How to Make Monster Puppets
Puppets provide hours of play for you and your child. Monster puppets can be wild-eyed creatures, or they can be funny, crazy-looking beasts that inspire giggles from your child. You can use a variety of materials to make your monster puppets---felt, fuzzy cotton, fake fur and more. The type of material you select for your puppet will depend on the look you want your monster to have. Hand puppets are easy to make, and any number of characters can be created with just a little time and a few materials.
Things You'll Need
- Material
- Marker
- Ruler
- Straight pins
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Needle
- Thread
- Plastic eyes
- Craft glue
- Felt, various colors
Instructions
-
Puppet Form
-
1
Fold the puppet material double, making sure the back side of the material is showing; you will turn the material right side out once you sew the pieces together. Lay your hand down on the back of the piece of material. The amount of material you need will depend on how large your hand is.
-
2
Use a marker and draw a circular outline around your thumb and fingers; do not draw the line around each individual finger. Make the outline about 1 inch over your fingers so that you have room to move your hand around inside the puppet. Draw the outline about 4 inches below your wrist on both sides, then draw a line straight across the bottom of these two lines to connect them. Use a ruler if necessary.
-
-
3
Pin the top and bottom pieces of material together with straight pins. Cut out the puppet form with scissors. Be sure to cut both the bottom and top piece of material at the same time.
-
4
Sew the edges of the puppet form together with a sewing machine or needle and thread. Sew the edges twice to ensure that they will stay together as you use the puppet. Remove the straight pins and turn the puppet form right side out.
Design
-
5
Lay the puppet form on a table and determine where you want the eyes, nose, mouth and any other facial features to be located. Mark them on the material with the marker as needed.
-
6
Glue on two plastic eyes with craft glue. Eyes are available at craft stores and can be simple stationary eyes or "googly" eyes that jiggle when the puppet moves.
-
7
Draw out shapes for the monster's nose and mouth on felt pieces using a marker. Cut out the shapes with scissors, then glue them onto the puppet's face using craft glue.
-
8
Draw out a long red tongue on a piece of red felt using a marker; cut it out with scissors. Attach the tongue to the edge of the monster's mouth with craft glue.
-
9
Draw out two monster fangs on a piece of white felt using a marker. Cut out the fangs with scissors and attach them to the monster's mouth with craft glue.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Use your imagination to create specific character features for your monster puppet. Add wild hair to the top of the puppet's head with faux fur or giant ears constructed with felt pieces.
