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This set of retro Christmas paper dolls brings back a whole box of old glass ornaments and 1950s greeting cards, with 26 chubby-cheeked kids dressed up as gingerbread cookies, candy canes, milk bottles and every other holiday treat a vintage advertising mascot would wear. Each one stands alone on its own sheet, full length, ready for handmade cards, gift tags and junk journal pages where a little retro cheer goes a long way.
Print on matte cardstock at actual size, then cut around each doll leaving a thin white edge so the bold outlines stay crisp. Keep a few on hand through the season for last-minute tags, and tuck the rest into a holiday folder for next year.
Using these images: free for personal projects such as printing, coloring, cards, journals and gifts. Handmade items that include them may be sold up to 30 pieces per design. More than that is commercial use and is not permitted, and neither is selling or sharing the images themselves or passing them off as your own. Please ask before any other use.
Christmas Kitchen Treats
Curls bouncing and icing trim gleaming, she laughs with pure delight while holding up a candy cane, the kind of face that belongs on a tag for a grandchild’s first Christmas cookie plate.
Write ‘sweet on you this Christmas’ beside this one, a freckled boy striped head to toe like a candy cane, giggling as he waves a single red mitten in the air like he just caught the first snowflake.
Wide-eyed and clutching a cookie meant for Santa, she makes a perfect anchor for a junk journal spread about Christmas Eve snacks, milk and cookies by the tree, and the long wait for morning.
A frosted roof sits on his head like a little hat, and he grins with real pride while he holds up one gumdrop, the kind of character that pairs nicely with the gingerbread cookie girl on a shared card front.
Mount this one on a foam dot over a plain red card for instant lift, or tuck him flat into a Christmas baking junk journal spread next to a recipe clipping.
Dinner Table Drama
Pineapple rings ring her middle and she pouts dramatically, fork in hand, as if dinner is taking far too long to reach the table.
Rolling his eyes at the very idea of fruitcake, this slice-shaped boy holds a tiny cake server like he is being forced to serve a dessert nobody asked for twice, which makes a funny line for a gift tag to the one relative who always brings it anyway.
Tree Trimming Fun
Caught mid-twirl in teal and pink, laughing with her arms flung wide, she suits a card that says nothing at all except ‘shine on’ written in looping script beside her.
Draped in tinsel and baubles from shoulder to ankle, he beams while holding up a star topper, ready to crown the very top of himself.
Give him the five-minute treatment: print, trim the outline only, no detail cutting, and tape straight onto a kraft gift tag for a quick finish between wrapping sessions.
Cozy Fireside Moments
Sleepy and content with a marshmallow hat tipped over one eye, spoon in hand, she belongs on a card for someone who deserves a quiet afternoon by the fire.
A carrot nose hat sits proudly on his head as he stares amazed at the snowball in his own mittened hands, like he cannot believe he just made one.
Gift Giving Joy
Bursting with excitement and both arms thrown straight up, this polka-dot present girl is the one to pair with the stocking boy for a card about the moment gifts finally get opened.
Standing stiff with a serious funny frown, he snaps a sharp salute that looks almost too solemn for a boy dressed head to toe as a toy soldier.
Glue him to a craft stick and he stands up straight on a dessert table place card, or set him flat beside the drum boy for a little parade across the top of a card front.
Spinning with her arms stretched wide and giggling at her own dizziness, this peppermint swirl girl adds a burst of candy pink right where a card needs one.
Peeking out from the top of his own stocking costume with a cheeky grin, he looks like he is hiding the best gift of the whole pile.
Sprinkles scatter across her star-shaped front as she blows a kiss, making her a sweet pick for a card to a daughter or granddaughter who bakes every December.
Shaking all over with laughter, tiny mallet in hand, he looks ready to ring himself silly the moment anyone walks past.
Try the five-minute version for a quick batch of gift tags: print several small, skip the detail cuts, and trim only the outer shape before taping one to each present.
Cheeks puffed out dramatically under a holly sprig hat, she looks like she has taken one bite too many of her own pudding costume, a funny line for anyone who always goes back for seconds.
Cozy Fireside Moments
Felt antlers wobble as he jumps back, startled, holding a carrot out at arm’s length like it just appeared from nowhere.
Shy and smiling under a flame-shaped bonnet, she holds a small brass candle snuffer, the quiet one of the set and a good match for a soft watercolor-style card background.
Grinning wide with a ladle raised high, this punch bowl boy belongs on an invitation for a holiday open house or a card asking everyone over for dessert and carols.
A cheeky wink and a pine cone held out make this wreath girl, red berries dotted around her round shape, a natural pairing with the Shiny Brite ornament girl on any card about trimming the tree.
Marching in place with a big frown of concentration, drumsticks raised, he looks utterly serious about keeping time for a parade only he can hear.
Pair him with the nutcracker soldier for a tiny marching line across a card front, or set both on foam dots so they lift slightly off the page.
Hands pressed to her cheeks in delight, a tiny painted village visible inside her round glass dome costume, she suits a junk journal page about winter towns and quiet snowy evenings.
Staggering under the weight of his own sack costume with a funny groan, he clutches a teddy bear like it might fall out the top any second.
Licking her lips at the single bonbon in her hand, this chocolate box girl makes a sweet finishing touch for a card to anyone who always goes straight for the caramels first.
Arms stretched wide and beaming like the sun itself, this gold star boy makes the perfect finishing piece for a set, the one to place at the very top of a card or journal layout where he belongs.
He also pairs well with retro Christmas junk journal pages as the final flourish on a busy spread full of other 1950s cutouts.
What to Do Next
Pick two or three dolls to start with, print them on matte cardstock, and see how the retro palette looks against the cards or journal pages already in progress this season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper works best for these retro Christmas paper dolls?
Matte cardstock in white or cream works best, since it holds color well without glare and cuts cleanly along the crisp outlines. Avoid glossy photo paper, which can slip under scissors and shows fingerprints more easily on a finished card.
What printer settings give the best result?
Print at actual size with scaling turned off, using the best or photo quality setting your printer offers. Checking ‘fit to page’ can shrink the doll slightly and throw off any planned card or tag dimensions.
How do I cut out the dolls neatly?
Use small detail scissors and cut just outside the printed outline, leaving a thin white edge for a clean vintage look. A craft knife works better for tight inner curves like a nutcracker’s hat or a wreath’s bow.
How can I make the dolls stand up or pop off the card?
Mount the doll on foam adhesive dots for instant dimension on a flat card front, or glue it to a craft stick to stand upright in a centerpiece or place setting. Both methods take under a minute per doll.
Can these dolls work for junk journals as well as cards?
Yes, they work well as focal points on a journal spread, especially paired with vintage-style papers or ephemera. Trim one down to just the head and shoulders for a smaller tag if a full-length doll feels too large for the page.
Have any thoughts?
Share your reaction or leave a quick response — we’d love to hear what you think!
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