Making Finger Puppets

Get Arty! with Mencap and AccessArt

AccessArt and Mencap have got three great ways for you to make finger puppets depending on your time or level of expertise. Starting with a simple print, colour, cut and stick and moving on to a full blown sculptural version, we hope you are inspired to make some puppets and possibly put on a show!

Version One: Keep it Simple!

These are the simplest finger puppets to make – we’ve done lots of the work for you but left enough opportunity for children to make the puppets their own.

You will need:

  • Printed card versions of the templates.
  • Sellotape
  • Glue sticks
  • Scissors
  • Pens and pencils

1. Print out the templates below.

Easy finger puppets template 2
Easy finger puppets template 2

 

2. Cut strips of card to make the finger bands. Each strip should be 1cm x 6 cm. Roll these strips into hoops and secure with tape.

Stick the finger band on the back
Stick the finger band on the back

 

3. Cut out and colour the finger puppets. Add fabric and string if you wish.

4. Stick the finger bands on the back and you’re ready to go!

Rabbit finger puppet
Rabbit finger puppet

 


Version Two: Mix it up!

Croc finger puppet
Croc!

In this version children can really begin to experiment by creating their own characters and using different materials and textures.

You will need:

  • Thin coloured card
  • Pens, pencils
  • Scissors
  • PVA glue or glue sticks
  • Sellotape
  • Scraps of fabric and wool
  1. Begin by cutting a thin stip of card (approximately 1cm x 6cm) to make the band which goes around your finger. Curl it into a circle and secure with tape.

Making the finger band
Making the finger band

 

2. Next cut another shape out of paper which is slightly larger than your finger. This is the basis of your finger puppet, so think carefully about what kind of shape you want it to be? Will it be upright like a person, or have a large tall neck like a giraffe. Or might it have a big mouth like a crocodile?

Cut a second shape to form the puppet itself
Cut a second shape to form the puppet itself

 

3. Stick the puppet to the finger band, and decorate with whatever you can find!

4. If you don’t want to draw a puppet you could also look for animals and people to cut out of magazines.

Cut out finger puppet
Cut out finger puppet

 

Finger band stuck on the back of the puppet
Finger band stuck on the back of the puppet

 

Caveman, deer and crocodile!
Caveman, deer and crocodile!

 


Version Three: Get Modrocking!

Modroc finger puppet
Modroc finger puppet

 

Ok, so if you’re feeling like a bit of fun and have more time, please do consider making these more sculptural finger puppets! They provide children with a great opportunity to get to grips with some sculptural techniques and you’ll have somefantastic puppets to create puppet shows with. Allow at least 2 hours to make this version.

You will need:

  • Modroc (see this post for information about how to use modroc)
  • Scissors
  • Egg boxes
  • Cling Film
  • PVA Glue
  • Sellotape
  • Fabric and wool scraps
  • Waterbased paint
  • Access to water
  • Small pots and cartoons to soak modroc.

 

  1. Start by cutting up the modroc into strips which are about 8 cm wide. Make sure you keep the modroc dry. Find tips on working with modroc here.

Modroc cut into strips
Modroc cut into strips

 

2. Take an egg box. You are going to use the upright sections of the box as moulds around which to make your finger puppets.

Egg box with upright sections
Egg box with upright sections

 

3. Wrap the upright sections in cling film, and secure with a piece of tape. If you have a large class of yound children you might want to do this preparation in advance. The cling film makes its easier to remove the finished finger puppet from the cardboard egg box.

Clingfilm wrapped round upright sections
Clingfilm wrapped round upright sections

 

4. Dip a piece of modroc into clean water. Squeeze the modroc to remove some of the water, and then wrap the modroc around the upright section of the egg box. Try to keep the modroc even, and remember to cover the top too. Aim to use 2 or 3 layers of modroc over the whole upright section.

Modelling modroc around the upright sections
Modelling modroc around the upright sections

 

5. Now you can start to add more modroc to make the shapes you need to give the finger puppet character. You can cut the modroc into smaller pieces whilst it is still dry to help you make ears and noses etc. Use small pieces of modroc like tape to help attach elements. use your fingers to really smooth the modroc together – this will help make the finished puppet really strong.

6. Allow the modroc to set (30 minutes). You can then paint the finger puppet with waterbased paints, and add further detail with found materials and pva glue.

Painting the modroc
Painting the modroc

 

7. Once the whole thing is dry, carefully remove from the egg box. Pull our any cling film which has stayed inside the puppet.

Puppet taken off the mould
Puppet taken off the mould

 

Horse
Horse

 

8. If the finger puppet is a little large for your finger, you can always put a little fabric or sponge inside to help it fit.

9. Enjoy!

Lady, Dog, Bird
Lady, Dog, Bird

 

Once your puppets are made why don’t you think about putting on a puppet show for your classmates!


Mencap


UK Charity AccessArt welcomes artists, educators, teachers and parents both in the UK and overseas.

We believe everyone has the right to be creative and by working together and sharing ideas we can enable everyone to reach their creative potential.

Get Arty!

Get Arty! with Mencap & AccessArt!

Get Arty! with Mencap & AccessArt!

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With Get Arty!

With Get Arty!

World in a Box

With Get Arty!

With Get Arty!


Visual Arts Planning: Exploring Line

Continuous Line Drawings (Squiggle Drawings) of Sticks

A great warm-up exercise for all ages - whatever their level of experience, continuous line drawings are a very useful way to get children (and adults) to tune into their subject matter and quieten ready for drawing. A great warm-up exercise for all ages – whatever their level of experience, continuous line drawings are a very useful way to get children (and adults) to tune into their subject matter and quieten ready for drawing.

Drawing hands

Another warm-up exercise that can be done anywhere! Drawing your own or someone else's hand in continuous line can be a very useful way to explore concave shapes for scuptural/making projects such as nests and bowls. Another warm-up exercise that can be done anywhere! Drawing your own or someone else’s hand in continuous line can be a very useful way to explore concave shapes for scuptural/making projects such as nests and bowls.

Warm-Up Drawing Exercise: Drawing Spirals

A great warm-up/ice breaker to use at the start of a drawing workshop for both adults and children. As well as getting participants to start making marks on the paper without worry or mental blocks, this simple exercise aims to introduce participants to the idea that drawing and mark making comes from the finger tip, wrist, elbow, shoulder and whole body. A great warm-up/ice breaker to use at the start of a drawing workshop for both adults and children. As well as getting participants to start making marks on the paper without worry or mental blocks, this simple exercise aims to introduce participants to the idea that drawing and mark making comes from the finger tip, wrist, elbow, shoulder and whole body.

Quick Drawing Exercise: Helping Children to Draw Larger!

A quick 5minute drawing exercise to encourage children to work large and make their drawing fill the page. A quick 5minute drawing exercise to encourage children to work large and make their drawing fill the page.

Right Hand, Left Hand – Non Dominant Hand Drawing Exercise

Practising drawing with your ‘none dominant’ hand, (right hand if you are left handed, left hand if you are right handed), can be a useful strategy for loosening up and for experimenting with the potential of mark making without worrying about the outcome. Another excellent ice-breaker for accessing drawing processes across all mediums. Practising drawing with your ‘none dominant’ hand, (right hand if you are left handed, left hand if you are right handed), can be a useful strategy for loosening up and for experimenting with the potential of mark making without worrying about the outcome. Another excellent ice-breaker for accessing drawing processes across all mediums.

Making a Shy Drawing – Drawing Exercises for Beginners

This resource shares unusual yet accessible drawing exercises for beginners. How can we change the nature of the drawings we make - how would we make a “shy” drawing? These exercises and suggestions provide a focus which enables pupils and teachers to explore different aspects of making a drawing, including sound, action and intention. This resource shares unusual yet accessible drawing exercises for beginners. How can we change the nature of the drawings we make – how would we make a “shy” drawing? These exercises and suggestions provide a focus which enables pupils and teachers to explore different aspects of making a drawing, including sound, action and intention.

Drawing Minibeasts – using a continuous line, graphite and oil pastel

Using images of insects as inspiration, children make 4minute continuous line drawings in pen as a warm-up exercise to encourage close looking and to get their fingers moving. Using images of insects as inspiration, children make 4minute continuous line drawings in pen as a warm-up exercise to encourage close looking and to get their fingers moving.

One Line Street Scene: A Visualisation Warm Up Drawing exercise

Another fun variation on the continuous line warm-up exercise: children made a drawing consisting of a single line, which started at the left hand side of the page, and finished at the right hand side. The subject matter was a street scene, which they visualised by listening to details of the buildings/objects that they would meet. The results were beautiful and the children enjoyed their journey! Another fun variation on the continuous line warm-up exercise: children made a drawing consisting of a single line, which started at the left hand side of the page, and finished at the right hand side. The subject matter was a street scene, which they visualised by listening to details of the buildings/objects that they would meet. The results were beautiful and the children enjoyed their journey!

Simple Perspective Art Lesson for Young Children

Following on from the above exercise, this resource introduces children (aged 6 to 10) to the basics of perspective in relation to drawing architecture. They learn some simple rules of perspective drawing, before being given plenty of opportunity to develop their drawings on their own. Following on from the above exercise, this resource introduces children (aged 6 to 10) to the basics of perspective in relation to drawing architecture. They learn some simple rules of perspective drawing, before being given plenty of opportunity to develop their drawings on their own.

Making a Blind Contour Drawing

This is a classic drawing exercise to use with all ages This is a classic drawing exercise to use with all ages & all abilities and helps you focus upon careful looking, without the worry of what your drawing looks like. In this resource we describe the process and suggest some suitable subject matter and drawing materials.

Minimalising: Using Simple Line Drawings to Explore Sculptural Form

Teenagers explore form using a reductive or minimalising approach to drawing. They were encouraged to create a series of drawings in quick succession, using a limited number of lines to record their objects. For each subsequent drawing, they dropped a line, starting with a seven line drawing and working down to a drawing in one line. This exercise was to get students thinking about essential, sculptural elements in their constructions and drawings. Teenagers explore form using a reductive or minimalising approach to drawing. They were encouraged to create a series of drawings in quick succession, using a limited number of lines to record their objects. For each subsequent drawing, they dropped a line, starting with a seven line drawing and working down to a drawing in one line. This exercise was to get students thinking about essential, sculptural elements in their constructions and drawings.

Exercise to Introduce Foreshortening and Volume in Line Drawings

This workshop introduces children aged 10 to 13 to foreshortening but can be adapted for groups or individuals and is appropriate for all age groups. The activity enables students to find a way to facilitate the development of volume in their line drawings. They work ‘small and quick’ to encourage ‘doing without thinking’ (and worrying!). This workshop introduces children aged 10 to 13 to foreshortening but can be adapted for groups or individuals and is appropriate for all age groups. The activity enables students to find a way to facilitate the development of volume in their line drawings. They work ‘small and quick’ to encourage ‘doing without thinking’ (and worrying!).

Tackling Still Life for Children Part 1 – Continuous Line Drawing

In the first of a three part workshop on painting a still life, children gain familiarity with the objects by making continuous line drawings. As well as tuning into the subject matter, the drawing exercises also encourage the children to consider the shape and dimensions of the canvases right from the start. In the first of a three part workshop on painting a still life, children gain familiarity with the objects by making continuous line drawings. As well as tuning into the subject matter, the drawing exercises also encourage the children to consider the shape and dimensions of the canvases right from the start.

Drawing Skulls in Black Pen

This workshop on drawing skulls was about looking and the re-examination of marks and lines. Students used black pen to create continuous line drawings on A1 paper. This workshop on drawing skulls was about looking and the re-examination of marks and lines. Students used black pen to create continuous line drawings on A1 paper.

Still Life Drawing in a Cubist Style Using Carbon Paper

A fun workshop and a great way to study still life and explore Cubist ideas of ‘temporal frames’ and drawing ‘time and space’. Different views of the same glass objects are captured through drawings made with carbon paper, to produce a composite drawing of a still life. A fun workshop and a great way to study still life and explore Cubist ideas of ‘temporal frames’ and drawing ‘time and space’. Different views of the same glass objects are captured through drawings made with carbon paper, to produce a composite drawing of a still life.

Inspired by Google Earth: Drawing

A session suitable for all ages, continuous line drawings are used to gather information taking inspiration was taken from Google earth images. A variety of media were then explored to extend and develop the drawings, A session suitable for all ages, continuous line drawings are used to gather information taking inspiration was taken from Google earth images. A variety of media were then explored to extend and develop the drawings,

Drawing and Making Flowers

A beautifully structured resource which shares how drawing can be used to enable children to familarise themselves with flower anatomy. Children are given the opportunity to develop their observations and ideas in three dimensions by making flowers with paper and wire. A beautifully structured resource which shares how drawing can be used to enable children to familarise themselves with flower anatomy. Children are given the opportunity to develop their observations and ideas in three dimensions by making flowers with paper and wire.

Quentin Blake’s Drawings as Inspiration!

Taking Quentin Blake’s drawings as a starting point for simple exercises, children make drawings from life using line and explore how they might use exaggeration as a tool to help them convey the intention of their drawing. During the session, the children are encouraged to take risks and try new ways of working. Taking Quentin Blake’s drawings as a starting point for simple exercises, children make drawings from life using line and explore how they might use exaggeration as a tool to help them convey the intention of their drawing. During the session, the children are encouraged to take risks and try new ways of working.

Inspired by Henri Matisse – Repetitive Life Drawing Exercise

This workshop encourages students to challenge pre-conceived ideas of what a drawing should be or what finished drawings should look like. By making drawings of each other they can experiment with line and expression, inspired by the working practice of Henri Matisse, who often drew an object or life pose many times in succession. This workshop encourages students to challenge pre-conceived ideas of what a drawing should be or what finished drawings should look like. By making drawings of each other they can experiment with line and expression, inspired by the working practice of Henri Matisse, who often drew an object or life pose many times in succession.

Red to Green: Patterns in Nature, Line and Wire

One of a series of workshops by Accessart at Red2Green using drawing to explore designs and patterns in nature, followed by a making session using wire to extend ideas into 3D. One of a series of workshops by Accessart at Red2Green using drawing to explore designs and patterns in nature, followed by a making session using wire to extend ideas into 3D.

Drawing Insects in Wire and Tracing Shadows in Black Pen

Students use modelling wire to ‘draw’ an insect from their first drawings in black pen. The purpose of this exercise was to help them see and draw form and to think about the quality of line achievable in black pen. It was also an exercise in simple abstraction or simplification of subject matter. Students use modelling wire to ‘draw’ an insect from their first drawings in black pen. The purpose of this exercise was to help them see and draw form and to think about the quality of line achievable in black pen. It was also an exercise in simple abstraction or simplification of subject matter.

Drawing with Wire

Teenagers in AccessArt's Experimental Drawing Class explore drawing their bodies with wire. They were asked to think about how they feel physically from within and try and find a way of expressing that with wire. The exercise was about finding a way to ‘represent’ physical sensations using form. Teenagers in AccessArt’s Experimental Drawing Class explore drawing their bodies with wire. They were asked to think about how they feel physically from within and try and find a way of expressing that with wire. The exercise was about finding a way to ‘represent’ physical sensations using form.

Drawing with Wire like Calder, and Backwards Forwards Sketching

An exciting resource based on the work of Alexander Calder. Children make drawings of their own toys, which are then interpreted in fine wire – an introduction to the tricky business of drawing in space! An exciting resource based on the work of Alexander Calder. Children make drawings of their own toys, which are then interpreted in fine wire – an introduction to the tricky business of drawing in space!

Standing Up! – Making Vertical Sculptures and Working from the Base

Teenagers are challenged to create sculpture that was able to stand up and to explore how tall the sculpture could be before it fell down. They experimented with elegant solutions to make their wire forms stand, considering also the relationship between its base and the surface it was standing on. This was also an opportunity to explore construction materials and finding the right materials for the job. Teenagers are challenged to create sculpture that was able to stand up and to explore how tall the sculpture could be before it fell down. They experimented with elegant solutions to make their wire forms stand, considering also the relationship between its base and the surface it was standing on.
This was also an opportunity to explore construction materials and finding the right materials for the job.

Reaching the Limit: Making Tall Sculptures and Stretching Materials

Following on from working with the vertical in Standing Up! – Introducing the Vertical and Working from the Base, students were pushed to further develop their understanding of sculptural relationships such as balance, the object’s relationship with the ground and how to build elegant, vertical structures. They were set the challenge of building a sculpture or structure, which was as tall or taller then themselves, working with basic (and quite flimsy) construction materials, in an hour. Following on from working with the vertical in Standing Up! – Introducing the Vertical and Working from the Base, students were pushed to further develop their understanding of sculptural relationships such as balance, the object’s relationship with the ground and how to build elegant, vertical structures. They were set the challenge of building a sculpture or structure, which was as tall or taller then themselves, working with basic (and quite flimsy) construction materials, in an hour.

Landscape Sculptures in Wire and Mixed Media: Working Through Ideas

Teenagers work from the theme of landscape exploring rhythm and movement in wire, drawing from their sculptures and making simultaneously. They were introduced to modelling wire and modroc as construction materials - paper, drawing and collaging materials were also readily available. Teenagers work from the theme of landscape exploring rhythm and movement in wire, drawing from their sculptures and making simultaneously. They were introduced to modelling wire and modroc as construction materials – paper, drawing and collaging materials were also readily available.

Withy Sculptures

Traditionally used for basket weaving and garden sculpture, withies, or willow sticks, are a versatile construction material, ideal for exploring sculptural form and ‘drawing in space’ with line. Traditionally used for basket weaving and garden sculpture, withies, or willow sticks, are a versatile construction material, ideal for exploring sculptural form and ‘drawing in space’ with line.

Drawing with Wire: The Polymeric Approach by Julie de Bastion

Artist Julie de Bastion shares a wonderful workshop that enabled participants to create a “drawing within a drawer” making delightful “Story Boxes” involving 3D drawing with flexible black wire, and drawing with mono-printing. Artist Julie de Bastion shares a wonderful workshop that enabled participants to create a “drawing within a drawer” making delightful “Story Boxes” involving 3D drawing with flexible black wire, and drawing with mono-printing.

Drawing Space/Drawing in Space

In Western art, we use the term ‘negative space’ to talk about the areas between objects on the page/canvas but this tends to convey quite a static idea of space. There is a Japanese word, ‘ma‘ (間), that suggests a more evocative and dynamic spatial experience and it was this concept that inspired this workshop, in which teenagers made three dimensional line drawings to explore the space around them. In Western art, we use the term ‘negative space’ to talk about the areas between objects on the page/canvas but this tends to convey quite a static idea of space. There is a Japanese word, ‘ma‘ (間), that suggests a more evocative and dynamic spatial experience and it was this concept that inspired this workshop, in which teenagers made three dimensional line drawings to explore the space around them.

Teachers Explore ‘Line and Shape’ at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge with AccessArt

In the spring and summer of 2016, Paula Briggs and Sheila Ceccarelli from AccessArt and Kate Noble from the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge to create and deliver a series of InSET sessions (in-service-training) for primary school teachers. The aim was to fuse top Museum Education practice with practical, hands on learning in Fine Art disciplines including: drawing, printmaking, sketchbooks, collage and sculpture. In the spring and summer of 2016, Paula Briggs and Sheila Ceccarelli from AccessArt and Kate Noble from the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge to create and deliver a series of InSET sessions (in-service-training) for primary school teachers.
The aim was to fuse top Museum Education practice with practical, hands on learning in Fine Art disciplines including: drawing, printmaking, sketchbooks, collage and sculpture.


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Mayan Tabletop Eraser Printing Project


Make a Stitched Drawing of a House in an Hour


Making Paper Masks for Carnival and Mardi Gras


InSET Day at Welland Academy: Exploring Printmaking Processes


Aluminium Foil Printing by Paul Carney


“Plasticine Models & Decorated Plinths ” Inspired by the Book ‘Dirty Beasts’ by Roald Dahl & illustrated by Quentin Blake

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