The Black Apple's Paper Doll Primer: Activities and Amusements for the Curious Paper Artist

Bought this for my 7 year old daughter (and also a teeny bit vicariously for me, as I am a huge fan of Emily Winfield, her blogs, fashion sense and art) for Christmas. She LOOOVES it!We both agree that it is way too beautiful and precious of a book to cut into so we're ordering another one (even though Emily herself talks about this in the book and does instruct one on making copies, complete with ratio percentages). It's just TOO FANTASTIC of a book that we absolutely, simply MUST have TWO! One to use and one to keep forever and maybe even someday pass on.Things are so much more different from when I was a kid and I am so happy to be able to share the things that I love with my daughter and see how much she loves it too. I WISH I had a book like this when I was 7!Anyhoo, on with the review. Emily Martin is so cute and whimsical. It is not *just* a paper doll book, and aside from the gorgeous artwork, the TEXT is great! My daughter has read it cover to cover a few times now. There are little stories for each character including their likes and dislikes. It is like she creates little worlds within each page in which she supplies the base and you just keep adding to it which in turn makes for the makings of some very detailed dolls and stories to go along with them. It lends oneself to feeling like they are making a true collaboration between the book, the dolls, and the creative conscious. It's pure fantasy and fun for Helena. I love hearing the additions she makes to a personality or place in which they reside.Another thing I love is that she has made a section in the book for a child to create a paper doll of themselves! She has tons of great suggestions on what mediums she used and how she achieved certain looks pertaining to said technique. So it's also part art lessons! Bonus!So it's fun, whimsical, ethereal, personalized, part story, part art lesson, it celebrates the child's individuality and inspires them to dream.I keep talking like it's for my kid, but uhhhhh I'm pretty smitten with this too!I highly suggest buying TWO of these books as once you see the beauty and quality you will be more than torn about how to use it, so save yourself the aneurysm and just get two. <3

Emily Martin's book of paper dolls surpassed my expectations. There are so many activities beyond just dressing the dolls. You can create your own, learn how to design a theater for them, learn how to create a "family doll" framed portrait, and many more. I ordered two copies of the book; one is for cutting and the other is for saving. I like how Emily helps teach the user how to use the book too. She suggests what types of supplies will work best with each project. She offers helpful hints about how to customize the dolls' outfits. I have my fingers crossed that this won't be her last paper doll book. For the reviewers who object to the twins and the tattoo elements in the book--I understand your point of view--I too am a mother, but, I think the artistic nature of the book lends itself to some extentions of fantasy.

I just got this in the mail this morning and love it even more than I was expecting. As a lifelong paperdoll lover, I'm still in happy awe that a book like this was even made -- it really is absolutely delightful from cover to cover. All the finished paperdolls are creative and unique (and adorable, obviously). The customizable ones are so fabulous I can't wait to make our 'family portrait!' In fact, I'm seriously contemplating getting another copy to keep 'in tact' while I cut up this copy, it's just that much beautiful fun.The projects that are for the paper dolls -- a stage, armoire, etc.-- also look great. I'm envisioning many lovely hours spent with my daughter this thanksgiving and Christmas vacation. She was my excuse to buy this book, but really I would have bought it anyway! Thank you Emily!

My daughter is 7 years old and has an incredible imagination. She also currently loves cutting paper, so I thought she would enjoy paper dolls. I ordered this book for her for Christmas, so I haven't seen her reaction yet, but perhaps I'll update with that after Christmas. I think she is going to LOVE it! It arrived yesterday and I looked through it and oohed and ahhed over it. It truly is lovely. The stories about each character are interesting and give the dolls such individual personalities. I can see my daughter spending hours cutting out and playing with the dolls and their accessories. The dolls can easily be cut out with scissors. An exacto knife is recommended only for any slits on the interior of some of the dolls, and I can easily help my daughter with that.I do wish the backs of the pages were blank rather than being printed on both sides. It didn't take long for me to decide that I'll have to purchase a second copy so she'll have one to cut up and one to read and look at. The dolls are printed on fairly sturdy paper, but I wish it were a bit thicker. That's not a big deal, as I suppose we can glue the cut out images onto cardstock and then cut again. I also wish that the scenery pages were perforated to make it easier to remove them from the book.All in all, I am thrilled with my purchase and think it was money well spent. I also think it will be worth buying the second copy rather than making tons of photocopies and using all the paper and ink that would require. I am looking forward to playing with my daughter on Christmas morning.

This book is splendid! It contains many paper dolls and their clothes designed by Emily Martin of (Inside a) Black Apple. Right away I was smitten by Cora and Hedgie and Onionhead. I have a hard time cutting up books, so instead I made color copies (allowed by the author) onto cardstock and began cutting. Soon I had some delightful characters to dress and imagine with. The colors and stories and layout of this book are enchanting and even if you only want to keep it on your art shelf for ideas, you will have a lovely journey paging through it. Recommended for children and adults alike (of which I am one--an adult who still likes to play!). Enjoy!

É tudo muito lindo, porém, se recortarmos, perderemos o texto de cada boneca e eu considero o texto tão valioso quanto às bonecas.No mais, é tudo perfeito.

The service was very good. The book was in perfect condition, and the customer care was super. i really suggest this service.

I loved this book; it was great to see the author's own world of paper dolls including the dolls, clothes, accessories - including wigs and glasses! - and the backdrops such as the circus, a dark forest and a theatre. It really inspired play and creativity; and the section about how to create a paper doll of oneself - also complete with clothes and accessories of your choice - was useful and inspiring. I loved the author's artwork; its dark yet cute, which I found really appealing to the goth inside me.I really recommend this book as an essential to crafters who are looking for something different, and to those readers who love goth/cute imagery.

A wonderfully designed book. Good quality paper, excellent layout and inspiring for young creatives. A generous amount of resources can be found within it's pages.

questo libro è molto bello, le illustrazioni profumano di genuino come le marmellate fatte in casa <3 e vengono aprezzate sia dai grandi che dai piccini, ci sono varie paper doll (tra cui anche un simpatico orso e due gemelle siamesi, contiene vestitini per ogni personaggio, degli sfondi con cui giocare, ti insegna a costruire un armadio con una scatola di cereali e come creare un supporto per tenere verticali le bamboline. ma non insegna a fare bamboline di proprio pugno, non dà consigli su come realizzare bamboline di carta partendo dalla propria fantasia. è un libro gioco non un libro manuale. : )