How to Make a Marionette Craft

A marionette puppet plays the bongos.

A marionette is a special type of puppet on which you move various body parts by pulling one or more strings from above. Skilled marionette puppeteers are able to create complex movements and stage impressive performances with marionette puppets. You can help children can make their own marionette puppets and put on their own performances with an entire cast of characters. Working with marionettes helps kids develop coordination and understand cause-and-effect principles.

Things You'll Need

• Card stock
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Markers
• Glue
• Hole punch
• Brass brads
• Needle
• Thread or fishing line
• 2 craft sticks

Instructions

1. Draw the body parts of the marionette character on card stock.

2. Cut out the body parts. Do not make one complete cutout; cut the arms and legs separately from the head and body.

3. Trace the card stock parts onto cardboard and cut out the cardboard parts.

4. Decorate the pieces with markers by drawing a face, hair and clothing on the card stock. You can also cut and glue fabric onto the puppet. For example, glue netting around a ballerina puppet's waist to add dimension.

5. Glue the card stock onto the cardboard for a stronger base. Allow this to dry completely.

6. Punch a hole in the shoulder of each arm and the top of each leg. Make a corresponding hole for each limb on the body of the puppet.

7. Position each limb over the body and insert a brass brad through the hole and body, flattening the brad tangs behind the marionette's body.

8. Sew a length of thread or fishing line through the end of each hand and through each foot. Each line of thread for the hands should be at least 12 inches long. The line for the feet should meet the top of the thread for the hands, while allowing the feet to hang freely.

9. Tie each line to a craft stick to complete the marionette.

Tips & Warnings

• Add more movement details by adding more joints to the marionette puppet: elbows, knees, neck. Every new area of movement should have its own line to control it.

• If kids have trouble drawing their own puppet, you can download or print templates or use a favorite character found online.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Ballerina Marionette

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish