Free Vintage Paper Doll Printables
Playtime for Grown-Ups: How to Use Vintage Paper Dolls in Mixed Media Journaling
There’s something magical about cutting out paper dolls. The careful snip of the scissors, the delicate tabs, the tiny accessories. It all recalls a simpler time. One filled with imagination, storytelling, and play. Today, vintage paper dolls are no longer just for children’s playrooms. They’ve found a joyful second life in mixed media art and junk journaling.
If you’re looking to bring a sense of nostalgia, whimsy, and storybook charm to your journal pages, you’re in for a treat. I’m giving away a free set of six printable vintage paper doll sheets, each lovingly restored and curated for use in your art journaling, collage, or scrapbooking projects. You can download the full set right here on TheArtScavenger.com.
But before you rush off to print them (or go ahead, I’ll wait!), let’s dive into how you can use these charming dolls to inspire creativity and play in your journal practice.
Why Paper Dolls Belong in Your Art Journal
Paper dolls are more than just cute cutouts. They’re visual storytellers. When you add a paper doll to a journal spread, you’re inviting a character into your creative world. Suddenly, your page becomes a stage, complete with costumes, props, and possibilities.
Here are a few reasons why vintage paper dolls are perfect for mixed media:
They evoke nostalgia. There’s a sentimental quality to vintage paper dolls that instantly draws the eye and heart.
They invite playfulness. Their fanciful outfits and expressive poses encourage creative, lighthearted experimentation.
They spark storytelling. A paper doll can become the main character of a journal page, prompting written entries, dialogue bubbles, or collage narratives.
They’re versatile. Use them as focal points, tuck them into pockets, or layer them into backgrounds. The options are endless.
Whether you’re crafting a vintage-themed junk journal or just want to infuse some childhood joy into your pages, these free paper doll printables are an easy and inspiring way to get started.
What’s Included in the Free Printable Set
This exclusive giveaway includes six high-resolution digital sheets featuring beautiful vintage paper dolls. These images were sourced from an authentic antique paper doll magazine series from the early 1900s.
Each sheet is designed to print on standard 8.5” x 11” paper.
You’ll find the download link for each doll as you scroll through this post. No sign-up required. Just click, download, and start playing.
Keep reading for some fun ways to use them!
How to Use Paper Dolls in Mixed Media Projects
One of the joys of mixed-media journaling is the freedom to experiment. Paper dolls bring a dose of playful unpredictability to your pages. Here are some creative ways to use them:
Create Character-Themed Journal Pages
Choose a doll, glue them to your page, and build the surrounding spread around them. You can write their backstory, decorate their environment (maybe with these furniture ephemera printables), or create a dialogue between multiple dolls. Add collage papers, fabric scraps, and handwritten text to make the story come alive.
Use Dolls as Interactive Flips or Pockets
Fold your page to create a secret flap, and place the paper doll underneath. Or use the doll as a front for a tuck spot or envelope. Journals don’t have to be flat. Add texture and surprise!
Dress Them Up with Mixed Media
While the printable dolls come with their own outfits, you can make new ones! Try layering fabric, patterned paper, or transparent vellum for dimensional clothing. Paint over them to add your own personal flair.
Build a Collaged Theater Scene
Use several dolls to create a storybook tableau. Add hand-drawn or collage-style backgrounds, stamped elements, or tiny props like a paper tea set or a cut-out animal companion. Each page becomes a whimsical scene.
Incorporate Them into Tags and Bookmarks
Glue the smaller dolls to large shipping tags, journal cards, or bookmark bases. Add a quote and some ribbon, and you’ll have a charming insert or giftable piece of art.
Make a Mini Paper Doll Journal
Use the free printables to create an entire mini-journal devoted to paper dolls. Each spread could feature a different doll. It’s a playful way to collect and display your favorite printables.
Why Playfulness Matters in Art Journaling
In the world of mixed media, it’s easy to get caught up in the perfect composition, the right palette, or a polished aesthetic. But journaling, at its heart, is about freedom, experimentation, and joy. Paper dolls remind us that creativity doesn’t have to be serious. It can be whimsical, quirky, and fun.
Play is a powerful creative tool. When you play, you quiet your inner critic. You follow curiosity instead of expectation. You remember what it’s like to make art just for the joy of making it.
So go ahead. Print the dolls, cut them out, and start arranging little worlds on your pages. You might be surprised by what emerges when you let your inner child take the lead.
More Ideas to Keep the Creative Play Going
Looking for more playful prompts and printables? Here are a few related freebies you might enjoy:
And don’t forget. You can always browse the Collage Sheets section here on TheArtScavenger.com for more vintage-inspired resources for your next journaling session.
Final Thoughts: Make Space for Play
In every creative life, there should be space for silliness, storytelling, and surprise. Paper dolls are a reminder that it’s okay, wonderful even, to bring play into your journaling practice.
So much of adult life is about structure and responsibility. Let your journal be a place where the rules don’t apply. Where you can mix a doll from 1910 with art supplies from today and end up with something completely new, where imagination leads the way.
Print your dolls. Cut them out. Dress them up. Build a scene. Invent a story. Let yourself play.
Happy journaling!
Love These Printables? Support The Art Scavenger!
I love sharing free vintage printables, and if you enjoy them, there are easy ways to support my work so I can continue creating and offering more free designs:
You may also enjoy these free collage sheets.
Terms of use:
Free to use for personal or commercial projects. You may print the collage sheets as many times as you wish for your personal crafts or in your projects to sell, including: art journals, scrapbooks, junk journals, collage art, etc. You may not redistribute or sell the collage sheets “as is" in either print or digital form.
If you wish to share the files on your own website, please do not make the files available for download directly from your site. Instead, include an image with a link back to this site.
To the best of my knowledge, these are all royalty free images that are in the Public Domain in the US. However, you should always do your own research if you plan to use them commercially.
