How to Make a Paper Bag Puppet Stage

Let's Make a Paper Bag Puppet Theater!

Want a fun, cheap craft project the whole family can enjoy? Making a paper bag puppet theater is awesome! It's perfect for kids – but grown-ups might find it fun too. We'll build the stage, design puppets, and create amazing backdrops. Get ready for some creative fun!

What You'll Need:

• A sturdy brown paper lunch bag: The bigger the bag, the bigger the stage!
• Scissors: Sharp ones are best for clean cuts.
• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils: To decorate everything!
• Glue or tape: To stick things together.
• Construction paper or cardstock: For the scenery and extra puppet bits.
• Optional: Googly eyes, yarn, buttons – anything to make your puppets extra special!
• Optional: Popsicle sticks or dowels to make your puppets easier to control.

Building Your Stage: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Get your bag ready: Lay the bag flat. Decide how tall you want your stage. You can trim the top if you want a shorter stage. It's up to you!
2. Cut out the stage opening: Carefully cut a rectangle in the front of the bag. This is where your puppets will perform. Make it big enough to see them clearly.
3. Decorate the outside: Time to get creative! Draw or paint a backdrop. A forest? A castle? Outer space? Let it dry completely before moving on.
4. Make a stage floor (optional): A small piece of cardboard or construction paper works great. This helps your puppets stand up nicely.
5. Create your scenery: Cut out trees, houses, mountains – whatever fits your theme. Use different colors and textures to make it interesting. Glue or tape it to the inside back of the bag. Remember to leave room for your puppets to move around!

Making Your Puppets:

Now for the fun part – the puppets! Here are some ideas:

1. Easy puppets: Cut out shapes (head, body, arms) from construction paper and glue them onto a smaller paper bag. Add details with markers. Attach a popsicle stick to the back.
2. Character puppets: Make your favorite characters! Use different colors, fabric scraps, and googly eyes.
3. Animal puppets: Cut out animal shapes, glue them onto construction paper, and attach them to popsicle sticks.
4. Object puppets: Make a car, a house, or a tree! Use different materials to add texture.

Tips for Awesome Backdrops:

• Pick a theme: A fairytale, a historical setting, or something modern – the choice is yours!
• Use layers: Put things at different distances to make it look more 3D.
• Mix textures: Use construction paper, fabric, tissue paper – even twigs and leaves!
• Add details: Little houses, cars, and trees make the scenery more fun.
• Lighting is key: A flashlight behind the stage adds drama!

Making Your Show Even Better:

• Sound effects: Use pots and pans, or find sound effects online.
• Music: Play some background music to set the mood.
• Tell a story: Create a simple story for your puppets to act out.
• Costumes: Make tiny hats and scarves for your puppets!
• Props: Make tiny furniture or tools for your puppets to use.

Show Ideas:

• Classic fairytales (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood…)
• Your own original stories!
• Animal adventures
• Historical events
• Stories about everyday life

Making a paper bag puppet theater is a great way to be creative and have fun. It's inexpensive and provides hours of entertainment. So gather your supplies, let your imagination run wild, and put on a show!