Instant Puppets: Get started with hand puppets right away:
These puppets can be made, well, nearly, in an instant. They call for materials that you are sure to have handy, such as handkerchiefs, lipstick, matchboxes, salad spoons and right and left hands. Have a minute? Try one!
Instant Bunny:
You need a large handkerchief. Make a loose fist and drape the handkerchief over it, as shown in diagram A. With your other hand, pull one of the front corners of the handkerchief up between your first two fingers. That's one ear. Now do the same with the other corner, pulling it up between the second and third fingers. Two ears. Wrap the two back corners around your wrist, and you have a bunny with floppy ears and a wriggly nose (your second finger inside the handkerchief).
Winkums:
Find the fold in the palm of your hand—just under the little finger. Draw one eye right on that fold. Draw the rest of the face to fit, as in C. Now, by curling your little finger down you make Winkums wink, wink, WINK!
Baghdad the Paper Bag Gremlin:
You need crayons, scissors and a small brown paper grocery bag. Flatten the bag out and turn it with the open side down. The fold across the top will be Baghdad's mouth and should be marked with a line of bright red. Cut out two white paper fangs and paste them to the edge of the fold, pointing downward. Now draw a button nose and two big droopy eyes above the mouth. Add paper feelers on top if you wish. Put your hand inside the bag and fit your fingers into the flap, as in A. You will find that by opening and closing your hand you can make Baghdad's mouth open and close. This gremlin speaks English, and he loves to sing.
Beaknik The Envelope Bird:
You need an envelope and crayons. Put your hand inside the envelope, B, stretching your fingers into the upper corner and your thumb into the lower. With your other hand press in the front edge of the envelope. Pull it away quickly or it will be nipped, for by opening and closing the hand inside the envelope, you make Beaknik's beak open and shut. Add an eye, fierce or friendly, according to taste.
The Matchbox Monster:
You need a wooden matchbox, some colored paper and glue. Throw away the drawer part of the matchbox. Cover the outside of the other part with paper (light blue is nice and monsterly). Cut out two circles of colored paper, one smaller than the other. Cut the circles in half and use a half of each to form each eye, as shown. Cut out a fringe of black hair and two goofy teeth. Glue the features in place. With match stubs or glass tacks you can make the electrodes that this monster has instead of ears (where he plugs in when his battery is down). Make an instant body for him and slip the matchbox head down over the first finger. And now, beware of the Franklystern Monster!
Spoonerella
You need a large wooden salad spoon, crayons and one of the scouring pads made of woven copper or brass foil. Draw a face on the back or rounded part of the spoon. If you wish, you can paste on paper features. Spread the center of the scouring pad with your thumbs and slip it on over the top of the spoon to make a crown of shiny hair. Now grip the spoon in your hand as shown. Drape a bright handkerchief over the extended thumb and finger and in front of your hand. Secure it with a rubber band the way you did with the instant body, except that in this case the rubber band runs around behind the spoon handle instead of behind your first finger.
