Thursday, August 11, 2011

Felt Puppet Fun

Good day to you all! Getting excited for the weekend? We have been super busy around here! Trying to get a few fun things in before our oldest goes back to school and then of course the neverending lists of projects that need to get done. There are so many things I want to share here that aren't quite ready. Some day soon, people (I hope!) We had a great day a the fair yesterday with beautiful weather and a fun time for the kids. The little man even got to enjoy his first cream puff.

Anyway, the title of my post was felt puppet fun and there must be a reason for that, right?! I'm not quite sure how this got started, but I have been making some felt puppets for the kids in my 'spare' (insert appropriate snort of laughter here) time. I think it had something to do with them wanting toys for things that there aren't a whole lot of toys for so I just started making some. Here is a pair a made;


I didn't really take any 'in progress' photos, but it's really quite simple. First, I took an ordinary piece of notebook paper and drew a pattern or outline of the puppet and cut it out with scissors. Second, I placed my paper pattern on top of two sheets of felt and cut the pattern out of the felt. Third, I decorated the top piece of the felt with other felt and glued on with hot glue. I used a good 'ol sharpie marker for some of the details. Finally, I sewed the two pieces of felt together with thread and needle. If you don't like the handsewn look you could use a sewing machine and if you don't like the look of the all around stitching you could sew your puppet inside out and then flip it back out when finished. This is the look I pictured in my head so this is how I did it.



The kids love these. Next, I would like to build this awesome puppet theater I saw in blogland made with the top of an old hutch. Of course, I have seen hutch tops tons of times at Goodwill, etc., but once I actually find something to do with one I can't find one anywhere. I will keep you posted on my hutch top quest. Have you made anything fun for the kids this summer? See you again soon I hope!