[manualidad en español]

DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Paper Bag Mouse Puppet

by Leanne Guenther

Children can make this cute little mouse puppet from a paper bag and our printable templates.
 

Materials:

• printer
• paper
• paper bag
• glue or tape
• scissors
• OPTIONAL:  grey paint

Instructions:

• Print out the template of choice.
• Color the pieces as appropriate and cut them out.  (cutting may require adult assistance and can be pre-done).
• See the picture above for how the puppet should look when complete.
   
  

GET FAMILIAR WITH YOUR PAPER BAG:

• Look at your paper bag.  It should be closed and flat like a piece of paper.  Just like when they are brand new.
• On one side, it's all smooth.  This will be the BACK of your puppet
  • It's important that all the kids get the back and front straight at the beginning!
• On the other side there's a flippy tab (which is typically the bottom of the bag when you're carrying your lunch around...)
  • This flippy tab will be the HEAD
     
• Lift the flippy tab up a bit.  Underneath of the tab will be the mouth,
  • When the child put's her hand in the bag, she'll be able to make the puppet talk.
• Look at the rest of the front of the bag.  (The 3/4 or so of the bag below the part with the flippy tab)  This will be the BODY.
• Look at the sides of the bag.  There should be a FLAP of paper. 
  • We'll be slipping the arms into this flap, though it isn't a big deal if they glue them right to the front of the body.

• OK, now that we're comfy with our bags, let's craft!

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:

• If desired, paint the paper bag grey and let dry completely.
• Print the template of choice and color in the pieces, as necessary.
• Cut out the template pieces  

• Fold the corners of the flippy tab under and glue/ tape them to make a triangular head shape.
• Glue or tape three strips of black paper (whiskers) to the end of the triangle.
• Glue or tape the nose onto the end of the triangle, overlapping the whiskers.
• Lift the flap/snout and glue the tongue on underneath it.
• Glue the eyes and ears onto the head.
• Glue the arms onto the bag.

Templates:

• Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
• Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).

Template 1   color   or   B&W

Template 2   color   or   B&W

Printable version