These paper roll figurines are inspired by those vintage collectible dolls from the seventies with the comical sayings. My favorite is the big eyes girl figurine with “I Love You This Much” engraved on the front of the stand—so sweet!

The dolls make perfect DIY Valentine gifts that your kids can easily make at home using the provided printable templates. You can also create your own versions using paper rolls, bottle caps, or lids found around the house. Let them go crazy customizing the little guys with their own colors, pom-poms, and stickers.

Hope you all enjoy this super fun Valentine’s Day craft project!

• Printable template (download here)
• Paper rolls
• Plastic bottle caps, jar lids
• Color pencils / pens
• Markers
• Craft knife
• Scissors
• Glue
• Decorative paper, pompoms, stickers (optional)

Step 1
Download and print the templates onto color or plain paper. Paint and draw details adding decorative paper, stickers… Draw or cut out eyes from template and glue onto the dolls’ faces.

Wrap toilet paper rolls with your colored doll templates and glue.

Step 2
Cut out the arms using a craft knife or scissors. Flap each arm out from the body.

Step 3
Cut excess paper around feet and ears of the animal characters. Fold following template lines.

Step 4
Pick up plastic bottle caps and jar lids big enough to stand your figurines. Cut out text labels or write your own Valentine’s Day greeting labels with your personal messages and glue them to the front of lids and caps. Center dolls on the lid stands and glue them together.

There are several alternative methods you can try to create the dolls. If cutting paper rolls is too difficult for you or the kids, cut and flap arms from the printable template before gluing to the paper roll. Then color and draw the face of your figurine, wrap, and glue it to the paper roll.

You can also use a blank doll template for tracing the position of the arms on the paper roll. Simply cut and flap arms from the printable template. Wrap and attach template with a paperclip and trace the shape of the arms onto the paper roll.

Step 5
Cut out arms and flap each one out from the body. Draw a funny monster face and add a pompom for the nose. Paint, add stickers… let your imagination flow!

Make as many little characters as you need for all your loved ones and enjoy a super fun Valentine’s Day!

Step 6
Hang the shelf using wall hooks—make sure the shelf is level before it’s tied off. Now tie knots at the other cord ends. Keep testing and adjusting the knots if needed. Cut excess cord and make tassels, loosening all the twists on the cord.

That’s it! Happy crafting :)