Putting Together
The Valentine Puppet

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. 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 sock then print out the puppet to color on regular copy paper, glue to any heavy paper. Set your printer to its best quality setting.

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!

Holes for the Brads:
If you haven't a small hole punch to make the holes for the brads, you can use a large thump tack, darning needle, or an ice pick (An ice pick? Does anyone know what an ice pick is anymore?), the tip of an X–ACTO® blade or small sharp pointy object such as small scissor tips. A dragons whisker or porcupine quill will work as well. These holes don't need to be very large because you can work the brads carefully into them and that keeps 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.

Please ask an adult to help if you are unsure of yourself or very young.

Putting it all Together:
You can find teeny tiny brads with small colorful mini flowers or mini stars in the scrap booking department of most craft stores. These are perfect for assembling paper puppets.

After you make the very small holes for the mini brads, carefully work the prongs through the holes from the front of the top piece, and then through all the layers, spread the legs of the brad in the back. Try to keep them a bit tight so the puppet will hold a pose.

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 pantaloons (that's fancy under wear), then line up the upper body over the skirt and put the pantaloons and legs under the skirt.

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.

Valentine
Puppet Page
Valentine Heart
Coloring Page
Valentine
Coloring Page

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