Fairy Tale Finger Puppets and Theater

To find the downloadable patterns click on the "GET PATTERNS" tab above.

DRAGON PUPPET

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Dark green, light green, yellow, orange, and red felt
• Fabric glue
• Fabric marker
• Chalk pastels
• Scissors

DIRECTIONS:

1. Print pattern provided. Cut 2 dragon body pieces and 1 of all other dragon pattern pieces from felt. Cut triangles along the outer edge of the dinosaur spike piece.
2. Layer 1 dragon body piece with spike piece. Glue in place. Layer the fire pieces and glue together. Outline the dragon body piece (except for the bottom) with glue. Layer the fire and then the second body piece on top.
3. Embellish the dragon with the cut triangles. Glue in place.
4. Finish the finger puppet by adding eyes and cheeks with fabric marker and chalk pastels.

HORSE PUPPET

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Dark brown, light brown, red, and pink felt
• Fabric glue
• Fabric marker
• Chalk pastels
• Scissors

DIRECTIONS:

1. Print pattern provided. Cut 2 horse body pieces and 1 of all other horse pattern pieces from felt. Cut fringe along the outer edge of the horse mane.
2. Layer 1 horse body piece with mane piece. Glue in place. Outline the horse body piece (except for the bottom) with glue. Layer the second body piece on top.
3. Layer horse nose and glue in place. Next, glue the harness and then the two horse ear pieces.
4. Finish the finger puppet by adding eyes and cheeks with fabric marker and chalk pastels. Add additional embellishments such as polkadots if desired.

KNIGHT PUPPET

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Dark grey, light grey, brown, red, white, and yellow felt
• Fabric glue
• Fabric marker
• Chalk pastels
• Scissors

DIRECTIONS:

1. Print pattern provided. Cut 2 knight body pieces, 2 sleeve pieces, and 1 of all other knight pattern pieces from felt. Using the shield pattern piece, cut half of a shield from white felt, and an additional square from yellow felt for the belt buckle.
2. Layer 1 knight body piece with sleeve pieces. Glue in place. Outline the knight body piece (except for the bottom) with glue. Place the second body piece on top.
3. Layer head, top helmet, bottom helmet, belt, and buckle. Glue in place. Add the shield, the half shield, and cross. Glue in place. Embellish helmet with small dark grey rectangles. Glue in place.
4. Finish the finger puppet by adding a face and cheeks with fabric marker and chalk pastels.

PRINCESS PUPPET

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Pink, yellow, brown, & light pink felt
• Tulle or chiffon
• Fabric glue
• Fabric marker
• Chalk pastels
• Scissors

DIRECTIONS:

1. Print pattern provided. Cut 2 princess body pieces, 2 sleeve pieces, and 1 of all other princess pattern pieces from felt.
2. Layer 1 princess body piece with two sleeve pieces. Glue in place. Outline the princess body piece (except for the bottom) with glue. Layer the second body piece on top.
3. Next, layer collar piece, princess head, hair, hat, and hat trim. Secure all of these with glue. Cut a small piece of tulle or a similar fabric into a triangle. Secure at the top of the hat by cutting a slit in the top and feeding it through. Tie in a knot.
4. Finish the finger puppet by adding eyes and cheeks with fabric marker and chalk pastels. Add additional embellishments such as flowers if desired.

FOAM BOARD PUPPET THEATER

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Foam or corrugate trifold board
• 2 yards solid cotton fabric
• 1 yard velvet fabric
• Acrylic paint and small brushes
• Self-sticking foam stars
• E76 Glue (or hot glue)
• Aleene’s Craft Glue or Fabric Tack
• Ruler or T-square
• Pencil
• Craft knife
• Scissors
• Dowel rods, 20" long
• Sewing machine

DIRECTIONS:

1. Draw 16"x 16" square on middle panel of board, several inches from the top. Cut out square with craft knife. Cut five 1"x 1" squares from excess board. Glue together 2 stacks of 3 squares and 2 stacks of 2 squares. Set aside and allow to dry.
2. Measure board and cut fabric to size, allowing for 2" extra on all sides. Lay board right side down on fabric. Generously apply glue to all inside edges. Starting with one shorter edge, fold fabric over onto glued surface. Press fabric gently into glue, working from the center out. Repeat on all sides of board. Fold wings in when applying fabric to shorter edges to allow wings to fold in after glue is dried.
3. When glue is dry, cut a small x in center of fabric that covers the window. Cut from center of x to each corner of window. Fold fabric in and glue tightly against window edges.
4. When fabric glue has dried completely, paint theatre details directly onto fabric with acrylic paint. Add foam stars.
5. Line up double 1" square stacks created earlier to top edge of window on the outer side of the theater. Glue stacks to theater and allow to dry. When dry, flip theater over. Line up triple 1" square stacks to top edge of window and glue in place. Allow to dry.
6. Cut 24"x 9" velvet panel for curtain valence. Sew 1" hem into bottom and sides of panel. Sew 2" hem on top of panel to create a channel for dowel rod.
7. Cut two 10"x 20" velvet panels. Sew 1" hem around bottom and sides fo panels. Sew 2" hem to top of panel to channel for dowel rods.
8. Cut two 8"x 4" velvet panels. Fold each panel in half horizontally (into 8"x 2"), right sides together. Sew long edge together. Reverse fabric to create fabric tube. Tuck in raw edges at one end. Insert raw edges of opposite end into tucked in end. Stitch ends together to create ring for curtain panel. Repeat for second curtain. Slip ring onto curtains to keep curtain gathered together during puppet show.
9. To hang curtains and valence, set theater up. Insert one dowel into valence and one dowel into curtain panels. Gather valence and curtains into center of dowels. Apply glue generously to top surface of board stacks. Set dowels onto top of stacks, valence in front of theater, curtains behind theater. Allow to dry completely.

JOANN HACKS:

• For faster drying, hot glue can be used to attached board stacks and dowels.
• Fabric glue should be used for applying fabric to board.