Make-believe
is fun with puppets!
Aunt Annie's Crafts
Clip Art or Photo Puppets
What you will make:
Kids have wonderful imaginations that can be nurtured through creative play, and puppets are excellent vehicles for a kid's creative expression. It's very easy to create simple puppets using clip art, magazine photos, cutouts from coloring books, or photos you have taken. In this project, you will learn how to make simple stick puppets using clip art or photos.
This project requires few materials and little time to get started. It is great for family, classroom or group craft time.
For a more structured stick puppet project with a written play, try the Stick Puppets project.
For more puppet craft projects, many with plays, see Puppets Around the World.
Here's what you need:
- Computer paper for printing
- Bamboo skewers or other thin sticks
- A source of clip art, pictures or photos
- Scissors
- Tape
This project is rated VERY EASY to do.
How to Make Clip Art or Photo Puppets
Read all of the steps before starting.
- Step 1: Project Preparation
-
Read through the project, then gather the materials needed for making the puppets. There are many sources of online clip art, with Microsoft offering one of the biggest and easiest to use sites.
- Step 2: Come Up With an Idea
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Find an idea for your puppet play—perhaps think of a favorite story or character, and imagine how you might develop that into a play. Or, just make some puppets that seem interesting or fun and let the story flow from playing with them.
- Step 3: Print
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Print your clip art or photos in the size range of 4" to 7" (10 cm to 18 cm).
Print a picture that can be used as a backdrop for the play.
- Step 4: Cut
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Cut out each puppet. If they have intricate details, just trim loosely around those details.
- Step 5: Attach Stick
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With the puppet face-down, tape a bamboo skewer to the back.
- Step 6: Make Up a Story
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Make up names for your characters and practice speaking in different voices. Have fun with your puppets and your friends' puppets. Work together to make a play that can be performed for family and friends!
Tape a backdrop that you printed or colored to the wall and perform the play in front of it.
Before you start:
- Make a place to work.
- Read all of the directions.
- Gather everything you need to do the project.
- Think about the project. Imagine how it will look and what you will do with it.
Are you ready?
Okay, get started!!!
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Tip: Base your play on a fable or fairy tale. These
tortoise and hare puppets were made from
Microsoft clip art—just search for "turtle" and "rabbit".
Enlarge
Tip: Print a landscape as a backdrop and tape it to the wall.
This landscape also comes from the
Microsoft
images website.