How to Make Simple Paper Fingerpuppets

Making simple paper or cardboard finger puppets is a fun, creative project for kids. When the puppets are complete, kids can use them to make up a play or reenact a favorite story or song. Finger puppets work well for kids who enjoy interactive games that allows them to use their imagination; adults can use finger puppets to tell a story to a child or a group of children. The puppets can be made with a theme in mind or anything at all.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Poster board, plain cardboard, construction paper or plain card stock
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Crayons
• Colored pencils
• Markers or paints
• White craft glue
• Fabric bits, pieces of yarn, ribbon, googly eyes, craft rhinestones, sequins (optional)

1. Cut a piece of poster board, plain cardboard, construction paper or plain card stock to about 5 ½ inches by 4 ¼ inches. Draw the outline of your chosen animal or character and cut it out.

2. Create the details for your puppet. Use any combination of colored pencils, crayons, paint or markers to add appropriate features.

3. Add further embellishments. Use construction paper for eyes or the face, clothes or items the puppet might be holding. Glue on fabric pieces, sequins or craft rhinestones and googly eyes to dress the finger puppet up more.

4. Cut two round finger-sized holes. Position your holes where it's most appropriate to have moving parts--like legs or arms. Make sure the holes are not so big that the finger puppets fall off or so small that you'll damage the puppet trying to get it on your finger.

5. Use a puppet on each hand to tell a story where two characters interact.

Tips & Warnings

• For young children, precut the shapes and holes and then let the children decorate the characters.
• Suggest that older kids could write a story, create finger puppets that match the story and have them act out the story with the puppets.
• In a class or group, divide into smaller groups to create both the story and the finger puppets, then have each group present their story.
• If you're making something like an elephant , cut three holes--one for its trunk and two for legs.