Make your own Little Owl stick puppets!
These Little Owl stick puppets are loads of fun to play with. Use them to tell your own stories about Little Owl and his adventures!
You can also use them as bookmarks. Or change them into fridge magnets by attaching magnets to the back of the owls instead of the craft sticks!
I have re-enforced the printed computer paper with cardboard using a similar method as the one I used for making the animal puzzle cards. For these stick puppets, I used thinner cardboard, because it is easier to cut around the shape of the owl that way. A layer of Modge Podge seals the front and back of the stick puppets to make them more durable for play.
How to make your Little Owl stick puppets:
You will need:
- The owl stick puppets printable sheet - printed on regular computer printing paper
- Sharp scissors
- A spray bottle filled with water
- A sheet of thin cardboard
- Some Modge Podge or other decoupage medium. (Available from your local craft shop)
- A flat paintbrush
- Craft sticks and/or small magnets
- Glue (eg. cold glue or Bostick)
Step 1: Cut out the owl shapes from the printed sheet, following the grey lines. (An adult should help very little ones with all cutting to prevent accidents!) It is easier to stick the smaller shapes to the cardboard. This also allows you to use smaller bits of cardboard for this project.
Step 2: Give the back of the owl shapes a very light spritz of water. Don't wet it too much - use just enough water to make the paper curl.
Step 3: Use your paintbrush to paint a thin layer of Modge Podge onto the cardboard. Make sure that you cover the entire surface evenly.
Step 4: Take your curling bits of paper and carefully place it onto the cardboard - right side facing upward. Smooth the paper down onto the cardboard, getting rid of any air bubbles with sweeping movements toward the side of the paper.
Step 5: Once your paper is stuck completely flat on the cardboard, you need to leave it to dry. Modge Podge dries quite quickly - but if you need to hurry the process along, you could also use a hairdryer on a low setting to dry the paper.
Step 6: Use your paintbrush to paint a layer of Modge Podge over your owls - this will seal the paper and create a nice finish. Leave to dry, then repeat. Two thin coats of Modge Podge over the owls should be enough. Once the front has dried, you could also seal the back of the owls (cardboard side) with Modge Podge if you like - this will make your owls extra durable.
Step 7: Use your scissors to cut through the cardboard, using the paper outlines of your owls as a guide.
Step 8: If you are making a stick puppet or bookmark, stick a craft stick to the back of each owl. If you prefer to make a magnet, stick two to three small magnets to the back of each owl. Depending on the glue you use, you may want to apply pressure by putting a book or other heavy object on top of your owls until the glue is completely dry.
Once the glue is dry, you can play with your Little Owl stick puppets or fridge magnets! They also make great gifts!