Nothing perks up a dull night like a few shadow puppets. If you have clumsy hands like me hand puppets are not an option. Using the idea from Chinese shadow puppetry, we can create a simple cut out of your favorite themes and put on a play straight out of your imagination.
Optional: printer
Cardstock
Popsicle sticks
Glue
Scissors
Flashlight or source of light.
Blank wall or sheet
(For more an advance puppetry, one that has moving parts, you will need Brass Paper Fasteners)
Before you can start tracing or stencilling, first you need to come up with an idea or topic of your play. (For this demonstration, the theme is cats)
If you don't want to freestyle your characters, go ahead and print them out. (Remember to obey copyright laws.) You want to trace or freestyle the characters onto the cardstock. You want the basic outline, this will be all that's seen on the "big screen" aka wall. To ensure you can clearly see the outline, create the puppets fairly big (slightly bigger than your hand).
After your characters are outlined cut them out.**
Glue popsicles sticks to the back of each character.
Once they are dried, it is time to put on your show.
Find your wall or pin up a sheet as your screen. Place the light source about 2 feet away (you want to ensure your puppets are well seen on the screen so adjust light source if need be.) Using the puppets in front of your light source, begin your story and enjoy.
**For the advance puppetry
You cut off the part you wish to move. In my example of the cats, I cut the tail off. You may decided to cut off the arm to allow the puppet to wave or a leg to allow the puppet to kick.
Re-attach it with the brass paper fasteners.
Cut a popsicle stick in half. Glue half the popsicle stick on the end of reattached piece, this is going to allow for you to move the piece up and down.
I would love to see your creations, feel free to attach a photo in the comment section!
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