Mini Monets and Mommies: Easy Kids' Stick Puppet: It Was a Cork, Now It's Not

If you’re searching for an easy puppet making craft for kids, look no further. I’ve made loads of puppets – plaster pretend friends, paper bag versions and even a marionette or two (not the super-fancy kinds that you see on stage, but a pint-sized version that a child can create). The other day my husband left a cork sitting out on the kitchen counter. As a picked it up to throw away – along with my son’s popsicle stick – it struck me that combining the two items could equal an uber-easy puppet craft that also had a lesson on the environment thrown in too.

So, recycle, reuse and get crafting. After your little artist creates her cork stick puppet, she can use it to stage a pretend play! Your child can make an imaginary creature, an animal or a favorite character from a book or movie.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

· A cork

· A pipe cleaner

· A popsicle stick

· Tempera paint

· A paintbrush

· Googley eyes

· Clay

· Clear drying school glue

· Optional: Craft feathers, glitter, felt, pom poms or craft fur

Here’s What to Do:

1. Paint the cork with the tempera. Set the cork aside until it dries.

2. Glue the googley eyes to the front of the cork. Your child can add the other facial features – the nose and mouth – with modeling clay. Use colorful clay or encourage your child to paint it her own hue.

3. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the cork under the mouth. Fold the two ends in to create arms at the sides of the cork.

4. Add extra embellishments such as craft feathers or craft fur to “dress up” the puppet.

5. Push the popsicle stick into the bottom of the cork. If your child struggles with this step, cut a small slit in the bottom with a pair of scissors for her to ease the stick in.