Wednesday, November 25, 2015

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

Display version
(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!









2 comments:

bfmama said...

Absolutely beautiful! The before and after shows what an amazing amount of
work and skill you put into these. Thank you so much!

Plush Possum Studio said...

bfmama: Thank you. Your kind words are making me glad.
:)
I love making paper doll outfits as a hobby. It's such a pleasure whenever somebody notices the effort--but it's been a labor of love for years for me. Actually, since childhood.
:)

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