Simple puppet making... you've got it in the bag!
When I was just a kid, my darling dad set off for work each morning with his homemade sandwiches in a brown paper bag. Each night he’d bring that paper bag home, emptied of crumbs, crisply folded and ready to be refilled with sandwiches the following day. I can’t think how many uses he had from each bag, maybe it was a few days, maybe each lasted a week… but this little ritual certainly instilled in me the idea that paper bags are meant to be reused.
As a result of this I still tend to save any good paper bags that come my way rather than send them straight to the recycling bin. I store them in a drawer so I can reuse them for the multitude of uses that come up… dropping off gifts, storing herbs and mushrooms, wrapping post and, of course, craft.
In the world of kiddie craft a good paper bag is like a blank canvas. One of my favourite paper bag activities is making paper bag puppets. Worn like a glove on the hand of a child puppeteer, or attached to a ruler, even the simplest paper bag creation comes to life.
Offer the kids a bag each with some art materials and let them go for it. Alternatively you could offer them a bag containing some shapes (head, limbs) that you’ve pre-cut, and let them assemble and attach them in their own quirky way. Get involved, make your own… stage a puppet show together.
Here are some favourite and super simple ideas to get you started. I’ve made them using one paper bag type that I happened to have on hand. It’s made of glossy white paper and measures 13x25cm which is a good size for a little hand, but any smallish paper bags will do just fine.
Use a favorite book character as some puppet inspiration. Adorable Miffy has such simple features to copy. Fabric scraps are fun for collage.
Here’s Goldilocks… now, where are those 3 bears??
Beloved teddies come in all sizes and colours, but can be started with some very basic shapes.
Anything goes when making a monster puppet… think dangly limbs and wooly fur. Offer a gluestick or tape with a range of colourful scraps, bits and pieces for collage… then listen out for a monster’s roar!
Ahoy me hearties, think outside the square… get crafty with natural materials. This wonderfully zigzaggy leaf makes a very cool pirate cutlass. And you can modify your bag by cutting areas away.
Extend the activity… add paper plates, foil, boxes and patty pans. What fun!
