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This set of paper doll animals gives you 21 zoo and faraway friends standing on two feet in their own little city outfits, each one caught mid task with a sweet, funny mood on its face. Print them for handmade cards, gift tags, junk journal pages, or a quiet afternoon of cutting and coloring with the grandkids.
Print on matte cardstock at actual size, then trim around each doll with a thin white edge left showing so the ink lines do not get cut into. Keep a small pair of scissors or a craft knife close for the tricky bits like the giraffe’s scarf or the flamingo’s sunglasses.
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.
City Mornings
Curious and tall, this giraffe steps out in a long trench coat with a striped scarf looped twice around its neck, a takeaway coffee cup balanced in one hoof. It makes a lovely card for a friend who never starts her day without that first cup.
Try writing a line beside her like a weather report for the morning rush, something about fog and a long neck seeing over the traffic first. Mount the cup on a foam dot so it lifts slightly off the page.
Sleepy and soft, this koala wears striped pajamas and hugs a leaf shaped pillow close, eyes half closed in a drowsy little smile perfect for a bedtime card or a good morning tag.
Dance Class Antics
Proud on tiptoe, this hippo wears a pink tutu and holds a ribbon wand high, chin lifted like she just finished the best twirl of the recital. She pairs beautifully with the flamingo doll for a page about putting on a show.
Give her a spot on a junk journal page about ballet lessons, with a scrap of real ribbon glued beside her wand for extra texture.
Smug and pleased with itself, this llama wears a woven poncho in bright stripes and strums a little ukulele, perfect for a card that teases a friend about her singing at the last get together.
Little Hobbies
Delighted and splattered with color, this elephant wears a painter’s smock and holds a brush right in its trunk, caught mid stroke on an invisible canvas. She fits right into a card for an artist friend or a grandchild just starting lessons.
For a five minute version, skip full coloring and just ink in the smock’s paint splatters, leaving the rest in soft pencil shading for a quick sketchbook feel, something close to the spirit of animals working little jobs.
Giggling with its head tipped back, this lion cub wears a chunky knit sweater and bangs a little toy drum, a fun choice for a birthday card for a small, noisy grandchild.
Cozy and Slow
Slow and smiling, this sloth wears a cozy cardigan and cradles a cup of tea in both paws, moving at exactly the speed a rainy afternoon deserves. Pair it with the polar bear doll for a page about staying in on a cold day.
Glue the sloth onto a craft stick and tuck it behind a mug shaped card front so it peeks over the rim, a sweet trick for a get well soon note.
Sassy with one hip cocked, this zebra wears a polka dot dress and swings a little handbag from one hoof, the kind of doll who clearly has somewhere fun to be. She makes a playful card for a friend who never leaves the house without matching accessories.
Cut a second handbag from scrap patterned paper and layer it on top of the printed one with a foam dot, so it sits slightly raised and catches the light.
Beach Day Friends
Glamorous in her swimsuit and round sunglasses, this flamingo balances a beach ball on one wing tip, striking a pose that suits any summer card or a tag on a gift of sunscreen and flip flops.
Proud and grinning, this panda wears a crisp white chef’s coat and presents a steaming bowl of noodles like it just won a cooking contest. The doll makes a cheerful card for a friend who loves to feed everyone who walks through her door.
For a junk journal spread about favorite family recipes, tuck this panda beside a printed recipe card and a few pressed herbs for a cozy kitchen page.
Picnic in the Park
Cheerful and ready for fun, this kangaroo wears a denim apron dress and carries a packed picnic basket in one paw, a natural fit for a card inviting someone to a garden lunch.
Excited and bright eyed, this seal wears a smart little sailor jacket and holds up a fish shaped kite as though the wind just caught it. The doll suits a card for a grandchild heading to the beach or a lakeside cabin.
Try pairing it with the camel doll on a travel themed page, since both dolls carry that sense of heading off somewhere new, a nice match for a travel journal spread.
Winter Comforts
Cozy and content, this polar bear wears a fair isle sweater in a snowflake pattern and hugs a hot water bottle close, a fitting doll for a winter card or a page in a winter paper doll collection.
Determined and puffed up with pride, this hamster wears a little tracksuit and holds a single sunflower seed overhead as though it just won a gold medal. The doll makes a funny gift tag for a card that celebrates a small, hard won victory.
For a quick version, skip the tracksuit stripes and leave the fabric plain, letting the triumphant pose do all the work in under five minutes.
Artists and Builders
Dreamy and distant eyed, this alpaca wears a beret and turtleneck, a sketchbook tucked under one leg, the sort of doll who belongs on a card for an artist friend or tucked into a page about quiet creative afternoons.
Proud and sturdy, this rhino wears a tool belt over denim overalls and raises a hammer like it just finished the last nail on a weekend project. The doll fits a card for a handy grandfather or a father in law who loves a good project.
Mount the hammer on a small foam dot so it lifts slightly away from the rhino’s hoof, giving the whole doll a little pop when it sits on a card front.
Hotel Lobby Characters
Cheeky and grinning, this monkey wears a smart bellhop uniform with a round cap and totes a small suitcase, a fun doll for a card wishing someone well on a trip or a move.
Grinning politely with just a little too much tooth showing, this crocodile wears a pinstripe suit and carries a neatly furled umbrella, the sort of character who adds a wink of humor to any card. Its stiff, formal pose sits nicely beside the cheeky bellhop monkey for a hotel lobby scene.
Stand both dolls up by gluing a folded cardstock tab behind each one, letting them lean against each other on a shelf or mantel display.
Little Explorers
Slow but determined, this turtle laces up sturdy hiking boots, straps on a small backpack, and leans on a walking stick with real resolve on its face, perfect for a card cheering someone on through a slow recovery.
Shy and a little pink in the cheeks, this tiger cub wears a tidy school uniform and clutches a lunchbox with both paws, looking just slightly unsure about the first day ahead. The doll suits a card for a grandchild starting school or a new activity.
Write a gentle line beside it about brave first days, and set it next to a page of kids drawing ideas for a sweet keepsake spread.
Adventurous and squinting toward some distant horizon, this camel wears a full explorer’s outfit complete with a wide brimmed hat and carries a canteen slung over one shoulder, a fitting final doll for any travel themed card or journal page.
What to Do Next
Pick a favorite doll or two to start, print a small batch, and keep the rest ready for the next card, tag or journal page that needs a little animal charm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper works best for these paper doll animals?
Matte cardstock works best because it holds color well and feeds through most home printers without jamming. Aim for a weight around 65 to 80 lb for sturdy dolls that hold up to handling and cutting.
What printer settings should I use?
Print at actual size, never scale to fit the page, so every doll and its outfit prints at the intended proportions. Choose the highest quality or photo setting available for crisp outlines and clean color.
How do I cut out the dolls neatly?
Leave a thin white edge around each doll rather than cutting exactly on the line, which protects fine details like scarves and ears. Small detail scissors work well for curves, while a craft knife helps with tight inside corners.
How can I make the dolls stand up or pop off the page?
Fold a small cardstock tab and glue it to the back of each doll to make it stand upright on a shelf or table. For cards, mount the doll on foam adhesive dots instead, which lifts it slightly off the card front for a light 3D effect.
Can kids and grandkids help with these dolls?
Yes, children can usually manage coloring, simple cutting and gluing with a little supervision on the trickier curves. Let younger children handle a pre cut doll and focus on coloring the outfit instead, which keeps the activity relaxed for everyone.
Have any thoughts?
Share your reaction or leave a quick response — we’d love to hear what you think!
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