My mother, Helen C Johnson, is a talented designer with a specialty of cutting pretty papers and forming those pieces into amazing costumes for paper dolls. This is a sampling of her work. She has made another batch to sell at the 2010 paper doll convention...the last batch. She is 85 as of May 2010, and says she is done making these costumes now. So this is a way to preserve and share them.

2. Some Ballet Designs The center costume is cut from a seed/bulb catalogue

3. Some Ballet Designs Costumes at left are from scarves, at right, is from a wallpaper book

4. Who would have guessed that lovely costume is cut from paths in sand made by heavy earth movers?

5. I love these yellow floral costumes!

7. Look at that fine cutwork! Both cut from wallpaper sample books.

8. L: Cut from wallpaper, R: Cut from seed catalogue (or calendar)

9. Cut from greeting cards

10. Cut from catalogues

11. L: Cut from a vintage paper napkin R: Cut from seed catalogue

12. Left, Judy’s Carmen in Wallpaper Flowers. Right, a doll I painted for Mother to dress.

15. Costumes Cut from Wallpaper Books Doll is Claire from 50’s Paper Doll Set

17. Dolls Painted by Judy, Dressed by Helen

21. Cici, and DeeDee Painted by Judy, Dressed by Helen

22. A Touch of Glass Costumes made by Helen from Art Glass found in catalogues

26. Costumes made by Helen from Art Glass found in catalogues

27. Pin-Ups in Cut-Work Costumes by Helen C Johnson

29. Egret costume cut from Dick Sutphen’s book & CD catalogue

33. Sonja Henie Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes

34. Sonja Henie Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes L: Flowers cut from a Kleenex box R: Cut from Wallpaper

35. Movie Stars Look Great in Helen’s Costumes L: Elizabeth Taylor R: Gene Tierney

36. Movie Stars Look Great in Helen’s Costumes L: Greer Garson, classy in classic wallpaper R: Elizabeth Taylor, costume cut of wallpapers

37. Movie Stars Look Great in Helen’s Costumes L: Gale Storm, in wallpaper R: Charlize Theron, costume cut of wallpapers

38. Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes L: Art Deco Dolly by Judy, in wallpaper R: Bride paper doll, in mixed papers

39. Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes L: Golden Girl in wallpaper R: Bride paper doll, in mixed papers

40. Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes

41. Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes: Arlene Dahl, & Ballerina

42. Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes: L: Pert & Pretty R: Doll by Judy M Johnson

43. Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes: L: Pert & Pretty R: Doll by Judy M Johnson

44. Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes: L: My Twin Babies by Avis Mack R: Career Girl Doll by Davi Botts

45. Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes: L: Joan Collins doll by Berta Fredsoe of Denmark R: Career Girl Doll by Davi Botts

46. Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helen’s Costumes: L: “Sassy” Doll by Judy R: Career Girl Doll by Davi Botts