Free Paper Doll Shopping Outfit

An outing with some shopping for Victoria

A guest has come to stay for a while at Grandmother Lacey's stately home in London. It is Victoria's favorite aunt, Aunt Mattie. The two have just been shopping at their favorite Millinery shop, to buy some spools of lovely ribbon. The ribbon will soon be made by Aunt Mattie, Grandmother Lacey and Victoria into lengths of hair ribbon for the girls of a school for impoverished children. Other things will be given to each child, including small toiletry kits. There will  also be socks for the boys.

The kitten playing  with the length of bright ribbon in Victoria's hands is one of the new brood which the cook's cat is mothering. The little scamp must surely have escaped from the warmth and dull security of the comfortable box near the kitchen stove. Somehow, I do not think that Victoria minds having a little fur ball romping at her feet, do you?

Happy Shopping Creativity!

PPSPlaytime™: Shopping with Aunt Mattie

Download HERE

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You are free to:

play with this outfit or offer it as a gift

or in trade.

You are not free to:

ever sell it in any way.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Free Anne of Green Gables Ephemera

Today is the anniversary of the birth of the author of the Anne of Green Gables series of books, Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Having read nearly every one of the Anne series of books, I know that I have always been a big fan of Montgomery's work. Her understanding of the ways girls think and feel was well ahead of its time. She had insight to offer in each and every chapter that she wrote about Anne, her "bosom friend," Diana Berry, and (of course) Anne's very own Gilbert.

In honor of the heroine of the books, I am calling her Anne with an "e".
:)
I think that she would be pleased by this, don't you?

Gilbert Rescues Anne

Anne's Puff Sleeve Dress

Below are 3 separate downloads in honor of the day, all of which are in the Public Domain. (Yes, even the Museum photo of Anne's pretty little room is in the Public Domain) The sheet music cover and the two old photos are from the 1919 silent motion picture version of Anne's story. That, I suppose, would account for the costumes being a little too modern for Anne's actual era. I still thought they might be fun to use , and so they were included in the set.

Happy Green Gables Creativity!

PPSEphemeraSet™: Anne of Green Gables

Download 1919 Sheet Music Cover HERE

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(lower quality than the download)

Download Anne's Room HERE

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Anne with Gilbert 1919 silent film photo HERE

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You are free to:

(in this case)

use the above images in any way you please.

All are within the bounds of copyright law

for free use!

:)

Free Coloring Page of Victorian Bride

A new Coloring page of a Victorian bride and her maid of honor!

I thought this would be a fun way to finish off Wedding Week for the paper dolls here at the Studio's blog.

It might be best for crayons, and not for colored pencils, due to certain image quality issues, but I'll let others decide for themselves.

Happy Wedding Coloring Fun!

PPSColorMe™ Page: Victorian Bride and Her Maid of Honor

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

This item is

in the Public Domain.

I've cleaned it up a little and resized it.

Let's keep free things free!

Paper Doll Room No. 2

All of the Comforts of Home

This lovely painting of a quaint old room was found just last week. It has since been sized to make a suitable room for the paper dolls. This comes in 4 separate sections, for the growing collection of paper doll accessories here at the Studio's blog.

I enjoy everything about this space, from the wallpaper to the windows and the cuddly soft furnishings. The lovely blue drapery fabric and the blooming potted lily in one corner are likewise delightful to my eyes.

Each of the 4 sections has its own separate download. All 4 are listed below. They were sized to fit standard office sized sheets of paper, and are intended to be carefully trimmed and then pieced together like a 4 part puzzle.

Quarter inch margins, or no margins at all for your printer, will yield your best finish. As these will take a fair amount of ink or toner, it is better to set your margins and first test with a less colorful image to make certain that your printer is responding well enough to any changes to your margins.

For further instructions and some handy ideas, you may visit the post for the very first room at the link HERE.

More rooms will hopefully soon be made available here at Plush Possum Studio.

Happy Playtime Creativity!

PPSPlaytime™: Paper Doll Room No. 2

Download Upper Right Section HERE

Download Lower right Section HERE

Download Lower Left Section HERE

Download Upper Left Section HERE

Display with 2 dolls

(lower quality than the downloads)

You are free to:

Play with this room or give it as a gift

or to even trade it during playtime.

But please do not sell it as is here.

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Free Paper Doll Wedding Outfits

"Here comes the bride!"

"Marry on Monday for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday the best day of all,
Thursday for crosses,
Friday for losses, and
Saturday for no luck at all."

[This is an old Victorian rhyme, based on the customs of that era.
My source is: http://www.literary-liaisons.com/article003.html ]

It is customary for weddings to take place between major church holidays in Victorian England. With the church season called Advent so close at hand, a late autumn wedding cannot be postponed without waiting until the following year.

Mercy's wedding is about to begin! --And on a Wednesday morning, no less! There is a flurry of activity just behind the scenes. This is to be a morning wedding, followed by a lovely wedding breakfast. This was quite common during the 1800's in Great Britain.

Victoria's cousin, Mercy has asked that her younger cousin be her Maid of Honor. For Victoria, this will be a very special day, indeed. For the occasion, she has been outfitted with a pretty dress of her own to wear. Notice how she is tending to the bride's bouquet for her. And what lovely roses Mercy has chosen for this event!

Victoria and Mercy each have their own download in this post.
There is a good bit of  what I call "fussy cutting" to both outfits this time. After all, their designs are loaded with little details meant to make the day more special. The assistance of either parents or older siblings may be required in order that all will turn out well enough. Tight spaces can be handled well with manicure scissors or detail scissors of some sort.

"Color of the gown was thought to influence one's future life.

White--chosen right
Blue--love will be true
Yellow--ashamed of her fellow
Red--wish herself dead
Black--wish herself back
Grey--travel far away
Pink--of you he'll always think
Green-ashamed to be seen."

BEFORE and AFTER pictures

Mercy's Wedding Gown Suggestions
The upper portion of the veil had to be redesigned 3 ways before it would finally function. The rest of her veil you will find is a part of the dress. In other words, all in one piece with her dress.

Step one (once the dress and veil tab parts have been carefully cut out):
Reinforce the shoulder tabs of the gown at the back using clear tape. It is recommended, as this will be a heavier and slightly larger dress than normal, that the tape continue down the back side of the dress for at least an inch. It is simpler to reinforce or bolster something weak rather than fixing it if ever were to tear. And I think that tearing of the delicate little tabs would be bound to occur.

Step two:
Dressing the doll begins this time with her gown, of course. The veil tab may be attached at the very tip-top area. This can be glued behind the doll's hair, which is decorated to match it.

I'd like to suggest that the glue be most carefully applied. Glue stick would actually be my first choice here. The very top white portion above the flowers should be the ideal place to begin. Simply allow the plain gray long parts of the veil tab to drape at the back for further stability.

It is always best (unless otherwise suggested) to begin with a very small amount of glue at the very top of every headdress and hat offered in this collection when attaching hat or hair tabs.

I can hear the music starting now! Victoria must hurry in order to be ready to lead the way to the altar! They certainly don't want to keep everybody waiting, least of all dear Tom De Haven, Mercy's groom, do they?

Note: This project was actually started back in 2011. It is gratifying to see it now at last fully finished.
:)

PPSPlaytime™: Victoria's Bridesmaid Dress

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

PPSPlaytime™: Cousin Mercy's Wedding Gown

Download HERE

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(lower quality than the download)

Credits:

NewYork Public Library image archives

nypl.org

There are certain copyright laws governing

 the use of some images there.

Consequently--

You are free to:

play with or give or trade these outfits

and their dolls.

You are not free to:

ever sell them for any reason.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Victorian Paper Doll Ball Gown

Mercy's wardrobe has grown again this week!

Miss Mercy Pendleton has been invited by the family of her husband-to-be to attend a very special occasion. For this event, her mother has had a lovely new gown made especially for her. This will be her very first truly grown up evening dress. The pearls at her throat are her mother's, on loan for the evening. Her folding fan is made of dyed mother of pearl to match the tone of her gown.

We can smell her lovely tea rose perfume wafting on the evening air as she passes us on her way to her carriage. Her fiancé, Mr. Tom De Haven, is ever the gentleman. He is helping her on with her evening wrap, and then lending her his arm as they walk out onto the front steps.

This will be a very exciting evening for young Mercy. Many of Tom's relatives and friends are expected to be there. There is to be a light supper, followed by dancing. Everybody in Tom's social set will be there. This will include some of his associates from the British Museum in London, as well as a number of scholars and teachers from King's College, London. This school is a forward thinking place of learning, wherein women have been allowed to study already for over a decade (this story is mainly set in the year 1893-1894).

Happy Dancing Creativity!

PPSPlaytime™: Cousin Mercy's Evening Dress

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Credits:

nypl.org 

where there are certain 

lawful copyrights being held.

You are therefore free to:

play with, give and/or trade this outfit.

You are not free to:

ever sell it for any reason.

Thank you for

helping me to

keep free things free!

A New Paper Doll Friend for Victoria

Meet Victoria's Cousin and Very Best Friend, Miss Mercy Pendleton!

She may be somewhat older and a little bit wiser than Victoria, yet the two are very seldom apart during their free time. 

Mercy is soon to finish her studies alongside her younger cousin, and then will become the bride of Mr. Thomas DeHaven of London. Victoria is to be her Maid of Honor. Both young women are very enthusiastic about Mercy's wedding. 

Mercy is Grandmother Lacey's grand-niece. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. George Pendleton. Mrs. Pendleton, whom nearly everyone affectionately calls simply Clara, has been busy making plans for the big day for her daughter.

Meanwhile, there is still school to attend, among other duties, making Mercy a very busy young lady, indeed. Her piano lessons have had to be dropped in favor of exercise and fresh air on horseback in Hyde Park, so busy has she become in recent weeks.

Often, the two cousins have stayed at each other's homes, or visited other relatives in the countryside together. Their adventures with horses, bicycles and tree climbing have given them a certain reputation for running a little bit wild when younger. Nowadays, however, they are much too grownup to be after climbing trees.

Victoria is noticing the rapid passage of time. Only two more years of school rules and serious study will she need to endure and complete before she'll be allowed to venture into the grownup world of teaching.

She and Mercy plan to spend as much time together as possible, right up to the night before the wedding. This is only weeks away.
So let's leave them together, in each other's fond company, while we look at Mercy and the first items of her wardrobe for the very first time.
:)

NOTE:

Mercy is slightly different in her head and neck areas. Also, as you will no doubt see right away, she is turned in the opposite direction. I wanted the two dolls to be able to look at each other during playtime. Mercy, being a little bit older, has been allowed to have the latest in certain grownup underclothes. 

In trying to make her look enough unlike Victoria as possible,  I've accidentally made it impossible for this doll to fit many of Victoria's outfits once these are flipped horizontally. I had to change little things here and there, in order to make the first outfits for Mercy really fit her. The Dressing Gown required very few changes, yet changes had to be made, all the same.

In other words, I wouldn't recommend that you count on any of the rest of the first doll's things fitting her well enough if flipped using your computer (or a copy machine with a similar function).

Because of the poise of her head and neck, I had to give her her very own evening wrap. The first doll's simply would not fit Mercy without being ruined. Also, Doll One's hair fits her own hats, while Doll Two needs her very own. For example, while the Sunday Dress fit well enough when flipped to face the other direction, the hat would not. So she required her own hair and hat combined, along with a separate hat tab, just for her.

I hope to be able to expand upon this collection very soon, and to offer more accessories for both dolls, including at least one more new room before year's end.

Below, you'll find:
1) the Doll, Mercy
2.) her very own standard, made to fit her specifically (Please see instructions in Victoria's Standard post)
3.) a Study outfit, complete with her own  book
4.) a Sunday dress
5.) the Evening Wrap
6.) her very own Dressing Gown

And that is only the beginning!
Happy Playtime Creativity!

PPSPlaytime™: Victoria's Cousin Mercy Doll

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Mercy's Standard HERE

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Download her Study Outfit HERE

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Download her Sunday Dress HERE

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(lower quality than the download)

Download her Evening Wrap HERE

(NOTE the tiny dotted white line between hair 

and collar on this one.

I recommend carefully cutting along this line 

in order to separate the two things.)

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download her Dressing Gown HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Credits:

nypl.org where certain lawful copyrights are held.

Therefore--

You are free to:

play with these items or give them

as gifts.

You are not free to:

ever sell them for any reason whatsoever.

Thank you for

helping me to

keep free things free!

Recipe Card Divider Set

Free Recipe Card File Dividers (4 sets of 3)

The Recipe Cards are going well, so I thought that it was high time to finish the set by offering some unique dividers for you. The pattern is from the Pretty Papers collection here at PPS. New colors have been added to the pattern, and these are complete with tabs for all 3 main positions (Left, Right, and Center). Each tab is two inches across, leaving just enough room for your handwritten categories. NOTE: For this project you will require a corner rounder punch of some kind as fussy cutting takes far too long and the top tabs really do need to be rounded at the corners. 

For the Card Set, simply follow the link HERE.

All told, there are 4 sets of 3 each. The parade of colors starts with soft neutral tones, which are followed by a succession of other, more vibrant colors. I do hope that these will all prove useful to you.

Card stock
For me, this project really needs tougher paper than average copier or printer paper. I recommend highly the use of white card stock paper only, as otherwise your colors might come out looking kind of strange or murky.  This should be easy enough to acquire at an Office Supply store or Copy Center. The dimensions are (in USA terms) 8.5 inches by 11 inches.

Printer or Copier Settings
These sets have unusually narrow margins. Ordinarily, I've tended to use half inch margins on all four sides at least. These have mere quarter inch (one fourth inch) margins. It is best to narrow the margins in your settings prior to your first print. No margins at all might work out even better, as this will allow a complete print of each set.

Happy Cooking Creativity!

PPSGifts™: Recipe Card File Dividers

Download Set 1 HERE

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(lower quality than the download)

Download Set 2 HERE

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Download Set 3 HERE

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Download Set 4 HERE

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(lower quality than the download)

Scanned and processed by R.H. McGuinn

Design ©Plush Possum Studio

You are free to:

use the above sets as shown here,

or

to give them as a gift.

You are not free to:

ever sell these sets for any reason whatsoever.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Coloring Page: "I Am Perfectly Content."

The King's daughter finds a contented young man to be her prince.

There is a fragment of the story for this coloring page. It was so quaintly romantic and old fashioned, I simply had to include it.


The story reads as follows:

[Text Appearing Before Image:]

"...green trees and the greener fields, in that dainty little cloud fleck-ing heavens blue up yonder like a bit of foam on a sunlit sea? Oh, no! I am rich enough, for all nature is mine—"

"And I am yours," said a sweet young voice.

The man looked up in surprise, and there before him, holding out her pretty hands toward him, stood the Princess Madge, who had slipped into the cell unnoticed. 

The man sprang to his feet, clasped the little hands in his, and said: I know not what you mean, sweet lady, when you say that you are mine; but oh, you are passing beautiful!" 

"Papa," called the princess, "this is quite dreadful. Quick, take off that ugly soldiers coat and tell him who we are and all about it!"

The king, starting as if from a dream, threw off the rough coat and hat and stepped forth into the beam of sunlight, resplendent in gold and ermine. "Thou dost not know me, my man? I am the king. Hast thou not read our last proclamation?"

"No, your Majesty; I never do read proclamations."

[Text Appearing After Image:]

"Then thou didst not know that the hand of the princess is offered to the first contented man who enters the palace?"

"No, your Majesty; I knew it not."

"Then know it now, and know, too, that thou art the man. To thee I give my daughter, together with half my kingdom. No, no—not a word. Thou deservest her. May you be happy!"

The prisoner, almost dumb with astonishment, almost dazed with joy, knelt and kissed the princess's white hands, then looked into her eyes and said: "Ah, well it is for me that I saw you not until now, for I should have been miserably discontented until you were mine! "

Happy Coloring Creativity!

PPSColorMe™Page: "I am perfectly content"

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Now in the Public Domain

in the USA, Canada, and most of the EU.

(I am uncertain about the laws in the Baltic states.)

It's Football Season

Free 1920's Football Illustration

Touch down!! This one is actually in the Public Domain, and so it shall remain that way. Which means it is free to use in any way we choose. When I resized it into a more print-worthy shape, and saw that it was in fairly good condition for use, I decided right then and there to offer it here.

Happy Sporting Creativity!

PPSPrintable™: 1920's Football Illustration

Download HERE

Display version

(slightly lower quality than the download)

Public Domain

You are free to:

use this image in any way you please.

Have fun

helping me to

keep free things free!

Thank you.

A Fourth Color Choice for the Teatime Outfit

Color Choice 4 for the Teatime Outfit

At first, a two toned outfit in autumn colors was chosen for this cute outfit. Thereafter, other color choices were found to be just as much fun as the first.

Please read all red letter Guidelines and Credits for every post here at the Studio's blog, including for this one. Thank you.

For the little story of this outfit, that is about Victoria's Grandmother giving her something special, please follow the link HERE.

Happy Playtime Creativity!

PPSPlaytime™: Teatime Outfit Color 4

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Credits:

nypl.org

who hold certain copyrights to images

used in this outfit.

As a result, here are the Guidelines for use--

You are free to:

play with or give or trade this outfit.

You are not free to:

ever sell it for any reason

as certain copyright laws will apply to this one.

Thank you for

helping me to

keep free things free!

Teatime Outfit Color 3

Paper Doll Teatime outfit Color 3

Previously, there were 2 other colors offered for this outfit. The first one has a little story to go with it. To find that first Teatime post, simply follow this link, HERE.

Please see the red letter Guidelines at the foot of every post here at the blog. Thank you.

This time, the color choice is in two vibrant shades of lovely green, under a snowy white apron trimmed with matching pale green ribbon bows.

Happy Playtime Creativity!

PPSPlaytime™: Teatime Outfit  3

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Credits:

nypl.org Images

which all have certain copyrights attached to them.

This means that--

You are free to:

play with the outfit provided here.

You may also offer it as a gift or perhaps in trade.

You are not free to:

ever sell it for any reason.

Thank you for 

helping me to

keep free things free!

Decorative Recipe Card Set

Free Decorative Recipe Card Set

This will be the very first item in a new Category here at the Studio's blog entitled, "PPSGifts™."

Please see the red letter Guidelines following the 5 images. Thank you.

The collection shown below is in 5 sets of 4 cards per page. These will print onto any 8.5 inch by 11 inch page. It is recommended that card stock be used, rather than ordinary printer or copier paper. Your local Copy or Extension Center may have the proper equipment necessary to create your cards, if your home copier/printer does not offer a card stock setting.

For the accompanying Recipe Card File Divider Set, you may follow the link HERE. (There are 12 separate cards contained in 3 sets of 4)

Once cut (preferably using an office paper trimmer or home cropper), each card's dimensions should properly measure 3 inches by 5 inches in size. Simply follow the dotted cutting lines between the cards, and also cut away the colored border which surrounds each set of 4. I'd recommend cutting away the border first, prior to using the dividing lines that separate the cards form the center bands of white. It all depends upon the sort of cropping or cutting system you've got for this purpose.

Storage for the Cards

Storage systems abound for 3 inch by 5 inch recipe cards. I've found several in just a few minutes of looking online. For one of the best I've found thus far, you can visit the link HERE.

I prefer Matte Gel Medium over glue and even over my favorite Mod Podge for use in decorating such boxes. Liquitex is my brand of choice, although Golden brand is likewise very useful.

For the stamping crowd, the choice would be simple. The box could easily be inked all over, then stamped and/or embossed. I'd probably give it little feet of some sort on its underside, to keep it from getting damp or soiled by regular kitchen use. Clear Contact shelf paper (self adhesive) might also be useful. The beauty of such a system will be, that it could easily  be added to or subtracted from, and likewise that the box itself, if damaged, will be relatively easy to replace.

More to Come

Ultimately, I'd like to complete the set with a few divider options. These will hopefully be available here very soon. They are intended to be cute and to have tabs on which one may write various categories.

Here at the Studio's blog, there are also many colorful backgrounds and Collage Pages to choose from for a unique look. The Studio's Pretty Papers collection might actually be a fun way to start, especially if this is a gift. Wrapping paper, layers of torn tissue paper sheets, leftover wallpaper, fabric remnants etc., all can offer further suitable design options.

Happy Gift-giving Creativity!

PPSGifts™: Decorative Recipe Card Sets

Download Set 1 HERE

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(lower quality than the download)

Download Set 2 HERE

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Download Set 3 HERE

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Download Set 4 HERE

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(lower quality than the download)

Download Set 5 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

Offer this set as a gift

or

to use it in your own kitchen.

You are not free to:

ever sell this set for any reason.

Thank you 

for helping me to 

keep free things free!