How do you gradually enlarge the size of an object?

Say you have a paper-doll array graphic you want to display then enlarge horizontally--as if being opened. SL3 does not have handy motion tweens that would otherwise allow this. So we look to States instead.

Set your graphic's 0-frame condition. Then within its State area, create a variant state for every subsequent frame of animation you need for your desired motion. Then add State change triggers within a time duration period. If you want your motion to run for say 1 second, then you have 10 possible state shifts. (change state to 01 at 11.1 seconds, change state to 02 at 11.2 seconds, change state to 03 at 11.3 seconds, etc. 

It's really dumb and clunky SL3 doesn't have such motion features OOTB. But when life gives us lemons... start yourself a lemonade conglomerate, baby.