How to Make a Simple Paper Puppet

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Making your own paper puppets is super easy—and super fun! All you’ll need to get started is a piece of construction paper and some glue. Fold and glue the paper so that it slips onto your hand, then decorate it however you’d like, whether you want a doll, a dog, or even a monster. You can also use a paper lunch bag for your puppet for an even simpler option. When you’re finished, gather up your creations and put on a show for your friends or family. Break a leg!

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Creating a Folded Paper Hand Puppet

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    Use construction paper that's 12 by 18 in (30 by 46 cm). First, take one of the longer edges of the paper and fold it up a third of the way. Then, repeat with the opposite long edge. Fold the paper so that you have 3 equal sections. [1]
    • Don’t worry if your folds aren’t perfectly equal. Since 1 flap will be at the bottom of the puppet, no one will notice if the edges don’t align exactly.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    Open up the top fold and squirt glue along the entire inside of the flap. Then press it down onto the other folded third so that the folds won’t come undone. The paper should now look like a long, narrow rectangle. [2]
    • Squeeze the glue in dots or thin lines down the length of the paper. Avoid using too much or applying a thick layer or it will make the paper soggy.
    • You can use white school glue or a glue stick to make your paper hand puppet.
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    After you rotate it, the short sides of the rectangle should be at the top and bottom. Keep the paper rectangle oriented like this as you continue to fold it. [3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    Pull one of the shorter edges up so that it aligns with the other short edge. Crease the paper at the fold to hold it in place. [4]
    • To avoid any sloppy seams from showing on your puppet, fold the paper so that the glued edge is on the inside of the folded paper, not the outside.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    After you’ve folded the rectangle in half, bring one of the flaps back down. Align the edge with the bottom fold, then crease the fold so the paper stays down. Repeat with the other side. [5]
    • Try to line up the edges as perfectly as possible so your puppet isn’t crooked.

    Tip: To check that you made your folds correctly, look at your folded paper from the side. It should look like an “M” or a “W.”

  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    Squirt dots or a thin line of glue around the inside of the 2 flaps you just folded. Press the flaps down firmly once you’ve applied the glue to secure them in place. The side view of your folded paper should now look like a “V.” [6]
    • Hold the paper down for about 20 seconds to let it dry before you remove your hand.
    • Leave the very center fold of the paper unglued. This will be the mouth of your puppet.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    Use crayons, markers, or paint to add colorful designs to the puppet, for instance. You can also glue on 3D decorations like ribbon, paper, or googly eyes. [7]
    • If you’re using heavier decorations, like gems or popsicle sticks, consider gluing them on with hot glue instead of school glue. Hot glue will hold better.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    First, put your thumb in one of the openings along the outside of the center crease. Then, insert the rest of your fingers into the other opening next to it. Your thumb should be in the bottom opening, your other fingers should be in the top opening. To open and close your puppet’s mouth, simply open and close your hand while your fingers are inside the paper.
    • Keep in mind that it’s easier to use the puppet with your dominant hand. For example, if you’re right-handed, put your puppet on your right hand.
    9. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making a Paper Bag Puppet

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    The color of the bag doesn't matter (you can paint it a different color later if you'd like), but make sure it's big enough for your hand to fit inside of it and not so big that it's really loose on your hand.
    • With a paper bag puppet , you don't need to fold or cut anything to use your puppet. Just stick your hand into it and use your fingers to move the bottom of the bag up and down like it's a talking mouth.
  2. Apply 1-2 layers of acrylic paint using a paintbrush. Cover the whole bag, including the bottom, with thin layers that won’t make the bag soggy. [8]
    • Let the paint dry for at least 30 minutes before gluing on decorations. If it’s still wet, the glue won’t stick.
    • You can also use spray paint to coat the paper bag instead of brushing it on.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    To turn your paper puppet into a person, glue googly eyes on top of the puppet (the bottom of the paper bag) along with strands of yarn for hair. You can also draw on a nose and lips, glue paper ears on the side, or design an outfit on the bottom half.
    • If you don’t have yarn, you can use ribbon or fabric for the hair. To make braids, cut strips of fabric and weave them together just like you were braiding real hair.
    • For clothes, glue on things like fabric scraps, buttons, or a paper bow tie. Make jewelry, like a necklace, out of string and beads.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    Use construction paper to cut out pointy ears for cats or big floppy ears for dogs. Glue them on the top of the puppet along with eyes and a nose. Then, glue a tail made from paper or pipe cleaners onto the back. [9]
    • You can also add a big white circle to the front of the bag for your pet’s stomach.
    • To make a collar, use a piece of ribbon with a bead or draw it on with markers.

    Tip: You can make any kind of animal you want, like an alligator, owl, or bunny. Start with ears, eyes, and a tail, then add any extras like a beak or teeth.

  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Simple Paper Puppet
    Decorate the front of the bag in bright colors or patterns, like stripes and polka dots, using paint or markers. Then glue on oversized eyes and pointy fangs cut out of construction paper. You can also add ears, horns, or a long tongue. [10]
    • Don’t be afraid to get creative and imaginative with your designs and decorations. Use things like glitter, feathers, or pieces of wrapping paper to make your puppet more unique and creative.
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do you make a puppet with a stick?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    One super easy way is to cut a simple shape out of paper (like an oval for a face), then tape or glue it to the stick. Decorate your puppet by drawing on it, adding stickers or googly eyes, or gluing on decorations like yarn hair or sequins. Use the stick to move your puppet around.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 7
  • Question
    How do you make a finger puppet out of paper?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Cut the shape you want out of construction paper. For example, you might make a little human figure. Then, cut out a short, narrow strip of paper and roll it into a tube that’s small enough to fit around your finger. Tape the tube shut and attach it to the back of your puppet with tape or glue.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 6
  • Question
    How do you make a puppet talk?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If your puppet has a mouth that moves, you can use your hand to move the mouth and make the puppet look like it’s talking. At the same time, use your voice to say whatever you want your puppet to say. The audience will be distracted watching the puppet move and “talk,” so it will seem like the voice is coming from the puppet! Even if your puppet doesn’t have a moving mouth, you can make it seem like it’s talking by bobbing it around and moving its body along with your voice.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 6
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • for method 1 instead of using googly eyes, you can draw the eyes or cut out some paper eyes and glue them on your puppet.
      • Use google eyes instead of drawing some.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Things You'll Need

      Creating a Folded Paper Hand Puppet

      • 12 by 18 in (30 by 46 cm) piece of construction paper
      • Washable glue
      • Decorations (optional)

      Making a Paper Bag Puppet

      • Paper bag
      • Acrylic paint
      • Paintbrush
      • Googly eyes
      • Markers
      • Paint
      • Yarn
      • Colored construction paper
      • Glue

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Make a Paper Bag Puppet
      How to
      Make Finger Puppets
      How to
      Make a Hand Puppet
      How to
      Create a Marionette
      How to
      Learn Ventriloquism
      How to
      Make a DIY Paper Dragon Puppet: 2 Easy Tutorials
      How to
      Make a Muppet Style Puppet
      How to
      Make Puppets
      How to
      Make Shadow Puppets
      How to
      Work a Marionette
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.kiwico.com/diy/art-creativity/quick-easy-crafts/paper-puppets
      2. ↑ https://www.kiwico.com/diy/art-creativity/quick-easy-crafts/paper-puppets
      3. ↑ https://www.kiwico.com/diy/art-creativity/quick-easy-crafts/paper-puppets
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/xCHU6qGREIo?t=136
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/xCHU6qGREIo?t=156
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/xCHU6qGREIo?t=214
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/xCHU6qGREIo?t=280
      8. ↑ https://www.auntannie.com/Puppets/BrownBag/
      9. ↑ https://www.auntannie.com/Puppets/BrownBag/
      1. ↑ https://www.auntannie.com/Puppets/BrownBag/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make a simple paper puppet, start by folding a piece of construction paper in thirds lengthwise. Then, glue down the top fold so the paper looks like a long rectangle. Next, fold the rectangle in half so the 2 short ends meet before folding each flap down so the edges meet the center. After that, glue down the 2 outer flaps, and decorate the puppet however you like. Finally, stick your fingers into the 2 holes created by the folds to use your puppet. For tips on how to make a puppet out of a paper bag, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 392,157 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Ishaan Singh

        Jun 4, 2020

        "It helped me for my school project. It was a nice article with video clips explaining each and every step. Nice and ..." more
        Rated this article:
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement