We’ve long loved making puppets and today we’re sharing a whole bunch of our favorites from the blog archives! While everyone is staying home, making puppets is a super fun activity to keep busy with. Not only is it fun to craft the puppets and customize them however you like, but afterward kids can write stories, scripts, songs, and even choreograph dances for the puppets to perform. Keep reading for a whole bunch of ideas!

Dancing Daisy Pasta Puppet

Celebrate spring with this cheerful dancing daisy! We used a handful of pasta noodles for the daisy’s stem, but you could also use cut up paper straws if that’s what you have on hand.

Rabbit in the Hat Pop-Up Puppet

Not only can you put on a puppet show with this friendly rabbit, but a magic show too! Use duct tape and scraps of felt to put this disappearing cutie together.

Printable Pink Flamingo Puppet

Making a marionette has never been easier – just print out the free file, cut it out, and assemble!

Easy Upcycled Paper Doll Puppets

Turn paper towel rolls and scraps of paper into these playful puppets! Make little outfits for them of collars, crowns, and hats – don’t they look ready for a party?

Unicorn Puppet

This pink unicorn will be ready to prance, gallop, and trot around your home in no time! Utilize paper straws, a toilet paper roll, beads, and pipe cleaners to assemble this puppet.

Monster Hand Puppets

If you have a microfiber chenille glove or cloth in your cleaning supply, this silly monster puppet comes together in mere seconds. Plus, you might get some dusting done while the puppet show is going on!

How to Make a Light-Up Shoebox Theater

These penguins are ready for their big debut! With a shoebox, string lights, and wooden skewers, you can make your own completely custom theater too, featuring whatever animals you like!

DIY Ice Cream Cone Puppet

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream … puppets! This yarn-wrapped puppet is adorable and uses supplies you likely already have at home.

Pom Pom Monster Puppet Pals

Turn pom poms into puppets and have them dance and parade around your house!

Rainbow Paper Plate Puppet

Grab a spare paper plate and turn it into this cheerful rainbow puppet – he’s sure to brighten even the cloudiest of days.