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HOW TO MAKE STRING CONTROLLED PUPPETS or MARIONETTES : Puppet-Making Crafts for Kids and Teens

So far, most of the puppets that we have created on this site have been uncomplicated. However, these puppets (or marionettes) are a little bit more difficult to make. You will connect the arms and legs with string so that you can control their actions ...such as making them walk or move their arms. You can make a whole collection of doll and animal puppets and toys out of cardboard boxes and tubes and string. We give you basic instructions below, but the small details you will be figuring out on your own...as we are giving you general directions for non-specific animals and characters. Here are more puppet & puppet theater crafts ideas.

Making Puppets with String & Cardboard & Paper Towel Rolls

CRAFTS MATERIALS NEEDED (many of these are optional):

Cardboard boxes

Cardboard tube

Paints & brushes

Cardboard pie plates

Cardboard

Crayons

Scissors

Colored paper

Long nail

String

Glue or paste

Trimmings

Paper clips

Brass paper fasteners

Scotch tape

Staples

HOW TO MAKE THEM:

Creating puppets and toys with boxes, cartons and containers, follow the same course as creating with any other materials. Start with a cardboard box which suggests the body of the doll or animal or the shape of the toy. Attach other boxes with glue, staples, brass paper fasteners, paper clips, Scotch tape, or string together the different parts. Use long narrow boxes or tubes (such as paper or toilet paper rolls) for legs and arms, and a short wide box for the head. Use cardboard. Cardboard can be folded, rolled, pleated, punched, and curled. Edges which are to be folded must be "scored" first. ( "Scored"—scratch along the line with the point of the scissors against a ruler edge). Bend on the scored line. Cut ears, noses, beaks, hands, feet, hats, wings, tails and similar parts from flat cardboard, and attach with glue, Scotch tape, staples, or brass paper fasteners. Color features and markings with paint or crayon. For puppets, try different ways of stringing the parts together. Keep the joints loosely tied so that the puppet can sing, dance, and do many other things. Attach one or more control strings to puppets, and tie finger loop at the end of the strings for holding. Here are some suggestions for making doll and animal puppets and toys. Try creating some of your own.

Here are more puppet & puppet theater crafts ideas.