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Free Printable Paper Bag Puppets
Hi everyone! I’m Heather from The Caterpillar Years, and I’m so excited to be sharing my first post as member of Kristin’s creative team!
You’ll find me here each month, sharing fun crafts and activities you can do with kids.
This month I have a craft project that one-year-olds through twelve-year-olds (and even adults!) will have fun with!
Supplies:
- Color Printer w/white card-stock paper (5 pieces)
- Scissors (and possibly an X-Acto blade)
- Glue Sticks
- Paper Bags
- Markers (optional)
First things first, download the free printable:
Then print out the five pages (or the pages of your choice). I recommend card-stock because it will hold up better, but regular old printer paper works too!
Once you have your five pages printed out, it’s time to cut!
If your kids are on the younger end, you’ll be doing most all of the cutting-out yourself. So after the kids go to bed, grab those five pieces of card-stock and sit down in front of your favorite show with a glass of wine and make an evening of it! You’ll be happy you did this part on your own time, and not while eager little hands were grabbing at each eye ball and pair of glasses as they fall to the table.
If you have big kids, make them do the cutting! My five-year-old loves her scissors, and was very excited for a cutting project.
Some pieces are easier to cut out than others. I used an X-Acto blade to cut out the inside parts of the glasses, but the great part about these pieces, is they don’t have to be perfectly cut-out to use them. Cut a white boarder around the edges, color in the glasses to make sunglasses instead, or just cut big squares around the pieces. Trust me, your kids won’t care!
Once you have all of the pieces cut out, the creativity can begin!
I sorted our pieces by type (hair together, hats together, eyes together, etc) and then let my girls pick and chose which pieces they wanted to use for their puppets. It was so much fun seeing the combinations they came up with! The possibilities are endless!
Use your glue stick to attach your chosen pieces to your paper bag. While you’re waiting for the glue to dry, hand out the markers and let them color clothes on their puppets!
Depending on how short your puppeteer’s arm is, you may need to trim the length of the bag. Make sure you do this before any clothing coloring takes place or you may have an upset clothing designer on your hands!
Once the glue is dry, you’re ready for playtime!
Happy Puppeting!
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Aren’t these adorable? I know my kids will have so much fun designing their own puppets!! Thanks Heather!
For more kid friendly ideas, check these out:
Disney’s Frozen Inspired Party
Super Power Punch and Free Movie Night Printable
GREAT FIND TO DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS! 🙂
Hi Anna! Thank you for sharing your positive experience.
Thank you so much.
Heather, these are adorable! I was wondering if there is any way to get an edit-able file so I can create different hair and eye colors for a larger preschool class of children so they can find eyes and hair like their own? I have a lesson appreciating the different things/diversity about yourself so we are focusing on their unique characteristics. TIA. ~Susan 🙂
Hi Susan, As the printables on my site are copyrighted and free for use, they are not to be altered in any way and I am not able to offer editable files.
Oh these are darling! I know my 5 year old nephew would love these!
These are too stinkin’ cute. Adding this to our summer boredom buster list- my son is going to go ga-ga for the pirate! Thanks for sharing your creativity! 🙂
Oh how adorable! I love this idea for the kids!!! Great job:)
Thank you Destiny! You’re so kind 🙂
So cute! and I love love love love love love the slogan on Caterpillar Year’s blog!
Thank you so much Amber!! 😀
Such cute idea!! My kids are going to love this. Pinning for sure 🙂
Thanks Kelly! It’s so much fun to see how creative kids can be 😀
This is so fun! Perfect for some summertime entertainment for the kiddos!
You are SO right! I cut out a bunch of extras and now I have them on hand for whenever the mood strikes! My 2-year-old had fun making faces on paper plates this morning. Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂
These are so cute! Love them!
Thank you Allison!
Ok, I love this. LOVE! Thanks for sharing!!
Sarah, you’re so sweet! Thank you!
OHMYGOODNESS GRACIOUS! These are fabulous. So fun!!!
Thank you so much! I hope you have so much fun with them 😀