hassle free entertainment for children and families
you provide the space and food ...
we'll bring the entertainment!
- Take a square piece of fabric at least 22” square. Fold it in half to make a rectangle. Fold it in half again to make a square. Cut a SMALL piece off the inner folded corner. Open the fabric and the hole should be in the center of the square.
- Slide the stick on your puppet through the hole and slide the fabric up as far as it will go.
- Take two of the opposite corners and pull them out to the sides. This will make a triangle with one point down by the stick and the other 2 points out to the sides.
- Attach the fabric to the stick with hot glue or an elastic. If you are using an elastic, remove the fabric and twist the elastic around the stick until it is a snug but not too tight fit. Then slide it up the stick as far as you can. Replace the fabric as before and slide the elastic over the fabric to hold it in place.
- If you want to controll one of the puppet's 'arms', attach a skewer or a chopstick to one of the side corners to make a moveable arm, using hot glue or an elastic.
Books and Puppet craft websites:
Check out your public library for books on puppetry.
You'll find books to help you learn to make and manipulate many different kinds of puppets, as well as how to put on your own puppet show.
Do an internet search for
"puppet crafts"
or "puppet crafts for kids"
or for specific kinds of puppets, such as
"shadow puppets"
or "finger-walking puppets", etc.
check out Noel's media and download links.
Look in your public library for his book 10-Minute Puppets
Crafts of all kinds on their main site, with free templates.
To access only puppet crafts,
enter "puppets" in the "Google custom search" box.
Good simple puppet crafts for preschoolers and primary grades
Patterns, materials and tutorials for those wanting to build
professional mouth puppets
http://www.puppeteers.org/ ~ Puppeteers of America
Information about puppeteers, puppet festivals, exhibits, and more.
THE place to go!
A free resource for the puppetry community and is dedicated to helping people connect with the world of puppetry. It is produced by Rose Sage Barone of Sagecraft Productions and Nick Barone of Nick Barone Puppets
This internationally renowned puppet centre in Seattle presents performances by Carter Family Marionettes and esteemed guest artists. In addition, it features a museum, archive and library focused on the puppetry arts. Programs are also brought to communities near and far with touring performances and educational outreach.
Links to the websites of various puppet companies and
puppeteers around the world.
Click for further details
Books and Puppet craft websites
- Start with an empty plastic jug or bottle that has a handle. Clean it thoroughly, dry, and remove any labels. Be sure to save the lid.
- Hold the jug by the handle with the opening pointing down. The handle is how you move and control your puppet. The side opposite the handle will be the side facing your audience, so that is where you will make the face.
- Some milk jugs have large round indentations on the "face" side, making ideal eyes. If yours doesn't, eyes should go about half-way down the face. Don't draw anything yet!
- Take a baseball cap or other hat and put it on the top of your puppet's head. Look at your puppet's face, and see if you get any ideas about the puppet's face or character. Try putting some "hair" on your puppet instead -- fake fur, a mop, or something else. Try it with and without the hat. Is your puppet coming to life?
- Temporary eyes and mouth can be drawn on with washable felt markers. When you think you have them right, draw them on with permanent markers.
- Take a square piece of thin fabric (eg broadcloth, t-shirt material, etc) at least 22” square. If it's too thick, it won't work for attaching it to the puppet's body.
- Turn your puppet upside down and center the center of the fabric over the opening. Screw it in place with the bottle cap.
- Take two of the opposite corners and pull them out to the sides. This will make a triangle with one point down in front and the other 2 points out to the sides.
- If you want to, you can attach a skewer or a chopstick to one of the side corners to make a moveable arm, using hot glue or an elastic.
