little bit thicker and stiffer
than average)
• a pair of scissors
If you decide to make the larger version,
you will need to stick the doll to a piece of card –
the clothes, however, worked very well on the
paper that I used.

4. To make the folded booklet Cut out the strip that contains the doll,
the doll’s dresses and booklet cover.
(In order to get a clean, crisp edge, I used a
knife and a ruler to do this.)
The first fold is made along the left
hand edge of the booklet cover.
Try to make sure that the
left-hand and right-hand borders are
of an equal size, and that the top and
bottom edges are level and straight.
I made this fold without scoring the
fold-line first, but it if you find it easier
to score and then fold, do this.

5. Crease here
Fold the booklet cover
right back, so that it is
on the “wrong side”.
Then, with the paper
doll and the dresses on
the inside, fold the strip
in half – end to end –
and crease it firmly.
Fold over end to end

6. Then Unfold the central
crease that you have
just made and re-fold it
in the opposite direction
direction.

7. Then Repeat the folding
process - but this time
to the central crease.
Remember to fold the
booklet cover right
back, so that it is on the
“wrong side” - and then
fold with the doll and
dresses on the inside of
the paper

8. The result should be A neatly folded little
booklet.

9. Note The dolls do not have an
“easel” or other means of
standing unsupported.
So, when I cut out Mary
Bell, I folded back the sides
of the floor to make a stand.
I was surprised at how
stable this was !

10. I was also amazed at the
way Mary Bell’s clothes
fitted and stayed on –
without glue !
However, I would almost
certainly glue her clothes on
and fix her to some sort of
base, if I had her on display
in a dolls’ house or
miniature toy shop.

11. All done

12. After Thought…
The neck and ankles are the
weakest, bendiest, most
fragile parts of most paper
dolls – and these dolls are
no exception to this general
rule.
So, even at this size, I think
it would have been a good
idea to glue Mary Bell to
another piece of paper, or
thin card, before cutting her
out.