How to make puppets for kids: 10 easy steps for the best toilet roll puppets

Have you ever wondered how to make a string puppet and assumed it’s too tricky to do with your kids? With a few toilet roll tubes, some string and paint, any child can make a fun homemade puppet in just a couple of hours. Follow our easy tutorial to learn how to make a puppet in a few simple steps.

If our family arguments survey has told us anything, it’s that you’ll no doubt have a few empty toilet roll cores lying around your home. So, why not get creative with them? One great thing about making toilet roll puppets is teaching your children how to recycle and reuse packaging, as empty Cushelle toilet paper rolls create the bodies of these DIY puppets. Gather together the materials listed below in our easy puppet-making tutorial.  

How to make a puppy puppet in 10 simple steps

This cute spotty dog marionette tops our list of easy toilet paper puppet-making ideas. Recycle your empty Cushelle toilet rolls and let your kids loose with a paintbrush to create their very own.

Takes about 2 hours

1. To make the dog’s head, carefully cut a toilet roll in half with a craft knife, and discard one piece. Leave the other roll whole to make the body.
2. Next, paint the head and body with white paint and leave to dry. Apply a second coat if you need to.
3. When dry, add spots to the white head and body with a black marker pen.
4. To make the ears, cut out two oval shapes from a sheet of strong kitchen paper (we used Plenty). Then cut out a tongue, and colour with a red felt tip pen.
5. Stick the ears to the back of the head, and the tongue to the front. Then add some wiggle eyes to the face. You're now halfway through making the perfect puppet for kids!
6. Next, make small holes in the top and bottom of one end of the head, two holes at either end of the top of the body, and two holes at each end of the bottom of the body.
7. Take the bendy straws and cut out a small piece for the dog’s tail. Stick it to the back of the body. Then cut out four pieces for the feet.
8. Cut two lengths of wool for the dog’s legs. Thread it through the holes in the bottom of the dog’s body, and add the bendy straw feet. Tie large knots at the ends to stop the feet falling off. These will be your puppet strings.
9. Cut two more lengths of wool, and thread the first length through the holes in the head and front of the body, tying a knot in each section to hold them in position. Then do the same with the other length of wool at the back of the dog’s body.
10. Glue two lollipop sticks together in a cross. When dry, wrap and tie the ends of the wool to the sticks, ensuring the head and body are level. There you have it! Your in-depth guide on how to make puppets for kids!

Now you’ve learned how to make a puppet you’ll be able to make a whole cast of characters. As our tutorial proves, puppet making for kids needn’t be a complicated business. Homemade toilet roll puppets are a great way to reuse old packaging and spend quality time together creating a fun toy to play with. 

Remember, here at Cushelle we have other craft ideas beyond how to make a string puppet. Our Cushelle loo rolls can be used to create things like pencil pots or even hamster and gerbil toys. Squeak!

If you’re on a craft roll, then take a look at our other craft ideas on our website. We have some of the most creative toilet roll crafts around.