Getting Started:
There are just a few steps and a few tools you will need. You will need to print the puppet on card stock. Then you will need scissors, a hole punch, mini brads or eyelets. A small piece of Styrofoam and a small stick or skewer for a handle are optional.
Card Stock:
The easy part is going to be printing the puppet out on 65 lb., 90 lb., or even 110 lb. card stock, unless of course, you haven't any. If you do not have card stock then print out the puppet to color on regular copy paper, glue to any heavy paper. Set your printer to its best quality setting.
Click then Print
Cutting Out the Puppet:
Before you start cutting, color the black & white drawings.
Use a good pair of scissors, be patient and cut slowly - you can do it!
Putting it all Together:
You can find teeny tiny brads with small colorful mini flowers or mini stars, or eyelets that are round or star shaped in the scrap booking department of most craft stores. These are perfect for
assembling paper puppets.
Click then Print
Holes for the Brads:
For mini brads carefully punch very small holes at all tne black points.
If you haven't a small hole punch to make the holes for
the brads, you can use a thump tack or push pin, or
small sharp pointy object.
These holes don't need to be very large because you
can work the brads carefully into them and that will keep
them tight. If you have no brads and no hope of getting
any, don't fret. These little puppets look great in a pose,
either taped or glued in place.
As you assemble push the brad through the front to the back. Tighten these up as much as you can.
Holes For Eyelets:
You can also use if you have the tools required. Punch of the right size hole, we used the 1/8 hole and 1/8 eyelets and put the eyelet in from front to back. Tighten the eyelet just so, to allow the parts to move.
Please ask an adult to help if you are unsure of
yourself or very young.
Assemble the arms first then attach to the body.
The wrist goes under the bottom of the lower arm, the lower arm under
the upper arm. The upper arm goes behind the shoulder.
Attach the feet on top of the lower legs and the lower legs under the upper legs, then line up the legs under the body.
Having fun with a puppet
You can add a "handle" on the back of the puppet, or you can hang them up on a wall or curtain in different poses. You could even glue a small flat magnet to her back in order to show her on the refrigerator.
Adding a Handle or other atachment:
To add a stick you will need a small block of Styrofoam
or other material. We use a small ball of Styrofoam cut in half,
anything will do. Use glue or a hot glue gun to stick
the Styrofoam ball or block of other material
to the back of the puppet. Insert a skewer stick (cut the
sharp point off), small craft stick, or even a Popsicle
stick into the ball or block angled down, so that it will be easy
to hold, slightly away from the body. Remove the stick,
place glue in the hole and put the stick back in.
You can also use a patch of Velcro or a magnet to place the puppet on diferent surfaces.
You're all set to have fun.
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