Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 6: Make 2D paper dolls
• Method 2 of 6: Making dolls out of socks
• Method 3 of 6: Making finger puppets
• Method 4 of 6: Making dolls from cups
• Method 5 of 6: Make muppet dolls
• Method 6 of 6: Create a scene
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need
• Make 2D paper dolls
• Make dolls out of socks
• Make finger puppets
• Make dolls from cups
• Make muppet dolls

The world of dolls. Completely different, and even better for some. Here we will tell you how to make dolls out of paper, socks, felt, glasses, or Jimi Nanson's traveling dolls. You will be able to choose a real puppet show for yourself when you finish reading this page!

Steps

Method 1 of 6: Make 2D paper dolls

1. 1 Choose a figurine. Try to choose a highly versatile look so you can reuse this doll in other performances as well. You can find these figurines everywhere, but there are the most of them on the Internet.
2. 2 Make a figurine. On a piece of paper, draw a figurine of the desired size. You can glue cardboard to the paper or draw it directly on the cardboard so that the paper does not bend during the performance.
   • Think about the other side too! Will your doll turn? And if the viewer sees its reverse, does it need a tail?
3. 3 You can use paper plates. If their round shape suits your project, then use this durable material. They are good for making fish, crabs, shellfish and other plump creatures.
   • If you take two plates, then the figures will turn out to be very voluminous. Cut to the center and glue them together so they overlap slightly. You can fold the paper slightly into a pyramidal shape. Put the wide sides together to create the body of the animal.
4. 4 Color it in. Coloring is an important part of the puppet show. Let your characters be bright and interesting so that the viewer is pleased to look at them.
5. 5 Make a handle. Find a clear cocktail tube and tape it to the back of your doll. The handle should be long enough for you to hold the doll at a distance. Your hand must not be visible!
   • Alternatively, you can find a line and attach it to the doll so you can hold it on top. Then you will have to stand during the performance.
6. 6 Add embellishments. Glue the doll's eyes. If you make a fish like in the picture, then you can cut tubes and attach them to its body. Make small fins out of the paper. Tadam!

Method 2 of 6: Making dolls out of socks

1. 1 Choose a sock. Try to find a sock that goes down to your knee so that when you put it on, it doesn't feel like you have half a toy on your hand. Do not take socks with spots or holes.
   • Find the right colors. Striped socks make bright and happy heroes, while all black socks make a mysterious crime hero. If you are going to make an animal out of your sock, then pick the right color.
2. 2 Place a sock over your hand. Crumple it a little in the fossa between the thumb and forefinger. This will create a mouth. Also place your hand perpendicular to your wrist so the viewer can see where the head ends and the torso begins.
   • This is the fastest way to make a sock toy. If you want to do something more creative, then check out other articles for other options.
3. 3 Add eyes. You can find different types and sizes of eyelets in your craft store. Choose big bulging eyes to make your character look unreal. They should also match your character's personality. Attach them with glue.
   • You can also use pompoms for eyes. They add shape to the usual silhouette. It is also easy to stick eyes on them.
4. 4 Think about the details. A sock toy may be the simplest, but you can also decorate it. Add a felt tongue, some hair ribbons, jewelry, beads, whatever you can think of for your character.

Method 3 of 6: Making finger puppets

1. 1 Trace your finger on the paper. Leave 1 cm on the sides, stopping at the second phalanx. This will be a sketch of your finger puppet.
2. 2 Cut out pieces of felt. You will need two pieces (front and back) and some more. Butterfly wings? An elephant's nose? A chicken's beak? Hare ears? Think carefully about the details.
   • If nothing comes to mind, watch cartoons for different ideas.
3. 3 Sew the pieces together. Sew on different parts before stitching the doll itself. You can also embroider a smile or a grin with threads.
   • You can also embroider and sew on eyes / nose / beak / wings / general details. If you don't like sewing, then everything can be glued. But do everything carefully - the glue does not always look neat on the felt, especially if there is a lot of glue.
4. 4 Lay the top and bottom pieces on top of each other and sew them together. Sew a few stitches all over the body.
   • Now all that remains for you to do is put on the toy and create further. But maybe you want to make 9 more friends with this toy?

Method 4 of 6: Making dolls from cups

1. 1 Take out two paper cups. Make it medium-sized glasses, not very tiny ones. They have a white edge on them, don't they? If so, cut it off one glass. Then you will make fins from it.
   • In this example, we'll show you how to make a fish. With a little thought, you can use this project for other animals as well.
2. 2 Make two holes opposite each other in the bottom of the trimmed glass. Get something sharp, like thin scissors. A small hole is enough.
3. 3 Punch two holes at the top of the other glass. Here are the same rules - the holes should be small; only this time from the top.
4. 4 Align the holes together and insert the two wires. Secure these two wires. If everything is correct, then the fins of the fish will be able to move back and forth.
   • If you don't have wire, then you can glue everything. Only the fins will not move in this case, but the fish will remain a fish.
5. 5 Press the sides of the glasses together. Cut a "V" at the top, giving it a fin shape, and secure the sides with glue.
6. 6 Add eyes and fins. Convex eyes look very fishy, ​​also with fins (made preferably also from glasses). For the fins, bend the cup at the base so you have somewhere to glue them.
   • The shape of the fins depends on your fish. Is it a shark? Dolphin? Gold fish? Everything depends on you!
7. 7 Decorate your fish. Stickers will work here, but also any other decorations. What about sparkles ?! All other fish will only be jealous.
   • This is a great project if at the same time you read fairy tales about fish with your child. Children will discover something new doubly for themselves. Double benefit.
8. 8 Figure out how you will hold it. You can use a juice straw, ice cream stick, or fishing line. One for the body and one for the fin so that the fin can move separately, as if a small fish is swimming!

Method 5 of 6: Make muppet dolls

1. 1 Find a large piece of Styrofoam and start carving out the figurine. Soft foam will work too, but styrofoam is easier to cut. The hardest part will be making the face. The easiest one is that dolls come in all sizes and shapes, and you really can't mess things up.
   • The most important thing is to mark the indentations under the eyes, the protrusion for the nose and remove the lower jaw (if you want the doll to speak).
   • If you want the doll to talk, leave a place to put your hand in!
2. 2 Wrap the felt around the doll's head. Start in the middle and stick it on. Spray works well here as well, but it is more difficult to work with. Stretch the fabric as you work so that the felt fits snugly against the doll. Stick it on so that it looks like real leather.
   • The nose can be the same material as the head, or you can wrap it in felt and then attach it to the head. Both methods are good.
3. 3 Add details to the face. You can make eyes from bottle caps, but beads, balls, or whatever you can pick up are also suitable here. If you have removed the lower jaw, then cover it with felt and glue only the very edges to the head. It should move - you only need to glue the felt.
   • Depending on the size of your doll, you can wear a wig or hat on your head. Don't you have anything? Give your doll a hood! And the problem will be solved.
   • Add eyebrows and ears if you like. Each doll is different from the previous ones, so if you don't have something this time, then you don't need to sound the alarm.
4. 4 Dress her up. The naked doll looks strange. Find something that you will never wear again and glue the top on the doll's neck (so you may need a scarf or collar).
   • To make a body, simply stuff the shirt with newspaper or cotton wool or cloth. Don't make short sleeves so you don't have to make arms.
5. 5 Make a handle for your doll. One will most likely control the face, so make at least one more handle to bring your doll to life. All you need to do is circle your hand around the felt, cut out two of these pieces and sew them together (inside out to hide the seam).
   • Leave 2 cm on all sides of the cutout to make it easier for you to control the doll. For a four finger puppet (including the thumb), simply connect the space for the index and middle fingers.
   • Pass your hand through the doll's sleeve.Now she can speak and gesture!

Method 6 of 6: Create a scene

1. 1 Make a scene. To make a basic scene, cover the table with a cloth that falls to the floor. The floor should be high enough so that your children (or you) can easily kneel and not be seen.
2. 2 Come up with a background. Draw a drawing on a large piece of cardboard and hang it on the wall behind you. It can be the location (park, beach, etc.), or just the name of the show in capital letters. But remember that the title can be hung on the fabric in front of the table. Then the name on the wall is no longer needed.
   • Draw some sticks. So you can use them in a show - trees, stones, flowers, or whatever you need for the story.
3. 3 Start the show. How do you start it? With music? Will you improvise or write the lyrics ahead of time? Is there a moral in the story, or are you just having fun? If you are working with children, make sure that each of them works with a doll - everyone will definitely want to try.

Tips

• Put your energy into this show. Find spectators if children are doing the show. The more you invest, the more fun it will be.

Warnings

• Do not let children handle the hot glue gun. It's terribly hot and they can get hurt.

What do you need

Make 2D paper dolls

• Paper, cardboard or paper plates
• What you can paint with (crayons, markers, etc.)
• Scissors
• Ice cream stick, straw or fishing line
• Tubes (optional)

Make dolls out of socks

• Sock
• Convex eyes
• Felt and decor elements

Make finger puppets

• Several colors of felt
• Scissors
• Needle and thread or sewing machine

Make dolls from cups

• Medium paper cups
• Scissors
• Glue gun
• Decorations
• Convex eyes

Make muppet dolls

• Large foam ball
• Felt
• Eye material (bottle caps, beads, etc.)
• Glue gun
• Filler (cotton wool, newspaper, etc.)
• clothing
• Scissors
• Needle and thread
• Decorations