(Note: Adult supervision required. Children should nothandle sharp knives, hot glue guns and spray paint.)General -
- 1. Cut one dowel rod in half; glue into bottoms of 4" foamballs to create puppet heads/bodies.
- 2. Wax serrated knife with candle stub or paraffin.King Puppet-
- 1. Cut one 1" foam ball in half; hot glue one half-ball toeach side of a 4" foam ball for ears. Glue second 1" ball toface for nose. Spray paint head coral; place dowel in heavyglass or jar to dry.
- 2. Glue wiggle eyes in place. From felt, cut two C-shapedblack eyebrows and one C-shaped red mouth; glue in place. Cuttwo pink felt circles for cheeks; glue to face.
- 3. Cut 10" x 12" piece from print fabric for gown. Fold inhalf, wrong side out, to measure 6" x 10". Sew seam along 10"open edge, knot thread ends, and turn tube right side out. Sewgathering stitch around top end of tube, 1/2" from edge. Pullthreads tightly to gather, insert dowel through hole, and knotthread ends. Glue fabric to bottom of head; pin until dry.
- 4. Cut two 2" x 4" arms from print fabric. Cut two small handsfrom white felt and glue to back of each arm. Cut two 3/4" x2" cuffs from blue felt and glue to front of sleeves. Gluearms to top of gown on each side.
- 5. Cut 4" circle from blue felt for collar. Cut one side ofcircle from outside edge to center; cut small hole in center.Glue collar around neck, with slit at back. Glue jewel toneck, if desired.
- 6. Cut 2-1/4" x 4" strip from blue felt for crown; cut topedge into points. Roll strip into tube and glue seam; glue totop of head. Glue jewels or sequins to crown as shown.Dragon Puppet -
- 1. Cut thin slice from wide end of foam egg, then cut egg inhalf lengthwise. Trace each half-egg onto pink felt; cut outpieces 1/8" inside traced lines and set aside.
- 2. Hot glue wide end of egg halves to front of a 4" foam ballto form open mouth; long cut sides should face each other.
- 3. Cut one 1" foam ball in half; hot glue half-balls to tophalf of open mouth for nostrils. Cut one 1-1/2" foam ball inhalf and glue halves to face for cheeks.
- 4. Glue three 1" foam balls along top of head to resemble spines.Spray paint head green; place dowel in heavy glass or jar to dry.
- 5. Glue wiggle eyes in place. Glue felt pieces cut in Step 1into open mouth. Cut long flame from red felt and glue intomouth. Cut triangular teeth from white felt and glue into mouth.
- 6. To make body, fold green felt sheet in half, wrong sideout, to measure 6" x 9". Sew seam along 9" open edge, knotthread ends, and turn tube right side out. Sew gatheringstitch around top end of tube, 1/2" from edge. Pull threadstightly to gather, insert dowel through hole, and knot threadends. Glue fabric to bottom of head; pin until dry.
- 7. Cut two arms from green felt, with three clawed fingers each.Cut pointed tail from felt, as well. Glue arms and tail to felt body.
- 8. For horns, cut two large triangles from pink felt. Rolleach triangle into a cone and glue seam. Use fingertip togently stretch out bottom of cone and glue to top of head.Puppet Theater -
- 1. Set aside two foam blocks for stage sides. Cut third blockin half lengthwise to create two 6" x 18" panels for front ofstage that will adjoin sides.
- 2. Place remaining foam block flat on work surface with 18"edges at top and bottom.
- 3. Use patterns to trace remaining theater pieces onto lastfoam block. Cut apart first page of patterns on solid anddashed lines, creating three separate patterns; discard areaindicated on pattern.
- 4. Align corner of Theater Arch Top pattern, marked with an"X", with top left corner of foam block; trace pattern. Flippattern over at dashed line to trace second half of arch; donot cut out yet.
- 5. Place Front Theater Columns pattern below left edge of archtop like puzzle piece and trace pattern. Flip pattern over andtrace below right edge of arch top. Cut out pattern pieces.
- 6. Cut two 4-1/8" squares from remaining area of last foamblock. Cut remaining patterns from foam or felt as indicated.
- 7. Hot glue toothpicks halfway into ends of arch top, neardots indicated on pattern. Glue opposite toothpick ends intoTheater Arch Ends cut in Step 6, aligning dots on patterns.Trim bottom edge of joined arch pieces flush; sand rough edgeswith scrap foam.
- 8. Refer to photo to glue Theater Arch Inside Corners to topinside edges of 6"-wide panels cut in Step 1. Again, be suretop edges are flush.
- 9. Glue arch top to top of 6" panels, overlapping inside edges1-1/2". Apply hot glue to a toothpick or two and insertthrough bottom of each inside corner up into rounded ends ofarch top for added strength. Glue flat backs of columns tofront of theater on either side of opening.
- 10. Glue a 1-1/2" foam ball into curve at top of arch. Glue 1"foam ball to bottom of each inside arch corner. Cut thin slicefrom back and bottom of two 1-1/2" balls; glue to top ofcolumns, flush with foam. Cut remaining 1-1/2" ball in half;glue halves to top corners of theater front.
- 11. Spray paint all theater pieces purple; let dry. Two lightcoats provide more even coverage than one thick coat. Toprotect work area, place pieces inside large cardboard boxbefore painting.
- 12. For hinges, cut two 4" x 18" purple felt strips. Glue halfof each strip to back of theater front at each side; glueother half to front 18" edge of each side piece set aside inStep 1. Pin felt until glue dries completely. Note: To set uptheater on tabletop, open sides out at slight angle; to store,fold sides to back.
- 13. Glue felt stars to theater front as shown. Use scallopscissors to cut 1" x 15" strip from yellow felt; glue behindstraight bottom edge of arch so 1/2" is visible in opening.
- 14. For curtain, cut two 18" x 21" pieces from trigger cloth.Fold top and bottom 18" edges 1/2" to wrong side and pressflat. Fold edges another 1" to wrong side and press well. Sewor glue hems to secure. If desired, glue gold trim to onefront edge of each curtain. Sew seven rings evenly spaced totop of each curtain.
- 15.Trim remaining dowel to 19" long. Thread curtain ringsonto dowel, with gold trim edges to center. Balance dowel endson top of theater sides and gently press into foam to createshallow grooves so dowel will not roll as curtain is openedand closed.If you enjoyed this project, look here for more inspiring ideas:Dragon PuppetGiant, Fantasy Stick PuppetsFlying Dragon Marionette