Hello again, Create.Craft.Love. readers! Erin here from My Very Educated Mother. The school year is winding down and I’m finding myself looking for projects to do to keep everyone active and engaged. This kids craft is a throwback to my Girl Scouting days, Wooden Spoon Puppets!
Wooden spoon puppets have been around forever, and over the years crafters have used them to create a myriad of people, animals, and sometimes creatures. As for me, I prefer to let the kids use their imagination and come up with their own characters and the stories to go along with them!
Supplies
wooden spoons and forks
scrap felt
yarn
googly eyes
pompoms
markers or paint pens
hot glue gun
scissors and glue
Directions
First thing first, you’ve got to get the spoons and forks. You can find them relatively cheap at your local big box or dollar store, I find a stash of them at the local thrift store. Once you’ve got them you’re ready to go!
Embrace the mess! When you’re trying to create something specific it’s always easier to have everything lined out, pre-cut, and ready to go. But when you’re trying to CREATE you’ve got to get a little messy.
Kids are really good at this step!
Having everything everywhere seems as if it’d be overwhelming, but, magically things happen when you let kids simply touch and manipulate the materials with their hands. Be sure to have different types of glue and adhesives available. What works for felt might not work for googly eyes!
Normally I don’t let the kids use the hot glue gun but in the spirit of experimenting we gave it a try. Either I’ve done a really great job in teaching them to respect the glue gun, or they’ve seen first hand the pain it can inflict one of the many times I’ve burned my fingertips. Whichever it was, they were apprehensive about using it and careful to follow the rules.
They may not be the image of perfection, but they sure are a cast of crazy characters the kids will enjoy!
