Easy Finger Puppets

Many of you know that in addition to my 3-year-old daughter, I also have my two nieces here all week. They are 2-1/2 and almost 4. I’m always trying to think of activities that will stimulate their creativity rather than just entertain them. And of course, I’m always looking for frugal options.

This post is slightly off-topic for me but I think it relates enough that it’s worth sharing. I wanted to make some puppets for the girls. However, I wasn’t willing to involve the time it would take to make real ones so I searched the internet for some simpler ideas. We’ve made paper bag puppets before but I was looking for something that would hold up a little longer than, oh say, 5 minutes. I didn’t find anything that really jumped out at me and that’s when this idea popped in my head.

Easy Finger Puppets

I have quite a bit of kid fabric, mostly small pieces leftover from projects so, as usual, this project is made completely with supplies found in my home, costing me nothing.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fabric with characters/animals printed on it
• Sewing supplies
• Scrap of felt

Here’s what you do:

1.) Cut the character out of the fabric with a little extra room around all sides, especially the bottom.

2.) Sew the bottom edge under, containing the raw edge.

3.) Cut a piece of felt the same size as your piece of fabric.

4.) Lay the fabric on the felt, facing down.

5.) Sew around your character. Back-stitch at beginning and end. Be sure the base of your puppet is appropriately sized for the fingers it should fit. I just guessed. Basically, make the finger opening slightly narrower than the rest of the puppet.

6.) Cut off all the excess, close to the seam.

7.) Turn it right side out and put on a puppet show!

Why I do what I do ~ Chloe has a special blanket that she sleeps with. It’s one of those little ones that’s satin on one side and soft on the other and it has a bear head in the middle. We call it her blanket bear. She’s been attached to it since she was 6 weeks old. Last night she was talking to blanket bear before bed. (I am the voice of blanket bear) She asked blanket bear what his/her (gender frequently changes) name is. Blanket bear said he/she didn’t know. “I know!” she said. “Your name is Carpet!” I tried my best not to react as her face lighted up at her brilliant idea. How on earth did she come up with that?????

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Tagged as: Family Life, Parenting, Sewing