In this project, you will learn how to make simple bag puppets using clip art or photos. A puppet play is a wonderfully creative activity, and with just paper bags and clip art, it is easy to make a wide variety of characters for the play. Combine bag puppets with clip art stick puppets to make all the props and puppets you may need.
This project requires few materials and little preparation time. It is great for family, classroom or group craft time.
Related crafts: For a more structured puppet project with a written play and printable patterns, try the Paper Bag Hand Puppets project. Or see the Cat and Owl Paper Bag Puppets craft project for how to make animal puppets using paper bags.
For more puppet craft projects, many with plays, see Puppets Around the World craft project index.
Read through the project then gather the materials needed for making the puppets. There are many sources of online clip art. Just search for the picture you want and include "clip art" or "illustration" at the end—like "kitty clip art" or "puppy illustration".
Think of a favorite story, fable or folktale—maybe even a song—and develop a play around that. Figure out what puppets are needed for your play. Or, just look through the collection of clip art, and make some puppets that seem interesting or fun. You can develop the story while playing with the puppets.
Think about the puppet's design. A bag puppet is animated when you put your hand inside the flap and move it. The easiest clip art puppet has the puppet's head on the flap and the body on the bag. The puppet's head will move as you open and close your hand. Bag puppets can also be made to have the puppet's mouth or eyes open and close—see the Paper Bag Hand Puppets craft project for examples.
Print the clip art to fit the paper bag and the bag flap. For most lunch-size paper bags, the puppet head should be no bigger than 5" wide by 3" tall and the body no larger than 5" by 7".
In Microsoft Word you can find and insert clip art, and then resize it. With the Ruler turned on, it is easy to drag a corner of the picture to the exact size needed.
Cut out the clip art—cut the head and body apart. If the clip art has intricate details, just trim loosely around those details.
Glue the puppet head on the flap with the chin near the bottom of the flap. Glue the puppet body directly under the head on the bag.
Draw the puppet's neck under the flap, so the head appears connected to the body. Color a background around the puppet that goes with the play.
Tip: Paper cutouts also work well as decorations for the background.
Make up names for your characters and practice making different voices. Have fun with your puppets and the puppets your friends made. Work together to make a play that can be performed for family and friends.
Tape a backdrop that you printed or colored to the wall, and perform the play in front of it!
That's it! Now have some puppet
fun!