Kid's Crafts Instructions for Finger Puppets

With a little help from you, children can make their own finger puppets.

If the kids want to put on a puppet show, there is no need to go to the store and buy the puppets -- children can easily take part in making puppets themselves. The things you need to make finger puppets are inexpensive and found wherever craft supplies are available. Children will need an adult's help when cutting with a utility knife and using a hot-glue gun, but they can use their imaginations to create original characters.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Cardboard
• Ruler
• Acrylic paints
• Markers
• Crayons
• Scissors
• Utility knife
• Glove
• Permanent markers
• Craft glue
• Wiggly eyes
• Pipe cleaner
• Hot-glue gun
• Glue sticks
• Felt

Instructions

Finger Legs

1. Draw the shape of a person or animal's head and torso on a piece of thin cardboard. Trace two finger-sized circles near the bottom edge where the legs would begin and space them about 1/2-in. apart.

2. Color the head and torso to give the puppet details such as clothing, hair, a face or the colors and markings of whatever animal you are making. Use acrylic paints, markers or crayons for bright colors.

3. Cut out the puppet along the outside edge with scissors. Carefully use the tip of a sharp utility knife to cut out the circles to make holes. Slip your index and middle fingers through the holes with the details of the puppet facing out.

Glove Finger

1. Cut one of the fingers off of a glove. A thin, cotton gardening glove or a rubber dish glove will work. Color finger puppet with permanent markers, adding details such as a mouth, hair or clothing.

2. Glue wiggly eyes to the face with craft glue, pressing them down down for one minute. Cut a 4-in.-long piece of pipe cleaner and hot glue the middle of it to the back of the glove finger to give the puppet bendable arms.

3. Cut shapes out of different colors of felt to add three-dimensional details such as a tail, ears or a hat. Glue them in place with a small dab of hot glue. Wait for the glue to dry and your finger puppet is ready to be played with.

References

• Enchanted Learning: Paper Finger Puppets
• Crafts for Kids to Make:Butterfly Craft For Kids