How to Make a Paper Bag Hand Puppet

A paper bag hand puppet makes the perfect activity for a rainy day. After the puppets are finished they can be used to entertain younger children or even the whole family in a puppet show. The puppets can be ornate or simple, primitive or nearly professional. Anyone can make one. It's fun and easy to do.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 paper lunch bag
• Glue
• Construction paper
• Fabric scraps
• Yarn scraps
• Scissors
• Markers or Paint

1. Hold the folded paper lunch bag so that the rectangular base is folded down. This is how it comes out of the package. The opening of the bag is at the bottom and the fold is at the top. After the paper bag hand puppet is finished, you will insert your hand in through the opening at the bottom. Your four fingers fold over into the rectangular base while your thumb stays against the tube of the bag. Move the fingers and thumb together to make the rectangular base meet and then move away from the tube. The rectangular base will be your puppet's face and upper lips. The mouth is the gap between the base and the tube. The body is the tube itself.

2. Cut out construction paper eyes, eyebrows, and lips. Glue them onto the bag so that the face is on top of the rectangular base and the lower lip meets the base on the tube itself.

3. Drag the open blade of the scissors across narrow strips of construction paper to curl eye lashes. Then glue them in place above and below the eyes.

4. Decide whether to use paper strips or yarn scraps for your paper bag hand puppet's hair. Then arrange the hair--you may want to braid it for a girl puppet--and glue it in place. Make sure that the glue totally dries before you play with the puppet.

5. Add clothes. These can be drawn on, painted on, or glued on. Make your paper bag hand puppet's outfit match his personality. Make sure that all the glue on your puppet is dry before you play with it.

6. Hide behind a couch or a table and hold your paper bag hand puppet up so that your audience sees only the puppet and not your arm or head. Then make your puppet talk in a funny voice. Your puppet can sing, dance, howl or cry. Try to make your puppet show funny.

Tips & Warnings

• Original puppet shows using home made paper bag hand puppets make great home videos. Use your digital video camera to document the show. Then burn DVDs to give away to the grandparents for a special occasion. You can also upload the video to an online gallery or family website.