Make your own FLIGHTLESS BIRD PUPPET in 'Dance of the Nestlings' with Judith Hope Puppet Maker

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create your own flightless bird puppet, inspired by the 'Dance of the Nestlings' workshop led by Judith Hope. Using simple materials found around the home, you can follow along to make a dancing penguin or adapt the design for your own unique flightless bird. This project is a fun way to engage in creative crafting and puppetry.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Collect the following items to make your puppet:

• Cardboard (from boxes or cereal boxes)
• Kitchen tin foil
• String or rubber bands
• Two bottle tops (for eyes, optional)
• Paper clips
• Glue (Pritt stick or glue gun recommended)
• Black permanent marker
• Full-length pencil or a long rod
• Sticky tape (parcel tape or sellotape)
• Old rubber gloves (for decoration, optional)
• Black bin bag or old white fabric
• Scissors (large and small)
• Bradawl or sharp pointy tool (for making holes)
• Ruler
• Round receptacle (like a glass bottle or jam jar)

Optional tools:

• Sharp nose pliers
• Acrylic paint
• Sewing elastic

Step 2: Create the Puppet's Head

1. Cut Cardboard Strips: Cut strips of cardboard to wrap around your bottle or jar, ensuring the corrugated grain runs vertically for flexibility.
   • Two large strips (wrap around twice)
   • One narrow strip (30-35 cm long)
2. Form the Head Shape:
   • Glue the overlapping ends of the large strips and tape them for security.
   • Repeat with the medium strip, inserting it into the larger ring.
3. Make Wire Loops: Unwind two paper clips and form loops in the middle. Attach them to the bottom of the head by making holes with your bradawl, reinforcing with tape.
4. Insert the Rod: Create a snug hole for the pencil at the back of the head and tape it in place.

Step 3: Construct the Body

1. Cut Cardboard Discs: Use a compass or circular objects to trace and cut out discs of varying sizes for the body (e.g., 6 cm, 9 cm, 12.5 cm, 14 cm, 16 cm).
2. Make Holes in Discs: Create holes in the center and on the sides of each disc using your bradawl.
3. Cover Discs: Use black and white plastic bags to cover the discs. Cut out a fringe for texture and glue them down securely.

Step 4: Assemble the Puppet

1. Create Spacers: Scrunch tin foil into beads to serve as spacers between the discs. You will need one less bead than the number of discs.
2. String the Body: Thread string through the beads and discs, securing with knots to keep everything tight.
3. Attach the Head: Tie the head to the top disc, ensuring that the string is taut.

Step 5: Make the Feet

1. Cut Foot and Leg Shapes: Draw and cut out foot shapes (9 cm long) and leg strips from cardboard.
2. Cover Feet: Use your rubber gloves to cover the top of the feet, making sure to trim for a neat finish.
3. Attach Feet: Glue the feet to the base of the puppet. Secure them with tape for extra stability.

Step 6: Create Wings

1. Draw Wing Templates: Sketch wing shapes on scrap paper, ensuring to leave an overlap at the top for gluing.
2. Cut and Glue Wings: Cut from a thicker material like rubble sack, glue them to the appropriate disc on each side.

Step 7: Final Assembly

1. Run String for Stability: Attach additional string or rubber bands through side holes of the discs to prevent side-to-side movement.
2. Secure All Connections: Ensure all knots are tight and secure with glue or tape where necessary.

Conclusion

You've now created your very own flightless bird puppet! This project allows for creativity and personalization, so feel free to add more decorations or modify the design as you see fit. Share your finished puppets with the community and consider entering puppet-making competitions for fun. Happy crafting!