So, you’ve decided to design doll manuals—sounds simple, right? Just a few clicks and bam! A beautiful, step-by-step guide for your Lil Missy Dolls. At least, that’s what I thought before I dove headfirst into the world of software. What could go wrong?

Well, let’s just say my early attempts involved upside-down pages, floating doll heads, and instructions that were more like abstract art than anything you’d want to follow. After hours of clicking random buttons and muttering things I won’t repeat, I realized it was time for drastic action. Enter: Shirley.

Shirley is my tutor from Wyzant who, bless her, took pity on me and my Adobe Creative Cloud confusion. Yes, I went all-in and bought the industry-standard software—Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop—the whole shebang. But let me tell you, having those programs and knowing how to use them are two very different things.

My breakthrough came when Shirley walked me through all the “simple” mistakes I was making (and by simple, I mean the kind that make you want to bang your head against the keyboard). Before I knew it, I was actually creating step-by-step illustrations that looked like, well, actual instructions! It was a miracle—no more floating scissors, no more doll parts mysteriously vanishing. My illustrations finally started to look like something a person could follow without needing a degree in hieroglyphics.

But, as with all adventures, there’s always another hill to climb. My next mission? Figuring out how to bring these beautiful illustrations into InDesign and create a full, polished manual. I know, it sounds like a job for the tech-savvy, but if I’ve learned anything from this process, it’s that perseverance (and a good tutor) can make even the most intimidating tasks feel doable.

So, stay tuned, dear crafters. The manuals are coming together piece by piece, and soon you’ll be able to follow along with your Lil Missy Doll kit, step by step, without wondering why a hat appears to be floating in midair. Progress!

— Dana (Your Determined Doll Designer)