Anita's Paper Dolls

CONTENTS:

ANITA'S PAPER DOLLS

Here are some new paper dolls of characters from British tv shows: Hyacinth Bucket (Patricia Routledge), of "Keeping Up Appearances," and Mrs. Slocombe (Mollie Sugden), of "Are You Being Served?" Here are lots of outfits for Mrs. Bucket (pronounced Boo-kay!) and Mrs. Slocombe, most based on costumes from their shows. Making his debut is the world-renowned detective from Belgium, Monsieur Hercule Poirot, with a small assortment of dapper, well-pressed clothes. Here is a paper doll of Hyacinth's husband, Richard Bucket (pronounced Buck-et) with a page of his clothes.

Here's Miss Brahms, Mrs. Slocombe's assistant on the ladies' counter, with her clothes. Also taking time off from their jobs at Grace Brothers department store are Mr. Humphries (two poses), Captain Peacock, Mr. Grainger, Mr. Lucas and Mr. Rumbold. I've drawn some of the store furniture (counters and drawers) so you can send the paper dolls back to work in their accustomed environment.

From the outrageous British tv comedy, "The Young Ones," Vyvyan (who was played by Ade Edmondson), and from totally different worlds, Sophia Loren and a couple of ancient Egyptians.

Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk from the original Star Trek make an appearance, with two pages of clothes. Also from that show are Elaan of Troyius with her four outfits, and Lt. Uhura, the communications officer. (There are color notes for Elaan's clothes, but of course, you can use any colors you like.) From the hilarious British sci-fi comedy tv show "Red Dwarf," The Cat, with several pages of his way cool outfits.

Suggestions:

Print out the dolls with their stands and the store fixtures on card stock if your printer accepts it. Otherwise, use the heaviest paper you can, e.g., 24-lb. Color them. Paste the dolls, stands and store counters onto light cardboard (cereal boxes, for instance). Let the paste dry. Cut them out, but do not cut the spaces next to arms and legs. Snip the slots near their feet. Cut out the stands with slots, and insert the stands at the dolls' feet. The stands for M. Poirot, Mr. Rumbold, Captain Peacock, and The Cat have two slots and should curve behind the doll.

Print out the clothes on 24-lb. paper so that they stand up to being colored. Try colored pencils, watercolors (not too wet, or the paper will buckle), colored inks, brush markers, blow-markers, art sticks or crayons. (I like colored pencils, layering different colors for nice effects and shading.) Cut out the clothes with all the tabs intact. Some tabs have slots, too; these lock behind the dolls to keep their clothes flat against them.

Special note for Mrs. Slocombe's extravagant feathered hat -- this oversized hat has three separate tabs. Cut out the hat and the tabs. Place the hat on the doll and lay them both face down on the table. Position the tabs as shown in the little diagram and tape them to the hat. Trim off any excess tape that protrudes around the hat. You'll see other garments with wide edges and separate tabs -- do the same thing with them.

Special note for Elaan doll: When cutting her out, snip into the first lock of hair from her shoulders, so the tabs of her dresses can slip into the slots.