Christmas Paper Puppet Craft Kit
Turn lunch bags into Santa, a snowman, a reindeer or another Christmas character, then put on a short family puppet show. The printable pack above has 27 character instruction cards in three groups and four show cards. Below are supplies for eight children, jobs to do beforehand and an example schedule. The cards describe what to make; they are not cut-out paper templates.
Choose a puppet and print the cards
Let each child choose a character before opening the glue. They can trade cards before they start. For a shorter craft, offer the simpler designs; for guests who enjoy adding details, offer costumes or the longer projects.
| Character group | What children make | Suggested time |
|---|---|---|
| Flap-face starters | A face on the bag flap, usually with three to five attached pieces | About five minutes with parts ready |
| Costume builds | A character with arms, clothes or props | About ten minutes with parts ready |
| Showstopper builds | Larger characters, extra bags or more decoration | Allow longer; try the chosen design beforehand |
The Santa card uses a red triangle hat, cotton-ball beard and drawn cheeks. The penguin adds a black hood, white belly and orange beak. A giant Santa needs two bags; the three-headed snowman needs three. Choose the designs before shopping so the base list covers the projects children actually want.
Use Print all 31 in the pack to print the instructions and show prompts. Read the printed cards as they are, or copy individual instructions onto separate cards if you want to hand them out. The printer layout controls the page count; no cut-out shape templates are included. Keep the four show cards separate from the character cards when handing them out.
The printable party games guide can help you keep a helper copy with supply locations and setup jobs. For deciding which steps need adult help, see craft party activities.
Supplies for eight children
This is the starting list for one bag per child. Check the selected character cards for extras before buying supplies.
- 8 lunch bags, 6 by 9 inches, plus 4 spares.
- 4 glue sticks to share between pairs, plus 1 bottle of white glue for decorations that need it.
- About 40 cotton balls for beards and trim.
- 1 sheet each of red, green, white, brown, black and orange card stock; add more for repeated characters.
- 1 pack of 24 pipe cleaners and 1 sheet of 64 googly-eye stickers.
- Crayons or markers, with a cup for every three seats: three cups for eight children.
- Children’s scissors for every two guests who will cut their own parts: four pairs if all eight do so.
- A printed set of the 27 character instructions and four show cards.
- Name labels, tape and take-home bags, if you want to pack the puppets afterward.
Add materials for the characters you choose. The cards also use gray, pink, gold or silver paper, foil, yarn, felt, tissue paper, craft sticks, paper straws, paper plates, crepe paper, a clear plastic cup, confetti, a jingle bell and pom-poms. These are not all included in the base list. For each two-bag puppet, add one bag beyond the child’s base bag; for a three-bag puppet, add two. Count the snow family trio’s three snack-size bags separately, and keep the four spares available rather than assigning them to planned projects.
Prepare parts for younger children
For ages four and five, prepare a tray of pre-cut hats, eyes, ears and noses. Put each character’s parts together so children can decorate without waiting for every shape to be cut. For children under four, prepare a sticker-only version with sticker eyes, dot-sticker ornaments and a hat attached beforehand.
Keep glue sticks at the children’s seats. If you use a glue gun for an adult-prepared prop, keep that work at the adult table. Put scissors at every other seat for children ages six and up who will cut their own parts, and help anyone who needs it. Choose supplies appropriate for the children using them.
For younger guests, draw small noses instead of adding loose pom-poms. Crayons or markers let children add cheeks, freckles, buttons and icing lines without a paint-drying step. Make a sample of the chosen design before party day so you can see how the bag flap moves with the decorations attached.
Get the table ready
- Print the cards and set the four show cards aside for the narrator.
- Cut the paper parts younger children will need and sort them by character.
- Write each child’s name on a bag before decorating begins.
- Put four places at the glue station and a separate area for drawing on bag bodies.
- Set aside a shelf, tray or windowsill where named puppets can dry without being handled.
- Put the extra character supplies together so a helper can find them.
- Decide who will narrate the show and where the audience will sit.
- Leave room to gather finished puppets and belongings before guests go home.
Print these notes and fill them in for your group:
| Preparation note | Your details |
|---|---|
| Number of children | ______________________________ |
| Characters chosen | ______________________________ |
| Extra bags and character supplies | ______________________________ |
| Parts to cut beforehand | ______________________________ |
| Adult helping with the craft | ______________________________ |
| Place for drying puppets | ______________________________ |
| Narrator and show location | ______________________________ |
| Activity while glue dries | ______________________________ |
An example 40-minute craft and show
This example allows 20 minutes for decorating, 10 for drying and rehearsal, and 10 for the show: 40 minutes total. It suits prepared, simpler bag puppets. Longer projects or glue that needs more time will extend the session.
- 0:00–0:05 — Choose characters and explain the first step. Show how the face sits on the flap, hand out named bags and let children begin drawing on the bodies.
- 0:05–0:20 — Decorate in groups of four. Let four children use the glue station while the others draw. Swap the groups, help with the attached parts and place finished puppets name-up in the drying area.
- 0:20–0:30 — Let glue dry and rehearse. Allow ten minutes as a starting point and check the puppets before handling them. Read the scene cards aloud and let children try their lines while the puppets rest.
- 0:30–0:40 — Perform two scenes and take a bow. Bring the audience together, read the scene openings and let the puppets respond. Finish with a shared bow and gather the puppets to take home.
If rehearsal finishes before the glue is ready, Christmas picture bingo offers a picture-based table game. Readers can use Christmas word games, or choose a short option from quiet party games. Pick one backup rather than preparing all three.
Help the children rehearse and perform
Have the narrator read each card aloud. In the first scene, Santa’s hat is missing and the snowman saw what happened. In the second, the sleigh lands in the wrong yard and the reindeer asks a penguin for directions. Let children invent a reply for their own puppet; a child can play alongside a partner or watch.
Use the couch as a stage, with puppeteers behind it and the audience in front. Pause for applause after each scene. If there is time, use the wild card: the audience chooses a puppet to teach Santa about something modern, such as a tablet or vacuum. For the final bow, each puppet can say one thing it likes about Christmas. A bedsheet curtain is optional.
If children would like an acting warm-up, Christmas acting cards for families has simple and harder prompts. After the show, put each named puppet with its owner’s belongings or slide it into a take-home bag once it is ready to move.
Other Christmas crafts and games
For children who would rather keep making things than perform, Christmas paper chains can decorate the puppet stage. Prepare a separate tray of strips so they do not need to clear the puppet materials first. Paper gingerbread houses offer a different construction project; check those instructions and supplies before offering it as an alternative.
If the puppets are one part of a longer gathering, Christmas party games for families helps you choose another game by reading level, room and time. The seasonal party ideas guide covers arranging activities, food and cleanup around the gathering you are hosting.
Christmas puppet kit questions
How long does the puppet craft take?
Allow 40 minutes for the example: 20 minutes to decorate, 10 to dry and rehearse, and 10 for the show. Longer multi-bag projects need extra time, and glue may need longer than the drying allowance.
What size paper bags work?
The base supply list uses 6-by-9-inch lunch bags, one per child plus four spares. Add bags for multi-bag characters. The snow family trio uses three snack-size bags.
Can I use the kit in a classroom?
Yes, as a suggested table activity. Print one shared card set or enough copies for each table, count bags for the selected characters and prepare separate supply trays. Assign helpers to the cutting and glue steps according to the children and the help available.
What can children under four make?
Try a sticker-only bag puppet with sticker eyes, dot-sticker ornaments and a hat attached beforehand. Choose materials appropriate for the child and help as needed.
How do we run the puppet show?
Have a narrator read the first two show cards while children hold their puppets behind the couch. Let children share a role or watch. Pause for applause after each scene and bring everyone together for the final bow.
Does printing the kit include cut-out templates?
No. The printable pack contains 27 character instruction cards and four show cards. Prepare paper shapes yourself using the descriptions; no downloadable cut-out template sheets are supplied here.