It’s no secret that we love shades here at Zenni, but this DIY puts a fun new spin on the word! These little puppets might look menacing, but there’s no need to fear what’s lurking in this project’s shadows. We’re shedding some light on how to make these spectacular and creative shadow puppets for this year’s Halloween bash. The best part? They make it super easy to create some fun on Halloween night with the kids!
What You’ll Need
- Black construction paper
- Scissors
- X-Acto knife
- Tape
- Pencil or pen
- Wooden sticks
Step One: Pick Your Favorites
There are so many great shadow puppet templates worth browsing online, and these printable designs take the guesswork out of the process entirely. Select and print a few different styles — from mummies and Frankenstein to witches and vampires — to give your puppets the most diversity. If you’re especially artistic, feel free to create your own!
Step Two: Make the Cut
Using scissors, cut out your printed templates. Be sure to cut out the spaces for the eyes, nose and mouth, as well, so that the shadows have the facial features shown on each design. You can also decorate them with some fun glitter, like the picture above.
Step Three: Proceed with or Without a Trace
Any color paper works for these puppets, but black is the perfect choice for the holiday. Many templates are darkly shaded when they’re printed out, which eliminates the need for black construction paper altogether. But if you want a more sturdy puppet or happen to choose a template that’s not shaded, you’ll want to use a pen or pencil to trace the printed puppet onto your construction paper. When finished, use a craft knife or scissors to cut out the final shape.
Step Four: Stick to the Plan
Use sticky tape to attach each shadow puppet to a wooden stick of your choosing. Some crafters prefer inexpensive coffee stirrers or slender pick-up sticks. Leave them rustic and bare, or add some color with markers or paint as you wish.
Step Five: Set the Stage
As fun as these are to make, they’re even more fun to use. Gather up your audience, spotlight the wall and hand these over to the kids for plenty of holiday entertainment!
We think these wall tricks are a definite treat! What’s your opinion of these easy-to-make shadow puppet creations? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
