How to Make a Bird Marionette

Make a simple bird marionette.

Marionettes are fun for children and adults. They are simple and inexpensive to make.

Things You'll Need

• 2 3-inch Styrofoam balls
• 1 6-inch Styrofoam ball
• Embroidery floss
• 5 or 6 inch doll making needle
• 1 package feathers
• 1 package of 1-inch pom poms (at least 50)
• 1 3-foot-long, 1/2-inch wide dowel
• Electrical tape
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brushes
• Water
• School glue
• Wiggly eyes

Instructions

1. Make the stick to work the puppet. Cut the dowel in half, so that each piece is 1 1/2 feet long. Cross the dowels over each other to form an X shape. Wrap the electrical tape around the center forming an X shape in the center with the tape. It will bind the two dowels together.

2. Cut one of the 3-inch Styrofoam balls in half. Paint each half with yellow or orange paint and allow it to dry.

3. Paint the 6-inch Styrofoam ball and the last 3-inch Styrofoam ball with paint. These parts will need to be painted the color you want the bird's body and head to be. Allow them to dry.

4. Make the body. Thread the needle with embroidery floss. Tie a knot on the end of the thread. Push the needle through the center of the 6-inch Styrofoam ball until it comes out the other side.

   Leave 18 inches of thread above the Styrofoam ball. Cut the thread. Tie the end around the center of the dowel. Wrap the dowel with electrical tape over the thread to make it look neater.

5. Make the neck. Thread the needle with embroidery floss. Tie a knot on the end of the thread. Push the needle through the left side of the 6-inch Styrofoam ball until it comes out the right side. Thread 10 pom poms onto the thread to make the neck.

6. Make the head. Push the needle through the last 3-inch Styrofoam ball. This will be the head. Leave 12 inches of thread. Cut the end, and tie it to the end of one of the dowels on the right side.

7. Glue on the eyes. Put one small dot of glue on the back of each eye, and stick it into place on the head.

8. Add the beak. Fold a small piece of felt in half. Cut a V shape. Position the point of the V on the side away from the fold. Glue the folded side onto the head below the eyes to create the beak.

9. Make and attach the legs to the body.Thread the needle with 28 inches of thread. Tie a knot at the end. Push the needle through one of the Styrofoam ball halves. Push the needle through the bottom. Place 20 pom poms onto the needle. Pull the thread through the pom poms. Decide where you want your legs to go. Push the needle through the left side of the body, and pull it out the right side. Place 20 pom poms onto the needle. Pull the thread through the pom poms. Push the needle through the top of the other Styrofoam ball half and out through the bottom. Tie a knot.

10. Attach the legs to the rod. Thread the needle. Tie a knot at the end. Push the needle through the Styrofoam ball half on the left. Push the needle through the bottom. Run the thread through the foot. Pull the thread to the rod at the top. Attach it to the X on the left side of the head. Thread the needle. Tie a knot at the end. Push the needle through the Styrofoam ball half on the right . Push the needle through the bottom. Run the thread through the foot. Pull the thread to the rod at the top. Attach it to the X on the right side of the head.

11. Push feathers into the body and head for decoration. You can put a dot of glue on the tip of the feather before you push it into the Styrofoam to make it more secure. Once it dries, you are ready to use your puppet.

References

• Resources for Christian Teachers: Puppets