How to Make a Paper Bag Puppet Show for a Special Occasion

Looking for a fun and cheap way to entertain kids (or adults!)? Try a paper bag puppet show! With a little creativity, you can make a show everyone will love. This guide shows you how to make a paper bag puppet show, from ideas to the final act. We’ll check out easy paper crafts for all skill levels. Plus, we'll look at basic puppetry to help your characters come alive.

Why a Paper Bag Puppet Show?

Why is a paper bag puppet show great for a special occasion? Here’s why:

• Cheap: Paper bags are cheap and easy to find. You might already have some! Other stuff is cheap too. It’s a great way to save money.
• Easy: It's easy to make, even for little kids. They can help!
• You Choose: You pick the characters, story, and stage. Make it fit your party!
• Fun and Active: Puppet shows grab people's attention. Ask questions or sing songs to get them involved.
• Easy to Move: The puppet theater is easy to carry. Great for parties, classrooms, or just about anywhere.
• Get Creative: Making puppets and writing the story lets you be creative. It’s good for your crafts and art skills!

Plan Your Show: Setting the Scene

First, plan your paper bag puppet show. Pick a theme, write a story, and get your stuff. Think about these things to make a great show for your special occasion.

1. Pick a Theme

Your theme should match your special occasion. Here are some ideas:

• Birthday: A story about friendship or adventure. Maybe solving a problem together.
• Holiday: Tell a holiday story or make up a new one.
• Learning: Use puppets to teach about history, science, or how to get along.
• Just Because: Go wild! Make a funny or sweet story.

2. Write the Story (or a Plan)

You don’t have to write every word, especially if you want to make things up as you go. But a plan helps! Think about these things:

• Characters: Who are the main characters? What are they like?
• Setting: Where does the story happen? Make a background to show where it is.
• Story: What problem do the characters have to solve? What happens to fix it?
• Words: What do the characters say? Write down some important lines.
• Ending: How does the story end? What did everyone learn?

Make sure the story is good for the age of your audience. Add jokes, music, and fun sounds!

3. Get Your Stuff

Here’s what you need for your paper bag puppet show:

• Paper Bags: Get bags big enough for your hand. Brown lunch bags are good, or use colors.
• Paper: For making eyes, noses, hair, and clothes.
• Markers, Crayons, or Paint: For coloring your puppets.
• Glue or Tape: To stick things together.
• Scissors: To cut out shapes.
• Yarn: For hair or decoration.
• Googly Eyes (Optional): To make the puppets silly.
• Fabric (Optional): For clothes or extras.
• Cardboard Box: To make the puppet theater.
• More Fabric or Paper: To decorate the theater.
• Pencils: To draw your puppet ideas.

Make Your Puppets: Crafts to Bring Characters to Life

Now for the fun part: making your paper bag puppets! This is where you get to be creative. Here’s how:

1. Draw Your Puppets

Before you cut, draw what you want your puppets to look like. Think about:

• What They Look Like: What makes each character special?
• How They Feel: How can you show their feelings with their faces?
• What They Wear: What clothes and special things do they have?

2. Make the Head

The bottom of the bag is the puppet’s head. That’s where you put the face. Here’s how:

1. Flatten the bottom of the bag. Make it smooth for decorating.
2. Decide where the mouth will be. Near the fold is good.
3. Make a mouth that moves (if you want). Cut a flap in the bottom of the bag. You can move it with your fingers inside.

3. Add a Face

Now add the face to make your puppet alive. Use paper, markers, and other things for eyes, noses, mouths, and hair.

• Eyes: Cut out paper circles or use googly eyes. Draw the black part in the middle.
• Nose: Cut out a paper triangle or oval. Or, crumple paper into a ball and glue it on.
• Mouth: Draw a mouth or cut one out. If you made a mouth that moves, make sure it lines up with the flap.
• Hair: Use yarn or paper strips for hair. Glue it to the top of the bag.

4. Add Clothes

Finish your puppet with clothes. Use fabric or paper to make outfits that show what the character is like.

• Clothes: Cut out shapes for shirts or dresses. Glue them to the bag.
• Extras: Add hats, glasses, or other things to make them special.

5. Paper Crafts are Alive!

Paper crafts are easy and fun. Try different things to make your puppets unique. Show the character’s personality with how they look.

Build Your Puppet Theater

A puppet show needs a stage! Making a paper bag puppet theater is easy and makes the show better. Here’s how to build one:

1. Pick a Theater Style

You can make a puppet theater lots of ways. Here are some:

• Cardboard Box: Cut a hole in the front of a box. Decorate it with paint or paper.
• Tabletop: Put a sheet over a table.
• Doorway: Hang a sheet in a doorway.

2. Build the Theater

Let’s make a cardboard box theater:

1. Find a box. The size depends on your puppets.
2. Cut a hole in the front. Make it big enough to see the puppets but small enough to hide the people.
3. Tape the edges of the hole. This keeps the cardboard from ripping.

3. Decorate

Decorate your theater to match your show. Use paint, fabric, and paper to make it look good.

• Paint the box. Add patterns if you want.
• Cover the box with fabric or paper.
• Add curtains.
• Make a background that shows where the story happens.

Put on the Show: Puppetry Tips

Time for the show! Here are some puppetry tips to make your characters come alive:

1. Make Puppets Move

Good puppetry means moving your puppets in a real way. Try these:

• Walking: Move the puppet back and forth.
• Talking: Open and close the mouth when they talk.
• Yes and No: Move the head up and down or side to side.
• Gestures: Use the arms to show what they are saying.

2. Use Your Voice

Your voice makes your puppets special. Use different voices to show their personalities.

• Try different voices. High, low, or squeaky voices.
• Use accents.
• Change your voice to show feelings.

3. Talk to the Audience

Good puppet shows talk to the audience. Ask questions, sing songs, and look at them.

• Ask questions about the story.
• Sing songs in the show.
• Look at the audience.
• React to what the audience does.

4. Practice

The more you practice, the better your show will be. Try the story, move the puppets, and get advice from others. Puppetry gets better with practice.

Add Effects and Music

Make your paper bag puppet show even better with effects and music. These make the show more fun.

1. Sound Effects

Use sounds to make the story better. You can use your voice, instruments, or things around you.

• Footsteps: Tap your fingers or use a drum.
• Door Slam: Clap your hands.
• Animal Sounds: Make animal noises.
• Wind: Blow into a microphone or use a fan.

2. Lighting

Use light to make the stage look special. You can use flashlights or colored lights.

• Spotlight: Use a flashlight to focus on a character.
• Colored Lights: Use colored lights to show feelings. Blue is sad, red is exciting.

3. Music

Use music to set the mood. You can use songs or play instruments.

• Pick music that fits the show.
• Use music to change between scenes.
• Use music to make important parts better.

Tips for a Great Show

Here are some tips to make your paper bag puppet show great:

• Keep it short. Kids don’t pay attention for long, so 15-20 minutes is good.
• Be excited! Your excitement will help the audience like the show.
• Don’t worry about mistakes. Just keep going and have fun!
• Have fun! If you have fun, the audience will too.

Making a paper bag puppet show is fun and creative. Use these tips and your imagination to make a great show for everyone. Get ready to use crafts and puppetry to make your party special!