Thursday, May 30, 2024 Paper Dolls

~ Foodiness

My mother loved paper dolls. She had many fond memories of making her own paper dolls as a child and encouraged us girls to do the same in our house growing up. There was sort of an elemental pleasure in playing with either our own homemade versions or the store bought ones, even though it was kind of irritating that it was so hard to keep their clothes on with those little tabs.

When Mom died, we discovered that she had a whole box of paper dolls, apparently finding them irresistible all through her life. Some are in boxes, already cut out and ready to play with; others are still new and uncut. But does anyone play with these anymore? It seems like a hopelessly old fashioned “toy” in these days of computer games and smart toys.

I decided to bring a set with us the last time we visited our children and grandchildren to see how it would go with our little granddaughter. She was surprisingly interested and engaged for a time. We set everything out and figured out which clothes should go with which doll and then tried to put the clothes on them. As I remembered, the clothing only barely stayed on and that only if you put it on the dolls and left them alone. Gee, there must be a way to fix that problem.

It was a journey into the past. I think I’ll do it again sometime with her just to keep the tradition alive.

I’ll probably cut this out in the morning.

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Published by Foodiness

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11 thoughts on “Thursday, May 30, 2024 Paper Dolls”

  2. I have several Dover books like these. I bought them for the fashion interest and never planned to cut them out (my paper dolls are all adults). After purging many books these were allowed to stay on my book shelf 😊.

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  3. I sure loved paper dolls, growing up.  I remember waiting for the McCalls magazine to come out every month.  They always had had a new paper doll each month to cut out.  I used to make my own paper doll clothes, using wrapping paper or other printed paper I’d collect, too.  It was a lot of fun.  I didn’t keep any of mine though.  Lucy looks so cute.

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    1. I didn’t know that about the McCall’s magazine! Too bad you didn’t keep any of your original paper doll clothing. I don’t have any of the ones we played with either.

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  5. I too enjoyed playing with paper dolls growing up.

    Although we didn’t get McCalls’ magazine, I do remember

    playing with those belonging to others. I purchased some for my

    daughters but they never used them. I think I gave them away.

    Some of them were of Norwegian costumes, very ornate.

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