- Happy Little Ones
- Garden And Spring Moments
- Rainy Day Fun
- Quiet Comforts
- Party Spirit
- Little Weather Watchers
- Sweet And Sleepy
- Garden Helpers
- Celebration Table
- Cold Weather Cheer
- Evening Quiet
- Frequently Asked Questions
This set of paper dolls easy enough for a quick evening at the craft table gives you 22 round-faced retro kids, each drawn in simple bold shapes with one solid outfit, so there are no fussy layers to trim around. They work on handmade cards, gift tags and junk journal pages, and the big glossy eyes and cheerful poses read well even at a small size.
Print on matte cardstock at actual size, and leave a thin white edge around each doll as you cut, it protects the ink line and keeps the shape crisp on the page.
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.
Happy Little Ones
Round cheeks and a wide giggle make this girl in her red dress an easy pick for a birthday card, especially one going to a small child who loves balloons as much as she does.
Her balloon string gives you a natural spot to tuck a short note or a tiny bow, and because her outfit is one solid block of red, she cuts out in under a minute.
Waving with one hand and gripping a chunky toy truck with the other, this boy in blue overalls makes a cheerful birthday or just-because card for a grandson who loves anything with wheels.
Garden And Spring Moments
Standing tall with her chin up, she holds a single flower out in front of her, pleased as anything, which makes this polka dot dress girl a natural fit for a spring or Mother’s Day card where the flower becomes the whole focal point.
Eyebrows up and mouth in a small round o, he has just discovered the apple in his hand is a lot shinier than he expected, which makes a fun back-to-school or autumn tag.
Mount him on a foam dot over a plain tag so the apple sits slightly raised off the page, a small trick that gives the whole piece a little lift without any extra cutting.
Rainy Day Fun
Cheerful under her little umbrella, this pink coat girl suits any card with a rainy-day theme, and she pairs sweetly with the raincoat girl below for a two-doll spread about splashing through puddles together.
Big grin, both arms wrapped around a ball nearly as large as his middle, he is all energy in his green sweater, perfect for a card wishing someone well after a scrape or a scare.
Write a line beside him about bouncing back, described rather than shown here, and let his grin do the rest of the work on the page.
Quiet Comforts
Holding her teddy bear close and looking a little bashful, this gingham dress girl anchors a soft, quiet junk journal spread about bedtime or comfort, especially next to the yawning boy in pajamas.
Eyes bright and mouth open with excitement, he holds his kite string up high in his sailor hat and striped collar, which makes a breezy little addition to a summer card for a young nephew.
Party Spirit
Arms up and spinning with her tutu flared out, she is pure motion on the page, and the five-minute version of this card just glues her straight onto a plain colored background with nothing else added.
Head tipped back laughing, red cap slightly askew, he holds his ice cream cone with both hands like it is the best thing that has happened all day, a good match for a summer birthday card.
Pair him with the cheering girl in the party hat for a two-doll birthday scene, one holding the treat and one holding the gift, side by side on a single card front.
Little Weather Watchers
Mid-splash with a rubber duck tucked under one arm, this raincoat girl suits any April showers card, and a gift tag cut from her raincoat alone makes a sweet little extra for a rainy-season gift.
Eyes wide and mouth in a perfect round o, this toddler in a romper looks at the cupcake in both hands as though it just appeared out of thin air.
Use the five-minute version here: glue him straight onto a card front with nothing else added, his face already carries the whole joke of the card.
Sweet And Sleepy
Cheeks pink and eyes soft, she holds a heart-shaped card out with both hands, which makes her a natural pick for a Valentine card maker looking for one sweet standalone figure rather than a full themed set.
Mouth stretched wide in a yawn, eyes half closed, he hugs his pillow in striped pajamas, a gentle choice for a get-well card or a quiet bedtime page in a journal.
Mount him on a craft stick behind a card front cut with a small slit, and he pops up slightly above the page when the card opens, a nice bit of movement for very little extra work.
Garden Helpers
Tipping her little watering can with a wide delighted smile, this sun hat girl belongs on any gardening-themed card, and she sits nicely beside the proud flower girl for a spring garden spread.
Chest out and chin lifted, lasso looped in one hand, this cowboy hat boy brings a playful western note to a birthday card for a young grandson who loves cowboys.
Celebration Table
Arms up and cheering with a wrapped gift box held high, she is the obvious choice for a birthday or shower card, and she pairs well with the laughing ice cream boy for a two-figure party scene across the card front.
Giggling with a wooden spoon held up like a trophy, this chef’s hat boy fits a birthday or just-because card for anyone who loves baking, and he sits nicely alongside any kitchen-themed holiday set already in a card maker’s stash.
Give him a funny line about a recipe gone slightly wrong, written in small letters along the bottom of the card rather than inside his cut-out shape, so the doll itself stays clean and uncluttered.
Cold Weather Cheer
Bundled in a scarf and mittens with a snowball held in both hands, she makes a cheerful winter card, especially paired with other pieces from a winter paper doll set already on the craft table.
Fists on hips and chin lifted, cape flaring out behind him, this small superhero makes a fun card for a boy who needs a little extra courage, maybe before a first day of school or a trip to the dentist.
Cut two capes from scrap card and layer one slightly behind the doll with a foam dot, so the cape lifts away from the page and catches a bit of shadow.
Evening Quiet
Eyes heavy and candle held carefully in both hands, this bonnet girl suits a gentle good-night page in a junk journal, tucked beside soft fabric scraps and a scrap of lace trim.
One arm thrown up and glove held high, this baseball shirt boy brings a burst of energy to close out the set, and he makes a lively congratulations card for any young ballplayer in the family.
What to Do Next
Print the full sheet on matte cardstock, pick two or three dolls that match the card or journal page in mind, and let the rest of the set wait for the next project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper works best for these paper dolls easy to cut out?
Matte cardstock in the 65 to 90 lb range works best, since it holds the simple bold shapes crisply without curling. Avoid glossy photo paper, it makes small scissor work slide and slip.
What printer settings give the cleanest result?
Print at actual size with borderless or default scaling turned off, and choose the best or photo quality setting your printer offers. Checking the print preview first confirms the doll fills the page the way it should.
How do you cut out the simple shapes cleanly?
Cut slowly around the outer bold outline, leaving a thin white edge rather than trimming right to the ink line. Small detail scissors handle the curves better than large craft scissors, especially around arms and hats.
How can you make these dolls stand up or pop off the page?
Glue the printed doll to a folded cardstock strip for a simple standing base, or add foam adhesive dots behind the figure on a card front for a raised, slightly 3D look. Both tricks take under a minute per doll.
Can these dolls be used for more than cards?
Yes, they work equally well on gift tags, in junk journal spreads, or glued onto plain notebook covers for a quick retro touch. Scaling them down slightly on a second print run also makes them useful as small embellishments.