Nick Barone Puppets

Puppet Party Ideas and Activities

I have been performing at parties and events now for quite a few years, and I've gotten all kinds of ideas about putting together a fun puppet event.

Hope you find this information helpful! - Nick

Setting Up the Puppet Theater

I'll tell you everything you wanted to know about setting up the puppet theater on my QUESTIONS page.

Scheduling

How to schedule a puppet show into an event:

I always suggest the puppet show start at least one-half hour after your guests were told to arrive. This allows everyone to arrive and mingle a bit before they sit and enjoy the puppet show.

You can serve snacks or a light meal during the show, but save cake until afterwards. Children don't have a long attention span when they're full of sugar. Cake or food is also a good way to draw people away from the puppet show area and onto the next activity while I pack up and load out.

Entertainment

How to entertain children before and after the puppet show:

Most parties have a theme, even if it's just a "party" theme. Projects keeping within the theme of the party are always fun and add to the overall atmosphere of the party. An example of a classic "party" themed event is the "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" game, just like painting a pumpkin would be a great activity at a Halloween party.

Many people go with a "puppet" theme when they ask me to perform at their party. I've put together a list of products that should help you have fun puppet themed activities at your party.

Everything listed here is available from Amazon.com; just click the link and it will take you off this site and onto Amazon.com's site where you can complete your purchase.

Puppet Making Kits
I've focused on products that offer enough supplies for an average-sized birthday party and/or a house full of kids.

	Make Your Own Puppets Kit Who says a king has to have a beard and a crown or that a princess has to have long, flowing hair? With Make-Your-Own Puppets Kits, your child will love making the most whimsical and imaginative puppets to play with for hours. Contains everything needed to create 12 unique puppets: 12 PuppetStix, 12 stands, over 600 fun and easy pop-out shapes and a glue stick.
	All About Me Puppet Kit This puppet making kit includes enough supplies for children to create a puppet that looks just like themselves. The kit contains pre-cut pieces in various skin tones and enought stuff to add hair and clothes to your puppet self.
	Educraft Make-A-Puppet Introducing the stars of the show! Enter, stage right, 24 handmade puppets crafted from heavyweight felt for years of rugged use. This kit includes a book on storytelling, a theater backdrop sheet, precut puppets and assorted felt pieces for easy construction, 6" chenille stems, tracing paper, non-toxic glue and an EduCraft Guide with instructions. Make the puppets and plan a show! Great project for kids of all ages.
	Educraft Mini Make-A-Puppet Complete with puppet bodies and felt shapes in assorted colors, non-toxic glue, wiggly eyes and an EduCraft Guide with instructions. Easy-to-glue shapes make delightful little finger puppets.
	Crawling Critters Hand Puppets What kid can resist creepy crawlies? Wiggly fingers become critter legs. Enough material is included for 3 critters. Great gift idea and party activity. First children "sew" and decorate their puppets using their own creativity, then use them as handpuppets for long term play. Each lacing puppet kit includes pre-cut felt body shapes, yarn, plastic ball tipped needles, lots of remnant felt pieces, and instructions. Just add scissors, glue, and imagination. Puppets are approximately 9" tall. Recommended ages: 5 to 9 years.
	Craft Stick Puppet Pack Stick puppet pack includes idea guide, 12 colored 3 x 6 craft sticks, 24 wiggle eyes, 12 pompoms, bright buttons, yarn, craft paper and 12 skintone-colored cardstock heads. Recommended for ages 4 and up.
	Paper Bag Puppet Class Pack Perform hours of puppet plays! Enough material to make 24 puppets. Includes paper bags, arms, legs and respositionable face stickers. Make clothes out of fabric-print paper. Idea guide included. Ages 4+
	Treasure Chest of Puppets All of the materials to make 175 different paper puppets, including white and colored paper bags, wiggly eyes, crow beads, yarn, construction paper, sequins and spangles. A great value!
	Swamp Creatures Hand Puppets Create ladybug, butterfly and bumble bee puppets! First, children sew and decorate their puppets using their own creativity then use them as hand puppets for long term play. Each lacing puppet kit includes precut felt body shapes, plastic ball-tipped needles, lots of extra felt pieces for decoration, and instructions. Just add scissors and glue. Puppets are approximately 9" tall.

Puppet Craft Books
If you're a do-it-yourselfer, here's some books for you!

	How to Make Puppets With Children This book by Joy Evans, will show you how create fun puppets using simple materials.
	Fairies: Petal People You Make Yourself A craft book packaged with all the supplies you need to make a dozen little fairy dolls dressed in petal-perfect style. It's surprisingly easy to turn the included beads, embroidery floss, florist's wire and fabric faux flower petals into a pack of pixie pals. I got this book for my niece when she turned 6, and she loved it! -Nick

Puppets
Get your budding puppeters started with quality built puppets.

	Deluxe Fuzzy Make-Your-Own Monster Puppet Create hundreds of crazy creatures with this fuzzy friend and its interchangeable parts! Carrying case is filled with weird and wacky eyes, ears, antennae and more for quirky creativity! Suction cup hands are included for window display. Great for travel. Age 3+
	Scruffers Puppet Scruffers features a fuzzy shaggy coat, pink tongue sticking out and a wooden hand-operating rod for extra fun.
	Full-Body Stegosaurus Puppet These playful plush puppets are perfect pretend play pals! Each dinosaur puppet is incredibly soft and detailed and features an expressive mouth that is easy for young children to manipulate. They're easily animated, fun to play with, and assured to inspire the imagination of kids and parents alike! Ages 3+
	Full-Body T-Rex Puppet These playful plush puppets are perfect pretend play pals! Each dinosaur puppet is incredibly soft and detailed and features an expressive mouth that is easy for young children to manipulate. They're easily animated, fun to play with, and assured to inspire the imagination of kids and parents alike! Ages 3+
	Full-Body Triceratops Puppet Playful plush puppets are perfect pretend play pals! Our deluxe Triceratops hand puppet is no exception - it is easily animated, fun to play with, and assured to inspire the imagination of kids and parents alike! This puppet is incredibly soft and detailed, and features an expressive mouth that is simple for even young children to manipulate. Ages: 3 +
	Folkmanis Puppets Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Folkmanis, Inc. has grown to become the premier manufacturer of plush puppets worldwide. Folkmanis offers over 200 of the most heartwarming and realistically designed creatures, both exotic and familiar, on the market today. My whole family enjoys Folkmanis puppets. I make all my own puppets for my performances, but at Christmas, my niece and nephew get Folkmanis. I trust the quality and admire the craftsmanship they put into their puppets. -Nick

Puppet Theaters
You can't have a puppet show without a puppet theater!

	Royal Tabletop Puppet Theatre The rich colors and plush velvet curtains recall days or Shakespeare! Vinyl pouch on the marquee holds pre-printed title cards which are included or kids can make their own. Easy 'locking slot assembly' makes it a breeze to put together or take apart for storage.
	Doorway Puppet Theater This exquisite theater can be set up in any standard sized doorway and easily folds up for storage when not in use. Whimsical in design but sturdy enough for rough play. Features a large foldout stage, real working curtains to begin/end the show and storage pockets for puppets. Back curtain conceals performers; carrying case ensures compact storage. Puppets not included. Adjustable curtain-style rod fits standard doors 28-36".
	Deluxe Puppet Theater This puppet theater is 4.5 feet tall and features plush velvety curtains. The clock on front lets you know when it's showtime!
	Floor Standing Wooden Puppet Theater This colorful floor standing Puppet Theater from Alex won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio's "Gold Seal" Award. It features a chalkboard on the base to write a message or announce the show and a pyramid shaped top with a clock that has movable hands. The curtains and roof are made of quality, colorful fabrics. Easily assembled from interlocking painted and laminated wooden pieces. Ages 3+
	Animal Barn Puppet Theater Pop Up Tent w/ Puppets This easy pop-up theater comes with it's own puppets! It has roll back stage curtains w/ ties and day & night back scenes. A go anywhere bag is also included.

Puppet Shows

Public Performances

Party Ideas

Customizable Flyers

References

Contact

Questions?

puppetbuilder.com