DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Paper Bag Vampire Puppet

This is a fun and easy cut and paste paper craft that uses a paper bag as a base to make a puppet.
 

Materials:

You can make a purple vampire or use different colors for a green, black or any other colored version if you feel like getting creative.

• a paper lunch bag (white or brown will work).
   
• purple paint or purple paper (or color of your choice if you're making a different colored vampire)
   
• a printer,
• some crayons,
• scissors,
• glue,
• paper
   

Optional:

• big wiggly eyes.
   

Print the Template:

• Print out the template of choice (color or b&w)
• Colour (as required) and cut out the template pieces.

GET FAMILIAR WITH YOUR PAPER BAG:

• I'm going to walk through this slowly.  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 puts 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 (template 2) into this flap.
  • If the kids goof and glue the arms onto the front or back of the bag, it isn't a big deal.
• OK, now that we're comfy with our bags, let's craft!
   

ASSEMBLING YOUR PUPPET

• Purple vampire: Cover the BODY and BACK paper bag with purple paper (just glue it on and trim) or paint the paper bag purple and let dry.
• Glue the mouth underneath the flippy tab so you can see a tiny part of it sticking out when the flap is closed.
  Glue the teeth under the flippy tab so they stick out when the flap is closed.
• Glue the ears behind the HEAD.
• Glue the hair at the top of the HEAD.
• Glue the eyes onto the HEAD just under the hair. If you like, you can use wiggly eyes instead of the paper template pieces.
• Glue the oval nose under the eyes.
• Glue the arms into the FLAP.
• Glue the bat onto the chest.
   

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   (color)   or   (B&W)

 

 

Printable version of these instructions