Making a 2D Paper Puppet

1.

1Choose a figure. Try to choose characters with an ambiguous identity or description,

so that you can reuse them in other puppet shows. You can find figures anywhere, but

the Internet has a wealth of options available at the touch of a button.

2.

2Make the figure. On a piece of paper, trace out the figure to the desired size. You may

like to reinforce the paper with card, or draw it directly on to card, so that the paper

doesn't flap around during your performance.

Think about the back side, too! Will your puppet be turning around during use? And if

you do make a back side, does it need fins or a tail?

3.

3If you'd like, consider using paper plates. If a circular shape would aid well to your

project, consider using this sturdy, textured material. It works well for fish, crabs, clams,

and other plump creatures.

If you use two, it gives ultimate volume. Cut a slit to the center and reglue them together

with a bit of overlap. Taking a section out forces the paper to bend into more of a

shallow cone shape. Place the wide sides together to form the body of your animal.

4.

4Color it in. Color is an important part of any puppet show. Make your characters bright

and interesting, so that the audience's eye is pleased.

5.

5Make the handle. Find a clear plastic straw and attach it to the back of the puppet with

cello-tape or blue tack. Be sure that it is long enough that your hand is some distance

from the actual puppet. You don't want your arm in the show!

Alternatively, get some fishing wire and attach it to your puppet so you can hold it from

the top. This, however, requires you to stand up while performing.

6.

6Add any decorations. For eyes, use the googly kind (attach with glue). If you're making

a Puffer Fish, like in the pictures, consider using straws cut down at an angle to about 2"

(5 cm) and attached all over the body.[1] Cut some small fins out of your paper or paper

plate. Tada!

 Making a Sock Puppet

1.

1Choose the sock. Try and find some that would come up to your knee, so that when

you wear them as puppets it doesn't look as if half the puppet is your arm. Stay away

from ones that have stains or holes.

Choose colors that match your character's personality. Stripy socks make the character

seem bright and happy, while plain black makes them look mysterious or criminal. If

your sock is taking on an animal persona, use the color of the sock as the color of their

body.

2.

2Put the sock over your hand and arm. When you're wearing the puppet, poke some

fabric down into the hollow between your thumb and index finger. This will make a

mouth. Also hold your wrist perpendicular to your arm, so that the audience can tell

where the head ends and the body begins.

This is the quickest way to make a sock puppet. If you're looking to get a little more

creative, take a gander at wikiHow's Make a Sock Puppet for a few more intricate

varieties.

3.

3Add the eyes. You can find a variety of types of eyes at your local arts and crafts store.

Choose big 'googly' ones that will make your characters look slightly unreal. Be sure

that they suit the character as well. Attach each one with a dab of glue

Pom pom eyes are also a cute addition. They add a bit more shape to the normal sock

silhouette. They're also easier to rest glasses on!

4.

4Add any additional features. A sock puppet can be the bare minimum or it can be

dressed to the nines. Add a felt tongue, a clump of string for hair, a ribbon, a necktie, or

whatever your sock character might wear.

Method 3 of 6: Making a Finger Puppet

1.

1Trace your finger on a piece of paper. Leave 1/2" (1 cm or so) extra on all sides,

stopping just below your second knuckle. This is the template for your finger puppet.

2.

2Cut out your felt pieces. You'll need two of your template (front and back) plus any

extra bits. Wings for your butterfly? A nose for your elephant? A beak for your chicken?

Ears for your rabbit? Get as intricately detailed as possible.

If your brain isn't firing on all pistons at the moment, look up a few generic cartoons for

detailing inspiration.

3.

3Sew on the additions. Before you get to sewing the base of the puppet, sew on all the

small, finer details. While you have your thread out, sew on a grin with abackstitch.

A whip stitch will probably be best for adding your eyes/nose/beak/wings/general

details. If sewing isn't your forte, you may be able to get around most of it with hot glue.

But take care -- glue and felt isn't always pretty, especially if too much glue is used.

4.

4Place the top and bottom of the body on top of each other and sew together.Do

a blanket stitch around the entire body; if you've added a piece that doesn't allow for

this, switch to a running stitch.

Now all you've got to do is put 'em on and get to creating. Unless you want to give your

puppet 9 more friends, of course!

Method 4 of 6: Making a Muppet-Like Puppet

1.

1Get a hold of a large styrofoam ball and start sculpting. Soft foam works, too, but

styrofoam is easier to carve out. The tough part about this is that you have to sculpt a

face. The easy part is that puppets come in all shapes and sizes and you

can'treally mess it up.

The major points to cover are indentations for the eye sockets, a bulge for a nose, and

removing the lower jaw (if you want it to talk).

If you do want it to talk, leave a space for your hand to go into!

2.

2Cover your puppet head with fleece. Start at the middle of the face and work your

way out, hot gluing as you go along. Spray adhesive also works, but it's a bit harder to

work with. Readjust and stretch as you glue, keeping the fleece tight against the

styrofoam. Get deep into the indentations (like the eye sockets) and keep it secure, like

skin would naturally be.

You can either have the nose be part of same material as the head, stick it onto the

styrofoam ball, or cover it in fleece and then add it to the face. One way is not better

than any other.

3.

3Add on the facial features. Bottle caps can be used for eyes, but so can beads, puff

balls, or anything you can find wandering through your local craft supply store. As far as

the lower jaw goes, if you removed it, cover it in fleece and hot glue just the very edges

to the head. The styrofoam jaw should still be able to move -- just the fleece should be

hot glued and attached.

Depending on the size of your puppet, it could be donning a full-fledged wig or hat on its

head. Neither of those available? Throw on a hoodie! Problem solved.

Add felt eyebrows and ears, if desired. Every puppet is different, so if yours doesn't

have something, it won't be cause for alarm.

4.

4

Give it some clothes. A naked puppet is, for some reason, sufficiently awkward. Grab

something you never want to wear again and glue the top to the "neck" of your puppet

(for this reason, you may want to employ a scarf or turtleneck).

To give the puppet a body, simply stuff the shirt with newspaper or some type of foam

or quilt batting. Stay away from short sleeves so you don't have to deal with making

arms.

5.

5

Make a hand for your puppet. Since one is probably operating the face, make at least

one hand moveable to give your puppet even more life. All you need to do is trace your

hand on a piece of felt, cut it out twice, and sew them together (inside out, to hide the

seam).

Leave just short of an inch (2 cm) around all sides of your hand to give yourself some

wiggle room. To have a four-fingered puppet (including the thumb), just keep your index

finger and ring finger together as you trace.

Place your hand in it and through the sleeve of your puppet. Now your puppet talks and

can gesture! Move over Achmed.

Method 5 of 6: Making a Paper Bag Puppet

1.

1Gather your materials. Get a paper bag, googly eyes, construction paper, wool,

markers, and glue or tape.

2.

2Glue the eyes onto the bag. If you don't have googly eyes, you can cut out eyes from

the construction paper, making tiny black pupils and gluing them onto larger white

circles. Regular glue will work just fine for this -- you don't need to use the stronger stuff.

3.

3Glue the mouth onto the bag. Cut a little red mouth out of the construction paper and

glue it in place.

4.

4Glue the hair onto the bag. Now, either use strips of construction paper or wool onto

the top of the paper bag. Wait for it to dry.

5.

5Draw the nose. Use a black marker to draw a nose on the paper bag in between the

eyes and the mouth.

6.

6Play with your puppet. Once you've made face and everything is ready to go, you can

play with your puppet!