There is a particular joy in turning a character you invented in your head into something you can hold in your hands. The TikTok creator behind @fantagical did exactly that, building a paper doll of an original character (an “OC”) and sharing the process. If you clicked through wanting to make your own, this list is for you. Below you will find the exact kind of tutorials, printable templates, joint systems, and design tools that turn a sketch of your OC into a posable, dressable paper figure. Each entry is a real, working resource you can open today.
Table of Contents(Click to Toggle)
- Why Paper Doll OCs Are Having a Moment
- 21 Paper Doll Tutorials and Tools for Your OC
- 1. Fantagical on TikTok
- 2. Pinterest Paper Doll Boards
- 3. Paper Doll Heaven
- 4. Canva
- 5. Procreate
- 6. Krita
- 7. Papercraft Doll Templates on Etsy
- 8. Adobe Express
- 9. YouTube Paper Doll Tutorials
- 10. Picrew
- 11. Doll Divine
- 12. Azalea’s Dress Up Dolls
- 13. Inkscape
- 14. Cricut Design Space
- 15. Silhouette Studio
- 16. Printable Paper Dolls on Etsy
- 17. The Paper Doll Blog
- 18. Behance
- 19. Character Design References
- 20. Reddit r/papercraft
- 21. DeviantArt Paper Doll Groups
- Bonus Mentions
- The Best-Kept Paper Doll Secrets
Why Paper Doll OCs Are Having a Moment
Paper dolls are one of the oldest toys in the world, but they have quietly become a favorite format for artists who design original characters. The appeal is simple: a paper doll lets you test outfits, poses, and color palettes without committing to a full illustration. You can cut out a jointed figure, swap its wardrobe, and photograph it for social media in an afternoon. The tools below split into three useful groups: tutorial channels that show the folding and jointing technique, design software for drawing the character cleanly, and printable template hubs that save you from starting at a blank page. Mix and match them and you have a complete workflow for bringing an OC off the screen and into your hands.
21 Paper Doll Tutorials and Tools for Your OC
1. Fantagical on TikTok : The original OC paper doll walkthrough
What it is: The TikTok account behind the pin, where the creator shares short videos of building a paper doll of their original character.
Category: Video tutorial channel
Why it stands out:
- Shows the full process in short, rewatchable clips rather than a single long video
- Demonstrates real joint placement and outfit layering on a hand-drawn character
- Easy to pause on a frame and copy the paper shapes
Best for: Anyone who wants to see the technique demonstrated start to finish before buying any materials.
2. Pinterest Paper Doll Boards : Endless visual reference and printable finds
What it is: A search-and-save platform where crafters pin paper doll templates, joint ideas, and finished OC dolls.
Category: Inspiration and template discovery
Why it stands out:
- Searching “paper doll template” surfaces hundreds of free printable outlines
- Boards let you collect outfit ideas and color palettes in one place
- Many pins link straight to downloadable PDFs
Best for: Building a mood board of poses and wardrobe ideas before you start drawing.
3. Paper Doll Heaven : A dedicated archive of printable dolls
What it is: A long-running site collecting printable paper dolls and outfits across many styles.
Category: Printable template archive
Why it stands out:
- Organized by theme, so you can find a base figure to adapt
- Free downloads make it a low-risk place to experiment
- Good for studying how outfits are cut to fit a flat figure
Best for: Beginners who want a ready-made base body to redraw as their OC.
4. Canva : Drag-and-drop layout for doll sheets
What it is: A browser-based design tool with free templates and easy shape tools.
Category: Design software
Why it stands out:
- Arrange a doll and its outfits on one printable page without design software experience
- Built-in rulers and grid help keep proportions consistent
- Export as a print-ready PDF in a couple of clicks
Best for: Crafters who want a clean printable sheet but do not draw digitally.
5. Procreate : Draw and color your OC on an iPad
What it is: A popular iPad drawing app with layers, brushes, and export options.
Category: Digital illustration app
Why it stands out:
- Layers let you separate the doll body from each outfit for easy editing
- Symmetry guides help draw a balanced, front-facing figure
- Export transparent PNGs so outfits overlay cleanly
Best for: Artists who already sketch digitally and want full control over the design.
6. Krita : Free professional drawing software
What it is: An open-source painting program for desktop with a full brush engine.
Category: Digital illustration app
Why it stands out:
- Completely free, with no watermark on exports
- Vector layers keep clean outlines for cutting
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
Best for: Budget-conscious creators who want Procreate-level tools on a computer.
7. Papercraft Doll Templates on Etsy : Ready-made jointed bases
What it is: A marketplace where independent sellers offer printable jointed doll templates.
Category: Template marketplace
Why it stands out:
- Many templates include pre-cut joint holes and assembly instructions
- Instant digital downloads mean you can print the same day
- Sellers often include multiple outfit patterns in one file
Best for: Crafters who want a tested joint system rather than designing one from scratch.
8. Adobe Express : Quick printable sheets with free assets
What it is: Adobe’s free browser design tool with templates and stock elements.
Category: Design software
Why it stands out:
- Fast for assembling a one-page doll and wardrobe sheet
- Free tier covers most basic layout needs
- Works entirely in the browser, no install required
Best for: Quick layout jobs when you already have the artwork finished.
9. YouTube Paper Doll Tutorials : Long-form step-by-step guides
What it is: A deep library of craft videos covering joint types, materials, and assembly.
Category: Video tutorial library
Why it stands out:
- Search “jointed paper doll tutorial” for full-length build-alongs
- Creators often explain which paper weight holds up best
- Chapters let you jump straight to the jointing step
Best for: Visual learners who need the technique explained slowly.
10. Picrew : Design your OC before drawing it
What it is: A Japanese avatar-maker platform where artists publish character creators.
Category: Character design tool
Why it stands out:
- Mix-and-match face, hair, and outfit parts to lock in an OC’s look
- Thousands of free creators across many art styles
- Great for testing color palettes before committing to paper
Best for: Settling on your OC’s design details before you start the doll.
11. Doll Divine : Dress-up games with fantasy outfit ideas
What it is: A long-running collection of browser dress-up and doll-maker games.
Category: Dress-up and design games
Why it stands out:
- Huge variety of costume themes for fantasy OCs
- Free to play in the browser
- Useful for spotting outfit silhouettes worth recreating in paper
Best for: Generating wardrobe ideas for a character with a fantasy or historical theme.
12. Azalea’s Dress Up Dolls : Classic doll-maker inspiration
What it is: A site of dress-up games with detailed costume options.
Category: Dress-up and design games
Why it stands out:
- Detailed layered outfits you can study for layering order
- Free browser play with no account needed
- Good for planning seasonal or themed wardrobes
Best for: Planning a multi-outfit wardrobe before cutting paper.
13. Inkscape : Vector outlines for clean cutting
What it is: A free open-source vector editor for desktop.
Category: Vector design software
Why it stands out:
- Precise paths make clean cut lines for scissors or a cutting machine
- Free and widely documented
- Exports SVG files that cutting machines accept
Best for: Anyone planning to cut the doll with a machine rather than by hand.
14. Cricut Design Space : Machine-cut your doll and outfits
What it is: The companion software for Cricut cutting machines.
Category: Cutting machine software
Why it stands out:
- Cuts intricate outfit shapes that are hard to do by hand
- Free to use with a Cricut account
- Lets you repeat identical pieces for a matching wardrobe set
Best for: Crafters who own a Cricut and want repeatable, precise cuts.
15. Silhouette Studio : Alternative cutting software
What it is: The design software for Silhouette cutting machines.
Category: Cutting machine software
Why it stands out:
- Free basic edition handles most paper doll cutting tasks
- Strong node editing for fine-tuning small outfit details
- Imports SVG and PNG files from your drawing app
Best for: Silhouette owners who want finer control over small cuts.
16. Printable Paper Dolls on Etsy : Instant downloadable sets
What it is: A category of digital listings offering complete printable doll sets.
Category: Printable template marketplace
Why it stands out:
- Many sets include dozens of outfit pieces in one download
- Instant delivery, so no shipping wait
- Good for studying how professional crafters design their sheets
Best for: Building a reference library of outfit designs to adapt for your OC.
17. The Paper Doll Blog : Crafting tips and printable finds
What it is: A blog focused on paper doll collecting, history, and making.
Category: Crafting blog
Why it stands out:
- Articles explain paper weights and printing choices
- Curated links to free printable sources
- Context on classic doll styles worth referencing
Best for: Crafters who want background knowledge before starting a project.
18. Behance : Portfolio inspiration from character artists
What it is: Adobe’s portfolio platform for creative professionals.
Category: Portfolio and inspiration platform
Why it stands out:
- Search “paper doll” for polished project showcases
- Artists often post process shots showing construction
- Free to browse without an account
Best for: Studying how professional illustrators style character sheets.
19. Character Design References : Build a stronger OC first
What it is: A reference library for character design fundamentals.
Category: Character design reference
Why it stands out:
- Guides on silhouette and proportion that translate directly to paper dolls
- Large galleries of poses for reference
- Free to browse
Best for: Artists whose OC still feels flat and needs a stronger silhouette.
20. Reddit r/papercraft : Community feedback and troubleshooting
What it is: A subreddit for paper crafters of all kinds.
Category: Community forum
Why it stands out:
- Real answers on joint materials and paper weight
- Users share finished projects and mistakes
- Searchable archive of past questions
Best for: Solving a specific assembly problem fast.
21. DeviantArt Paper Doll Groups : Share your OC and see others
What it is: An art community with groups dedicated to paper dolls and OCs.
Category: Art community
Why it stands out:
- Groups post challenges that push you to design new outfits
- Feedback from other doll makers
- Free to join and browse
Best for: Getting your finished doll seen and improving through feedback.
Bonus Mentions
Paper Source : Cardstock and paper stock for sturdy dolls
Good source for heavier cardstock that keeps joints from tearing after repeated use.
Michaels : Craft supplies and brads for joints
Physical stores stock the small metal brads and hole punches that make posable joints work.
Figma : Free layout tool for wardrobe sheets
Handy for arranging many outfit pieces on one printable page with consistent spacing.
Tumblr Art Tags : OC communities sharing doll projects
Active tags where artists post their paper doll builds and answer process questions.
The Best-Kept Paper Doll Secrets
The tools above cover the whole journey: picking a design with Picrew, drawing it cleanly in Procreate or Krita, laying out the printable sheet in Canva, cutting it with a Cricut or by hand, and then sharing the result on DeviantArt or Reddit. The single biggest upgrade most beginners miss is paper weight. Standard printer paper tears at the joint holes within a few outfit changes, while a heavier cardstock holds up for months. The second is drawing the doll and each outfit on separate layers so you can print new wardrobe pieces without redrawing the base figure every time. Start with the Fantagical videos to see the technique, then pick one design tool and one cutting method and keep the rest simple. Your first doll will be rough; your third will look like the ones that made you click.
What OC are you planning to turn into a paper doll first, and which tool on this list are you starting with?
