How To Make Paper Finger Puppets

Looking for a fun and engaging art project that’s perfect for kids? Look no further than these adorable paper finger puppets! With just a few simple supplies, children can create their own characters and put on a show. And the best part? This craft is surprisingly easy to make. All you need is some cardboard or card stock, a favorite character design, and a little creativity. Kids will love drawing and tracing their own characters before staging their own puppet shows.

The possibilities are endless with this classic paper finger puppet activity. Simply cut out the shapes, add some finger holes, and let the imagination run wild! Whether it’s a beloved cartoon character or an original creation, these papercraft puppets are sure to delight. Try incorporating different materials like felt, mache, or even recycled materials to give your creations an extra boost of creativity.

Supplies

To create a unique and personalized scrapbook, you’ll need the following essential supplies: a reliable writing instrument like a pencil, sturdy paper for your pages, such as cardboard or cardstock, and some basic crafting tools like glue. You can also add some creative flair with materials like crayons, colored pencils, and scissors to cut out shapes or designs.

If you want to take it to the next level, consider adding some extra embellishments like glitter, stickers, or even scrapbook-specific supplies. And if you’re feeling adventurous, don’t be afraid to incorporate magazine clippings to add an element of surprise and discovery.

Picking the Image For the Paper Puppet

For kids to bring their puppet ideas to life, start by having them draw or trace the shape of their desired puppet onto a regular sheet of white paper. This could be a storybook character, animal, or even a computer-printed image they’d like to transform into a puppet. As they put pencil to paper, they’ll begin to envision the possibilities and develop an excitement around creating something truly unique and special.

Decorating the Puppet

When it comes to bringing paper puppets to life, colored pencils are an excellent choice for rendering facial features and intricate details. However, younger children may opt for crayons depending on the level of complexity in their design. Adding a touch of sparkle with glitter can elevate the puppets’ appeal, particularly when creating fairy tale or holiday-themed characters.

Kids might also consider incorporating stickers, scrapbook embellishments, or magazine cutouts that harmonize with their artwork.

Cutting the Puppet and the Finger Holes

Once the drawing is complete, an adult should assist the child in cutting out the design using scissors. Next, clear glue is applied to attach the drawing to a square of cardboard or cardstock. Allow the drawing sufficient time to dry onto the material before carefully cutting it out with the scissors. To transform the artwork into a puppet, two small circles are drawn near the bottom of the figure and cut out.

This step may require assistance from an adult, particularly for younger children who need guidance to achieve precise results. Once the finger holes are created, the child can slip their fingers through the puppet and begin performing.

Tips For Backdrops

Finger puppet shows can be taken to the next level by incorporating colorful scenes and backdrops that bring the characters to life. To create these engaging environments, kids can use pieces of cardboard as a canvas. Markers, colored pencils, or crayons are all great options for adding simple landscapes and designs. For added creativity, leftover magazine clippings and scrapbook materials can be repurposed to add texture and interest.

Alternatively, kids can print out images from the computer and glue them onto the cardboard for a more realistic look.