Crafting with Kids
Paper Magic Studio DIY, in partnership with The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization
Simple Puppets to Make at Home
By Kelly Mindell
I
recently had the opportunity to create some crafts inspired by one of our family’s favorite movies, The Sound of Music. These puppets and theater are based on “The Lonely Goatherd,” one of our most-loved songs from the movie. The good news is that you don’t need a real puppet theater in your house to have a puppet show. You can turn any desk, table, learning stool, or play kitchen into a marionette theater with just a simple DIY scenic background. We added some scrap fabric (you could use sheets, dish towels, or pillowcases) to turn our play kitchen into a full theater. When it was time to make the marionettes, we reached for a material everyone has: toilet paper rolls. We replicated two of the goats from the movie, but you could also apply this same technique for other animals and make a whole farm, jungle, or herd. 18 MendoLakeFamilyLife
Lonely Goatherd Marionettes + Theater • paper in desired colors • scissors • scrap cardboard (cereal boxes are great for this) • 2 toilet paper rolls (per puppet) • paint and/or markers • school glue or hot glue • black rope, yarn, or ribbon • white/neutral rope, yarn, or ribbon • 2 Popsicle sticks • cardboard, paint, and sponge for background
Instructions 1. For each goat you will need to cut the following out of paper: two rectangles (one 6” x 4” and one 6.5” x 4”; cut fringe on each 4-inch end), two ear shapes (fringed), one tail shape (fringed), one beard shape (fringed). You’ll also need to cut out two horn shapes from cardboard, and cut one of the toilet paper rolls in half. 2. Paint the half-toilet paper roll; this will become the head. Decorate and add a face to it. You can make a paper hat by rolling a half-circle shape into a cone and folding up the bottom edge. 3. Glue the horns, ears, beard, and any other adornments to the head.
June 2020 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
