Hey there! If you’re looking to make some origami finger puppets, you’ve come to the right spot. This is a super simple project to make, loads of fun, and a perfect activity for kids – or adults who still have a bit of kid in ‘em. Kids will love making and playing with these origami puppets, as they spark creativity and imagination.
I’m going to walk you through the whole process in nice easy steps, so you can make and bring to life your own papercraft character. These origami finger puppets can represent animals or people, which means they can be used for all sorts of creative storytelling.
Whether you’re crafting for a party, classroom, or just a rainy afternoon, origami finger puppets are a fantastic way to enjoy a hands-on activity. This origami puppet project is sure to delight crafters of all ages.
- Introduction to Origami
- What you'll need to get started
- Getting ready to fold
- Step 1: Folding the paper in half
- Step 2: Making the head shape
- Step 3: Creating Ears and a Face
- Step 4: Decorating your puppet
- Step 5: Putting your puppet to work
- Tips to make it easier
- Different puppets you can make
- Why origami finger puppets are so awesome
- Wrapping it up
Introduction to Origami
Origami is a brilliant bit of paper folding that’s been around for ages, and its dead simple to get the hang of. Origami began in Japan, where ‘ori’ means to fold and ‘kami’ means paper. When you bring origami into the world of finger puppets, you get a craft that’s not only a right laugh but also perfect for having a go at storytelling and mucking about. Origami finger puppets are a cracking way for the kids to dive into being creative, using just a square bit of paper and a few easy folds to knock up their own little characters.
One of the best things about making an origami finger puppet is how dead easy it is to get going. All you need is a square piece of paper – printable origami paper works a treat if you fancy adding some colour or patterns. The folding bit usually starts by bringing the left corner and right corner in toward the middle, making a diamond shape that’ll become the puppet’s head and body. Origami projects can involve no scissors or glue, promoting easy crafting. If you’re new to origami, following video instructions or step-by-step written instructions with photos can make learning the folds much easier to get your head around.
The real magic happens when you start to tart up your origami finger puppet. Grab some pens, markers, or pencils and let your imagination run wild! You can draw faces, chuck on some fun details, and fold the ears in different ways to create animals like a dog, cat, or even your own made-up characters. Decorating origami puppets with glitter, sequins, and ribbons is popular, adding even more personality to your creations. Each puppet becomes dead unique, and you can make a whole gang of finger puppets for your next story or puppet show.
Making origami finger puppets isn’t just about having a laugh – its also a brilliant way for kids to build up their fine motor skills, practice a bit of patience, and learn to follow instructions properly. Children may need adult assistance to make some origami folds, especially if they are new to the craft. The whole business of folding, tucking, and shaping the paper helps develop hand-eye coordination, and mucking about with stories using your puppets can boost language skills and creativity no end.
So whether you’re after a rainy day project, a classroom activity, or just a way to bring a bit more fun into your day, origami finger puppets are a top choice. With just a few bits and bobs and a spot of folding, you can create your own finger puppet and bring your stories to life. Grab a square piece of paper, follow the instructions, and see what brilliant characters you can knock up!
What you’ll need to get started
Before we dive in and start folding, let’s gather what we need. The good news is, you don’t need much!
- A square piece of paper – use origami paper, print out some and cut it to size or even just use some scrap. Puppets can be made using sticky notes for convenience and color.\
- Some markers, pens or pencils to add some personality to your puppet.\
- Just your fingers and a flat surface to get folding on.
No scissors, no glue, no fancy tools. Just you, some paper and your fingers.
Getting ready to fold
Place your square piece of paper flat in front of you. A bit of colour on one side and plain on the other is a bonus, but anything will do.
What you’re going to do is fold the paper to make a little tube that fits snugly onto your finger. That’s the base of your puppet – from there, you’ll fold the top part to make some ears or a head shape, depending on what character you want to create.
Step 1: Folding the paper in half
Take one side of the square and fold it roughly about halfway to the middle. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect – just get it roughly in half. Pinch the fold to create a sharp crease.
Next, fold the other side over to meet the first fold. You should now have a flat tube shape with two layers of paper. If you fold the corners instead, you can create a triangle shape, which is useful for certain puppet designs.
Step 2: Making the head shape
Now take the top part of the tube and fold it down, using the top point of the puppet as your reference for where to fold, to create the puppet’s head. How big you make this fold is up to you – the bigger the fold, the bigger the head is going to be.
If you need to work on the other side, flip the puppet over before continuing.
Once you’ve done this, you should see a little flap at the top – this flap can be folded back or forward to make some ears or add some other features to your puppet.
Step 3: Creating Ears and a Face
This is where you can get really creative. If you want to make an animal puppet, fold the top edges forward to make the ears. For a cat, you can fold the corners into little triangles and make sure the ears point upwards for a realistic look – for a dog, it might be a bit different, maybe more of a rounded shape.
If you want a person puppet, fold the top edges back instead and you’ll get a nice smooth head shape. These puppets can represent people as well as animals, making them perfect for imaginative storytelling.
Next, take the bottom corners of the head and fold them up and tuck them behind the puppet to keep it looking neat and tidy. If you need to adjust the shape, unfold the previous fold before making the next one. This keeps the puppet stable and ready to wear.
Step 4: Decorating your puppet
Get out your markers or coloured pencils and bring your puppet to life! Draw on some eyes, a nose, a mouth and any other features you want. You can use a marker to make a small dot or line as a guide for where to fold or where to draw features. You can add some whiskers for a cat, spots for a dog, or some glasses for a person.
Don’t forget to have a bit of fun and add some patterns to make your puppet really unique.
Once you’re done, take a photo of your finished puppet to share with friends or family.
Step 5: Putting your puppet to work
Slide your finger into the puppet’s open end and it should fit snug but not too tight. Now you can move your finger to make the puppet ‘talk’ or ‘act’. Try putting on a little show or telling a story.
Origami finger puppets are great for getting creative and having a bit of fun, and they can even help with storytelling and imagination.
Tips to make it easier
If your paper isn’t holding the folds well, try using a slightly thicker paper. If you’re a visual learner, look up some video instructions – it can be really helpful to see the folds in action.
The more you practice, the better you’ll get – don’t worry if your first one or two don’t turn out perfectly. And if you’re stuck for inspiration, try drawing on a blank face and changing the expression each time you play.
For more fun, try making the rest of the puppets in the collection, or check out more origami finger puppet ideas and tips to expand your creativity.
Different puppets you can make
The folding steps are the same, but changing up the ears or decorations can totally transform your puppet into a different character.
Try folding the ears in different ways and see what new characters you can create – you could make a cat with pointy ears and whiskers, a dog with floppy ears, a bear with round ears or even a rabbit with long ears.
Or if you’re feeling adventurous, try making a monster with some wild shapes!
Why origami finger puppets are so awesome
This is more than just about folding paper. It’s about getting creative, telling stories and having fun. They’re easy to carry around, so you can turn a dull moment into a fun one.
Plus, folding paper is great for improving your fine motor skills and patience – and it’s a really simple craft that brings lots of joy.
Wrapping it up
So now you know how to make an origami finger puppet from scratch. All it takes is a square piece of paper, some folds and a bit of imagination. Whether you want to make a cat, dog or any other character, these puppets are a fun way to play and create.Give it a go, and don’t forget to share your puppet making stories with your friends or loved ones. Have fun folding too !
