Let’s Make a Festive Paper Doll on Procreate and Cricut Joy Xtra (Or with Scissors)

1. Introduction: Hi, I'm Elaine Vitikainen. I'm an illustrator and an entrepreneur from Helsinki. It's a time of the year when gift giving is at its best, and we surely want to level up our gift giving by making something ourselves. In this class, we're going to create a cute, fun and festive paper doll that will add joy to the holiday season. This paper doll is a great gift idea that will surely bring smiles to those who receive them. The process is also very easy and lots of fun. We will design our paper doll on Procreate, then cut them on a Cricut Joy Xtra. Alternatively, you can also cut this by hand if you don't have a Cricut Joy Xtra. I've provided a set of pattern brushes that I've created to use in our projects and also the doll template. By the end of this class, you will have a cute, fun, festive paper doll that you've made yourself. I really hope to see you in class. 2. Class Project: For the class project, we will be making a cute, fun and festive paper doll. We will design our paper doll on Procreate, then cut it on the Cricut Joy Xtra. Alternatively, you can also cut this by hand if you don't have a Cricut Joy Xtra. We would need an iPad, an Apple pen or any stylus that you have, the Procreate, and the Cricut Design Space. We would need the Cricut Joy Xtra, the Cricut Joy Xtra mat, an A4 printing paper, and a printer. If you don't have a Cricut Joy Xtra, you can just print this out and cut them by hand. I've provided a set of brushes that I've created to use in our projects and also the doll template. You can find these resources in the class resources section. 3. Designing the Paper Doll: Now it's time to design our paper doll on Procreate. Let's open Procreate. Hit the plus sign, and let's create our canvas. I will set it at 200 mm x 297 mm, which is an A4 and at 300 DPI for good quality printing. Hit create, and now we can start designing our paper doll. But before that, let's download the brush set and the doll template from the class resources section. First, I will set my canvas by going to action, canvas, select drawing guide, then edit drawing guide. Choose symmetry, options, vertical, then hit done. We will upload the doll template, then place it in the center. Just keep in mind that we would need to place four pieces of clothes in the corners, so be sure that you have enough space. You can just use this doll as it is. But if you want to change it up, just lower the opacity, add another layer, check that you have the drawing assist on. Then just trace it and make it your own. You can change the hairstyle, hair color, the shape of the eyes, and all that. For me, I created this doll to look like a cross between a girl and a gingerbread, which I think is very cute. So now let's draw the clothes. Since this is a festive doll, I created a color palette that goes with the festive vibe like the red and green, matching them with the holiday season. Let's start with the first one. I will add a layer with the drawing assist on, and will choose the green color. I will use the monoline pen from the calligraphy section of the brush library. I will make the shirt and part of the sleeves first. Then I will drop the green color, making sure that there are no gaps. Then I will take the white, add another layer with a clipping mask on to add the checkered pattern. I will lower the opacity a bit. Then on another layer with a drawing assist on, I will use green and with a monoline pen, I will draw the skirt, the collar, and sleeves, dropping the green color. Let's make the tabs with a white monoline pen on another layer. I will duplicate this layer because we will need more tabs for the other clothes. Pinch them all together and move it to the corner. Let's make another one. I will take the blue color, add a layer with the drawing assist on, then I will draw the skirt, dropping the blue color. Then the shirt and the blue color. I will add another layer. Always checking that I have the drawing assist on, I will take the white to draw the belt, the collar, and the sleeves. I will add another layer with the clipping mask on. Then with the red color, I will add the striped pattern. Duplicate the tabs again, then pinch them together, then bring it to the other corner. Next, I will make the pyjamas. Let's start with the red color for the bottom, the collar and the part of the sleeves. On another layer with a clipping mask on, I will add a white plaid pattern. With the same white, I will draw the shirt on another layer. Then I will draw a simple reindeer for a festive look. Remember to duplicate and add the tabs. For the last one, I will draw them in three layers using white. First, the skirt with green stripes. Then the shirt with red polka dots. Lastly, I will draw the sleeves and will add the green stripes on another layer. But this time, I will not put the clipping mask on because I want to change the direction of the stripes horizontally before adding the clipping mask. Remember to add the tabs. Once we are done, we can combine all the layers by pinching them together. Save this file as PNG, then send it to the Cricut Design Space. If you're cutting this by hand, just print it out and it will be ready for cutting. 4. Cutting the Paper Doll: So now it's time to cut our paper doll. So here we are on the Cricut Design Space. So let's start a new project. Then upload the PNG file. Follow me in this process. Select your file and set the size width to 6,292, making sure that it is locked. Then make it. I will save my project. Follow me in this process. For the printing, let's remove the Add Bleed, but put the Add System Dialogue on, then it Print. Look for the dialog box, then check that your printer is connected. Choose the paper size, the media type, and it's important to choose the best quality. Also, check that your printer has the right settings. Then hit Print. The printing is done, and now we will place this on the map. Then we have to set the base material, browse all materials, and I will choose photopaper and will set the pressure to more. Then load the mat with the paper doll on, then go. Unload, and now it's ready. We have created a cute, fun and festive paper doll. 5. Thank You: Thank you for joining me in this class. I hope you enjoyed making your own festive paper doll on Procreate and Cricut Joy Xtra. Please don't forget to snap a photo of your projects and share them in the project gallery section. I really can't wait to see what you've created. Also, please leave a class review. I would really appreciate it. And if you haven't already, you can check out my downloadable paper dolls on sale on Skill Share. Bye for now and see you again soon.