JUDY
M JOHNSON: A founding member of OPDAG (Original Paper Doll Artists
Guild), Judy started the OPDAG Newsletter (now called
Paper Doll Studio) in 1984. She was chosen because
she was the only one in the group who had a typewriter and copier!
Since then she has illustrated a multitude of paper doll books
for B. Shackman, Dover Publishing, the MagiCloth Company and
Schylling Toys. Her paper dolls have appeared in numerous magazines
and as convention souvenirs.
Her creative
talent combined with her ability to take on the style of other
artists, has given her the opportunity to illustrate paper dolls
of many licensed characters for the MagiCloth Company including
Curious George; Arthur and DW; Wishbone; Rugrats; Mr. Potato
Head; and Sesame Street's Elmo, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Big Bird,
Ernie and Burt.
With a strong link to the doll community, Judy has illustrated
paper doll versions of several dolls including Mel Odom's Gene
Doll, Effanbee's Patsy, Kathe Kruse doll designs, the Magic
Attic Dolls, and the Vogue Doll Company's Ginny doll. Many classic
characters have been turned into paper dolls by Judy's skillful
hand including Dolly Dingle, Billy Bumps, Cutie Doll (Kewpie),
Alice in Wonderland, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Brenda Starr and
Betsy McCall.
In the 1990s, Judy illustrated over 20 cute animal paper dolls
for Dover Publishing's Little Activity series including
Barnaby Bunny, Effie Elephant, Georgie Giraffe
and Robbie Raccoon. For B. Shackman Company in
the 1980s, Judy covered a variety of subjects such as animals,
children and vintage fashions for paper dolls, stickers an cards.
Among the paper doll books were Sisters, Edie Ann,
Masquerade, Deva of the Universe her Showgirl
series, and the Kitty Cucumber and Her Friends series.
Today Judy enjoys restoring vintage paper dolls and selling
them through her mail order and website business. The Betty
Hutton Paper Doll is Judy's first published celebrity paper
doll. As a big fan of Betty Hutton's movies and music, it was
a special honor to commemorate the dynamic actress as a glamorous
paper doll. Like Betty Hutton, Judy is a native of Michigan
and currently resides in the small town of Skandia in Michigans
beautiful Upper Peninsula. In addition to preserving the tradition
of paper dolls, Judy and her husband, Glenn, are involved in
preserving the history of Michigan copper country through local
archaeological groups.