Brown paper bags are probably one of the most commonly used items to create homemade puppets (think Fandango).  Consider the brown paper bag as a blank palette that you can decorate however you like, but I recommend using the flap of the bag for the eyes and nose.  The flap of the bag makes for a great head when you slide your hand it to bring the puppet to life!

Socks that mysteriously lost their mate in the dryer are great for making sock puppets.  Sock puppets are particularly fun if your socks have a pattern or color on them.  My favorite necessities for sock puppets are yarn for the hair and plastic craft eyes to glue on. Sock puppets can come to life by simply putting your hand up the sock, separating your thumb from your other fingers in the sock, and moving your fingers and thumb together then apart to make your sock talk.

Popsicle Puppets:  Don’t worry these types of puppets won’t melt.  Enjoy your popsicle first, dry out the stick and use it to make a puppet.  The options are endless.  Color your favorite character in a coloring book, cut it out of book and glue it on your stick.  If you are putting on a puppet show, popsicle puppets are perfect for adding props to your show.  Cut out the shape of a heart or tree and glue it on your stick.  It makes for a decorative puppet performance.

Finger Puppets are another low-cost way to make your own puppets.  With ten fingers, you could make a family of finger puppets. Recently I saw an idea on a site that suggested using pipe cleaners to make your finger puppets.  You do this by wrapping the pipe cleaner around and around your finger until it is covered.  Slip it off your finger and glue a cotton ball on top.  The cotton ball becomes the head.  Add eyes, ears, a mouth, and hair if you choose to.  Slip the puppet back on your finger and start the show!

Now it’s up to you to create your puppet show!