How to Make a Puppet (1953)

[Music] many boys and girls make puppets and have fun playing them here is a musician leading his orchestra this puppet was made by ruth anne clowns are fun to make too would you like to see how to make a puppet there are three main parts to this puppet the head the hands and the dress we will start out by making the head of our next puppet from a solid piece of plasticine the neck should be small to fit the second finger make a ridge in this way this ridge will hold the puppet's dress in place shape a nose in the middle of the puppet's head now make the eye sockets by pressing down make the mouth in this way we will need to make the features of the face stand out so we will put coils of the plasticine around the mouth and around the eyes rolled balls can be used for the eyes coils can also be used for ears now the head is ready to be covered this form is made just to build the puppet's head on now i will show you how to build the paper head first you'll need to tear the newspaper with your finger spread the paste on paper strips and start covering the plasticine cover the head this way this is the first covering broad strips will cover the neck and back use narrow strips to cover the eyes nose mouth and ears use a small stick to place the paper around the eyes and model be sure to cover the ridge around the neck but do not put strips of paper on the bottom this is the way the puppet's head will look after you have finished the first covering the second layer of paper should be a torn green sheet green or colored paper is used so you will know when you have covered the head completely the first layer does not need to be dry so start right in pasting the green strips on the head now repeat the covering with torn strips of paper toweling do it just as you did the newspaper and green sheep to make the puppets head real strong we can repeat these three coverings again the fourth will be of newspaper the fifth of green sheet and the sixth of paper toweling next shape the hand of your puppet like a mitt make a ridge at the wrist this ridge will hold the puppet sleeve in place the mitt should fit the thumb of your hand like this make the second hand the same way but make it fit the third finger this is done so that the head can be placed on the second finger in this way now cover the hands with six layers of torn paper strips the same way you did with the head be sure to cover the ridge but do not cover the end of the mitt the second covering will be the green sheet and the third paper toweling the fourth covering on the puppet's hand will be of newspaper and the fifth of green sheet and the sixth paper toweling now cover the second hand the same way you covered the first hand let the head and hands dry for at least two days after the head is dry cut it open beside the ears take the plasticine out and fit the two parts of the head together paste three layers of paper toweling crosswise to join these parts continue pasting strips of toweling on top and side of the head after the hands are dry cut them open lengthwise at the thumb then take the plasticine out of the hands fit the two parts together place three layers of paper toweling crosswise to join the parts now it is time to paint the puppet use poster paint you can use any color that you choose it is easier to paint the head and hands at the same time paint in the eyes and mouth have fun when you paint the face of your puppet create new colors and ideas to show expression many materials can be used for hair cotton string wool yarn or raffia try several on your puppet to see which you like best let's see how we make hair out of yarn by sewing it through the middle of each strand put paste on the head place hair on top of the head cut a paper pattern for the dress of your puppet be sure it is long enough to reach your elbow and wide enough to give room to play your puppet create your own collars hats belts or jackets to complete your puppet next take a piece of cloth about two feet long and one foot wide and fold in the pattern on the material with the neck at the fold cut around the pattern sew up both sides of the dress the bottom is left open for your arm to play your puppet fold back a cuff at the sleeve and sole place a gathering string through this cuff to hold the puppet's hand in place hold back the neck edge and sew place a drawstring in this fold so it can be gathered around the puppet's neck turn the dress right side out place the head in the neck of the dress draw the string and tie place the hand in the sleeve and pull the gathering string to fit elastic thread can be used as well as ordinary string here's the complete puppet ready to act on the puppet stage now let's see the front of the stage learn to move your puppet easily and use interesting colors and materials in making your puppets dress puppets make people of other lands seem more real to us many different kinds can be made make puppets to help you play out stories poems songs and dances or your own plots and interesting things that happen you see how easy it will be for you to make your own puppet and have a show what kind of a puppet will you make [Music] you