Assembly

Getting Started:
There are just a few steps and a few tools you will need. You will need to print the puppet in black and white or in color on card stock. Then you will need scissors, a hole punch, mini brads. A small piece of Styrofoam and a small stick or skewer for a handle.

Card Stock:
The easy part is going to be printing the puppets out on 65 lb., 90 lb., or even 110 lb. card stock, unless of course, you haven't any. Then it would be best to print out the puppets to color on regular copy paper, cut them out and trace them onto heavier paper. As I've written before, an old manila folder, or paper of the same weight as manila folders works fine.

Copy Paper:
You can also just print out the puppets on copy paper and glue the pieces together over another sheet in any way you like, although I think the puppets would prefer not to have their feet on their arms or their heads on their elbows.

Cutting Out the Puppets:
Before you start cutting, color the black & white drawings. Use a good pair of sizzers, be patient and cut slowly - you can do it!

Holes for the Brads:
If you haven't a small hole punch to make the holes for the brads, you can use a large darning needle, an ice pick (An ice pick? Does anyone know what an ice pick is anymore?), the tip of an X-ACTO ® blade or small sharp pointy object such as small scissor tips. These holes don't need to be very large because you can work the brads carefully into them and that keeps them tight. If you have no brads and no hope of getting any, don't fret. These little puppets look great in a pose, either taped or glued in place.

Please ask an adult to help if you are unsure of yourself or very young.

Putting it all Together:
I was overjoyed to find teeny tiny brads with small colorful mini flowers or mini stars in the scrap booking department of most craft stores. These are perfect for assembling paper puppets. We use a small round head brad in blue for the tail. You can use what ever you like.

After you make the very small holes for the mini brads, carefully work the prongs through the holes from the front of the top piece and spread the legs of the brad in the back. Try to keep them a bit tight so the puppet will hold a pose.

The upper arm (#2) goes behind the shoulder (#1). The lower arm (#3) goes over the bottom of the upper arm and the wrist (#4) goes over the bottom of the lower arm,

The mirmaids tail is best assembled from the bottom up. Place the lower part of the tail (#6) over the tip of the tail (#5). Then continue up using the middle of the tail (#7) and the top of the tail (#8). The last step is to put the body (#9) over the tail.

Having fun with a puppet
You can add a "handle" on the back of the puppet or hang them up on a wall or curtain in different poses. I have a whole row of dancing fairies above my bed and every once in awhile they all change position. One little fairy even disappeared for two whole days!

Adding a Handle:
To add a stick you will need a small block of Styrofoam or other material. We use a small ball of Styrofoam cut in half, anything will do. Use glue or a hot glue gun to stick the Styrofoam ball or block of other material to the back of the puppet. Insert a skewer stick (cut the sharp point off), small craft stick, or even a Popsicle stick into the ball or block angled down, so that it will be easy to hold, slightly away from the body. Remove the stick, place glue in the hole and put the stick back in.

You're all set to have fun.