Finger Puppets & Theater - Kids Crafts Article by KarensVariety.com

Finger Puppets & Theater
Kids Crafts Article by KarensVariety.com

Children can easily make many different finger puppets using construction paper and fabric remnants. The puppet can be a person, an animal, a monster, a space person or anything else a child can imagine. Make a folding puppet theater from cardboard to put on a puppet show. Once the puppet theater is made, it can be put away for a rainy day to keep children busy for hours. Children are very creative and can make a large assortment of finger puppets to tell many different stories.

Cut two pieces of cardboard each 12" wide and 25 1/2" long for the sides of the theatre. Cut the middle piece 18" wide and 33" long. Measure 25 1/2 inches from the bottom of the centre of the theatre and draw a faint line across the cardboard. Draw a semi-circle above this faint line. But out the top of the semi-circle. Punch holes at 1 inch intervals along the sides of the centre section. Punch matching holes on one side of each side section. In the centre of the large section and 16 inches from the bottom, cut a hole 13 1/2 inches wide and 7 3/4 inches high. Using yarn, or string, lace the sides to the centre section making the lacing loose enough so that your sides can fold in.
Cut two curtains from fabric remnant, each 8" wide and 9 1/2" long. Fold over 1" hem at the top and glue or sew the edge only. Thread a piece of wire 16" long through the hem. Punch two holes in each side of the theatre and insert the wire through each side. To stabilize the theatre, punch two holes at the top of each outer edge and place a piece of dowel or stick through. Punch two more holes at the bottom outer edge and insert string which can be tied to table legs. Decorate the front of the theatre using paints, pants or stickers.
Make many different finger puppets using construction paper and fabric remnants. Cut out a head to fit the front of the finger as long as the middle joint so that the finger can bend. Using paints or pens, draw a face on the puppet; add yarn hair or paper hats. The puppet can be a person, an animal, a monster, a space person or anything else a child can imagine. Staple or glue a piece of ribbon to the back of the head so that the finger can slip inside snugly.
Use a fabric remnant for clothes. Snip a hole in the centre for the puppet finger. Snip two moles to the left and right for the thumb and third fingers. These will be the puppet arms.

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