How to Make an Armadillo Puppet

Armadillos are unusual mammals with distinctive plates on their backs.

Armadillos, whose name means "little armored one" in Spanish, are mammals native to North and South America. About 20 different species are found in the wild, including the common nine-banded armadillo in the southern United States. These curious creatures are easily identified by the distinctive armored plates on their backs. Closely related to anteaters, armadillos spend much of their time foraging and burrowing for food, a diet which consists of beetles, ants and other insects. Armadillos distinctive look can translate into wonderful characters for a puppet show. Fabric armadillo puppets are available from various retailers, but you can also make armadillo puppets at home.

Things You'll Need

• Brown furry fabric
• Scissors
• Large adult tube sock
• Safety pins
• Hot glue gun
• Buttons or wiggle eyes
• Marker

Instructions

1. Cut a flat cone shape, which is a triangle with a convex base, measuring 8 inches wide by 8 inches tall from brown furry fabric. This will form the armadillo's head.

2. Cut a trapezoid 8 inches across on the bottom, 6 inches across on the top and 4 inches tall from the furry fabric. Trim the corners of the trapezoid to make them rounded. Repeat this two more times to make a total of three plates for the armadillo's back.

3. Cut a tail 3 inches wide at the base that tapers off to a point 6 inches long. Cut this with a slight curve.

4. Cut a set of two legs, with each leg 3 inches long. The set of two legs should be 6 inches across, leaving about 2 inches between legs. Cut three or four pointed toes at the end of each leg. Repeat this as a mirror image for the two legs on the opposite side of the armadillo's body.

5. Cut two teardrop shapes about 3 inches tall and 2 inches wide for the ears.

6. Wrap the triangular head cutout around the toe of a large adult tube sock, forming a cone for the armadillo's snout. Pin this in place with safety pins, then use a hot glue gun to secure the fabric to the tube sock.

7. Pin the narrow length of a trapezoid to the base of the armadillo's head, then hot glue it in place. Repeat two more times, attaching the narrow length of a trapezoid under the exposed flap of the previous plate.

8. Pin the base of the tail under the last plate, then hot glue it to the tube sock.

9. Pin the two sets of legs to either side of the tube sock under the plates so the feet dangle downwards and toes point forward. Glue these legs into place with the hot glue gun.

10. Pinch the sides of the ears with the pointed end facing upwards, making them cupped like an animal's ear. Trim off the bottoms of the teardrop curves to make flat ends. Pin these flat ends to the top of the armadillo's head and hot glue into place.

11. Glue buttons or wiggle eyes to the face of the armadillo.

12. Decorate the face with markings, a black nose and expression around the eyes using a marker.

13. Allow all the glue to dry. Remove all the safety pins.

References

• National Geographic: Armadillos