Puppet heads
Some glove puppets have separate heads. When you use these puppets, slip
your hand into the glove first. Then put on the head.
To make a glove body for these puppet heads, use the pattern on page
265. Instead of making a head, draw a straight neck on the pattern, as
shown here. Glue the edges, as shown by the dotted line. Make little
cuts up to the glue line, as shown.
Paper-cup head
Cut a hole about the size of a marble in the side of a paper cup (see
inside cuts, page 37). This hole will become the nose. Draw or glue
on eyes, ears, a mouth, and yarn hair (see page 267) To put on the head,
stick your first finger into the cup and through the hole. The end of
your finger becomes the nose and helps you hold the head
Papier-mache puppet head
You can also turn newspaper into a puppet head. The project on page 98
shows you how.
Styrofoam puppet head
Start with a 3-inch (7.5-cm) Styrofoam ball. You can buy these balls in
variety and craft stores. Turn your scissors around and around in the
ball to dig a hole that will fit your first finger. Don\’t dig all the
way through the ball.
If you want to make stiff animal ears, push pieces of cardboard into the
ball.
Use plain white paper to make strip papier-mache (see strip
papier-mache, page 88). Cover the head, but not the hole, with four
layers of strips.
To make the nose, soak tiny pieces of paper in papier-mache paste.
Squeeze the pieces into a lump and stick them to the face. Let dry.
Paint the face with tempera paint (see tempera paint, page 66).
Paint or glue on eyes and a mouth. Add felt ears and yarn hair (see page
267).
Yarn hair
To make yarn hair, lay a piece of yarn over your puppet’s head. Cut it
off at the length you want. Then cut twenty to forty pieces of yarn this
length. Tie the yarn together in the middle. Put the knot on top of the
puppet’s head and pin it in place. Glue each strand of hair to the head.
Or, sew the knot in place and leave the hair loose. Take out the pin and
give your puppet a haircut.
