SS Puppets

So you want to learn how to make a puppet? I have had numerous people ask me to help them over the years with a step by step process of getting started. So I have decided to put together a little guide to help those who may be new to puppetry get started.

Let us first decide what type puppetry you like?  What will best suit your needs whether it is theatre, public library, school, or a church ministry?

What is Puppetry? It is an art where any inanimate object is brought to life. The sky is the limit and most anything up for grabs when it comes to being a puppet. It is neither an offshoot of dance nor drama though it can be a form of either or both.

There are three requirements to be a puppet.

1) A form to be animated.

2) A person to do the animating.

3) A method of control that uses all or part of the puppeteer’s body, or an extension of it through rod’s, strings, wires, magnets, or a combination of these. 

Let’s look at some of the many types of puppetry.

• Animatronics- These are puppets that are operated with a motorized device.
• Backlight Puppets- These are any style puppets made to be used under a UV black light.
• Bunraku- This is a puppet that is operated by a team of puppeteers dressed in black. Each member is responsible for moving a part of the puppet.
• Caricature puppets- these are puppets that may take on a likeness of a person, animal, or a object.
• Finger puppets- The index and middle fingers are used as legs while the remaining while the middle fingers are tucked back out of sight... Some more modern day puppets are used directly on the finger tips.
• Glove Puppets- A sewn puppet that worn on the hand and operated with the middle three fingers in the head, and the thumb and pinky finger in the arms.
• Hand puppets- A hand puppet consist of a head, neck, and hands, attached to an empty body.
• Javanese Wayang (wooden rod puppets) - These  puppets are made using a rod in the back of the puppet. The right hand or ( sword ) is controlled by a rod , while the left hand (shield) is controlling the other rod.
• Marionettes- This type puppet can be constructed from many type mediums such as wood, clay, foam, plasticine, paper mache, or a combination of materials. It is jointed, weighted and strung from the head, shoulders, seat, hands, and feet. The strings are attached to a controller.
• Hand in mouth puppets- Are basically a three head piece puppet or variables of it. In which the hand controls the movement of the mouth from inside the head with entry points from the bottom, back or a combination of both..
• Muppet-types- These are duplicates of Jim Henson’s. Many try to reproduce them however it is not recommended by many.
• Mouth Puppets- These are puppets that the head usually consist of a large mouth makes up the bulk of the puppet.
• Rod Puppets- ( Sicilian style) These puppets are made with a series of rods from the back of the puppet. The right hand or (sword) operates one rod while the left hand (shield) operates the other rod.
• Sock puppets- These are made from a common sock, embellished with eyes, noses, hair, etc.
• Shadow puppets- This a flat, jointed figure held against the back of a translucent screen. The screen it is lit behind. These puppets can be made from card stock but the traditional ones are cut from leather.
• Punch and Judy style puppets- These puppets are commonly know as fist puppets, but some are operated using various fingers on the hand.
• Bandana or Scarf Puppet- These are fabric placed over a styro ball with a hole in the bottom. A rubber band or string is tied around the neck forming the head. The thumb and pinky finger becomes the arms.
• Giant Puppets- These are oversized puppets using the bunraku method.
• Walk around puppets- These are puppets that are life size and can be attached to the body using rods from the head, waist, and feet. This leaves your hands free to operate the head and or hands of the puppets. This form of puppetry combines many of the styles of puppetry mentioned above.
• Mascot puppets- These are puppet type figures that are designed to fit over the human head accompanied with a body costume.

Puppets come in all shapes, sizes, weights, and methods of control. The puppeteers disguise allows them to be in or out of it. Anything such as wooden spoons, book, or cereal box are examples of what can be a puppet. 

I encourage you to search the internet, read books, or check out your local puppetry guild to learn more about puppetry. I will be giving you some of my favorites that have helped me along the way. 

If you like what you find here ... please subscribe to my site so I can send you updates when they become available.

Here are some great tutorials...... You did not here from me ??????

  Click Here if you dare

Let’s look at some of the resources that may be of help to you in your quest with puppetry.

Here are some of my favorite puppet building DVD's... Click on photo for direct link.

The foam book by Drew Allison and Donald Devet.

The tip and tuck method by Drew Allison and Donal Devit

Making Lifelike puppets with Noreen Young 

You can purchase the following video thru Noreen Youngs website.

   Here is David Panabaker video, clivk on the link below

Here is some of my favorites from Dave Privett at Playsoup.com

Another Favorite is " The American Puppet" by Dan Lauria and Mark Mazzarella 

Here are some reccomended puppet patterns you might try.......!

Here is a variety of easy to follow patterns that will give you a very professional puppet. Project Puppet. 

Here is a very used pattern used by many......... One Way Street.

Here is a good pattern from my good friend " Helen" from

" Church puppets " only $40 plus S/H

I have tried this puppet pattern and it is easy to use.

 Here is a free pattern called " Blueboy" it is a simple pattern and easy to use. I forgot it is free.....! Rember just click on the image below.

If you looking for free scripts... This is the place to get them.

Here is one of my favorite forums. You can find much information from Puppets and Stuff

If you are looking for A good mask making instructional DVD...you need to check out ..............Nick Mulpagano's " Guide to making a mask. You can purchase Nicks DVD at Handiboy.com

Please visit Puppet building for all type of puppet tutorials and puppet