Paper Bag Puppets

Puppets have been used in many ways over centuries. Earlier they were used to tell religious or morality stories, or to express views on certain subjects. Children relate to puppets from their earliest years. Puppets become their best friends and act as means to bring out the child's imagination and thoughts. They are fascinated by puppets and interact with them. This helps to overcome certain qualities like shyness and fear among the children. Puppet making is one of the best kids' art activities that gets their creative skills to work. The simplest type of puppets for kids to make is by using paper bags. Puppets made from these bags are ready in a few minute's time and the children find it an interesting activity. Different animal puppets can be made out of paper bags.

How to Make Puppets from Paper Bags
Paper bag puppets are the easiest hand puppets to make. Kids find it very interesting to make various animal puppets using the common paper lunch bags.

Things Required

• Paper lunch bag
• Permanent makers
• Scraps of construction paper
• Crayons or paints
• Safety scissors
• Colored yarn
• Craft glue
• Scrap materials like buttons, beads, etc.

Instructions

• Choose an animal or a funny face monster. You could also make a clown face.
• Take a paper lunch bag. The flap that is made by the bottom fold will be the mouth of your puppet.
• Lay the paper bag flat on the ground with the opening facing you and the flap on the top side.
• Make two eyes on the flap of the bag using felt pens or markers. You could also use glue buttons or googly eyes to give a special effect.
• Now cut out a piece from the red colored paper, that resembles a tongue. You could cut a triangular piece or an oval shaped one.
• Glue the tongue inside the flap in such a way that it can be seen when you lift the flap for the puppet to talk.
• Draw the nose with a marker. You could also stick a colored paper cut out.
• Now cut two pieces from the colored paper resembling the ears of the animal you have chosen. Stick it on both the sides at the top.
• You could make hair from the yarn. Stick it on both the sides on top of the flap.
• Make the details using colored pens and crayons. Your puppet is ready to play with you!
• To use it, put your hand inside the bag, place your fingers in the flap and move them up and down to move the flap. It looks as if the puppet is talking.

Wasn't this simple? Your kids would love to make these puppets on their own. Paper bag crafts activities can be taken at school or at home with children. Ask them to make different puppets and you could put up a puppet show for a kid's birthday party. Make up a story using all the puppet characters they have made and ask the kids to lift their puppets over a couch or some screen. I'm sure the kids will have an enthralling experience with the puppets made by themselves. So what are you waiting for? Gather paper bags and all the other material needed, and get ready for this fun activity with kids!