How to Make a Sock Puppet Dog

You can turn a regular old sock into a fun children's toy.

Sock puppets are an easy and fun project for kids. Not only do the kids get to use their creativity making the puppets, but they can also put on a puppet show afterward. The sock puppet lends itself to any type of character from aliens to animals. One simple and popular sock puppet animal to make is a dog. Using simple supplies (many of which you probably have at home) you and your kids can make a cute sock puppet dog in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Sock
• Chalk
• Hot glue gun and extra glue sticks
• Colored felt (brown, black, white, gray, tan, red, pink)
• Googly eyes

Instructions

1. Cut a 3-inch long oval from a piece of cardboard.

2. Fold the cardboard cutout in half. This is your dog's mouth.

3. Hold the folded mouth in your hand as if your hand were already inside the sock puppet. Slide the sock over your hand, making sure that the curved ends of the mouth face the toe of the sock.

4. Mark the sock 1/2-inch past where the mouth ends using a piece of chalk. Cut the sock on that line.

5. Take the sock off your hand and flatten the sock with the heel part on top.

6. Cut off any remaining material around the mouth of the sock so the sock is rounded off like the mouth.

7. Glue the sock to the cardboard with hot glue.

8. Cut ears, spots, freckles, a nose and a tongue from felt. Also cut pink or red felt in the shape of the mouth to cover the cardboard.

9. Attach these pieces with hot glue. Also attach the googly eyes with hot glue.

10. Allow all attached pieces to dry thoroughly before using your new puppet. Hot glue dries quickly, so it won't take long.

Tips & Warnings

• A cereal box works well for the cardboard oval cutout.

• Use different colors of felt to create a unique dog.

• Cut out long ovals for floppy ears or use small triangles for pointy ears.

• Hot glue guns and glue are very hot, so be careful when using them. If using them with young children, consider doing the hot glue part for them.

References

• DaniellesPlace.com: Puppet Crafts for Kids