With Krea
How to make a paper doll that stands and waves
This course teaches your kid how to make a paper doll that stands and waves, then dress it for a story. Krea hosts four short films: drawing the paper friend, making it stand, making one arm wave, and clothes with tabs. Plan about 4 minutes of films and 45–60 minutes of making.
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What your kid makes
Your kid ends with a card paper doll that stands by itself, waves one arm, and changes into an outfit with tabs, plus a short story about where it's going. The same paper friend can later star in a stop-motion film.
- Ages
- 6 to 13
- Time
- 4 films, about 4 minutes, then 45–60 minutes of making
- You need
- Thick card, like a cereal box, pencil and markers, scissors, and a grown-up for the tricky cuts, a paper fastener or tape
- Host
- Krea
The 4 lessons
Lesson 1. Draw your friend
Thick card, thick legs, and one arm drawn on its own make a strong paper friend.
- Find thick card
- Draw your friend big, with thick legs
- Draw one arm on its own and cut them out with a grown-up
Where: Paper
Lesson 2. Make it stand
A tent stand or a slot stand keeps the friend standing up.
- Fold a card strip into a tent stand, or cut a slot stand
- Make the stand wider if it wobbles
- Get your friend standing by itself
Where: At home
Lesson 3. Make it wave
A paper fastener at the shoulder turns the arm into a joint.
- Line the arm up at the shoulder
- Join it with a paper fastener or tape
- Make your friend wave
Where: At home
Lesson 4. Clothes and a story
Clothes with tabs fold back and hold on, and give the friend somewhere to go.
- Draw one outfit with tabs
- Fold the tabs back to dress your friend
- Tell where your friend is going
Where: Paper
Take the quiz
Krea asks 3 questions about the films. Get 2 right and you finish the course.
Lesson 1 transcript: Draw your friend
Hi, I'm Krea! Today you make a paper friend. It stands up, waves hello, and changes clothes!
Your friend can be anyone. A person. An animal. Or a creature nobody has ever seen.
Use thick card, like the inside of a cereal box. Thin paper flops over. Card stays strong.
Draw your friend big, about as tall as your hand. Give it thick legs, so it won't bend.
Here's the trick. Leave one arm off, and draw it on its own. That arm will wave later!
Meet Bix, my paper bear!
Cut around the outside, not every little gap. Ask a grown-up to help with the tricky cuts.
Your turn. Find some card. Draw your friend with thick legs, and one arm on its own. Cut them out with a grown-up. Then press Next.
Free guides to practise with
Questions parents ask
Is the cutting safe for my kid?
Your kid cuts around the outside of the drawing, and the films ask a grown-up to help with the tricky cuts in thick card.
What if we don't have a paper fastener?
Tape works. A piece of tape at the shoulder bends like a hinge, and the arm still waves.
How long does it take?
The four films take about 4 minutes. Drawing, cutting, and dressing the paper friend take about 45–60 minutes.