DIY Puppet Theater

It's been pretty raining in our parts lately.  We have spent a lot of time indoors this summer. One day, Sidney was bored and came up with the idea of making puppets. After multiple days spent inside, I was willing to let them do whatever they wanted!

I've seen people make a lot of cute things from cardboard boxes so I figured we could probably make a puppet theater from one.  It's certainly not a cute, Pinterest-y theater, but the kids girls couldn't have cared less and it kept them busy for most of the rainy afternoon!

Here's what you'll need for the theater:
- cardboard box
- box cutter
- paint & paint brushes
- glue gun (optional)

Here's what you'll need for the puppets:
- popsicle sticks
- paper
- markers / crayons
- scissors
- glue or tape

To make the theater and puppets:
1.  Find a square cardboard box and cut it open so it lays flat.

2. Using a box cutter, cut openings in the two center sides of the box.  Do not cut on the bottom flap - this will be used to stabilize the box when it's upright.  I cut our openings close to the bottom in case we want to hang curtains at some point.  If you cut you openings higher up, however, it will provide more privacy for the kids to hide behind when performing.

3. Using the cardboard that was cut out from the openings, cut thin strips to hot glue to the back of the cardboard for support for the top of the theater.

4. Now the fun begins....start painting!

5. While you wait for the paint to dry, you can make your puppets.  The girls colored pictures on paper of characters. Then they cut them out and we glued them to popsicle sticks.  Later, we had to tape a few back together so I'd suggest tape over glue.  And of course, they prefer the colored popsicle sticks.

Now you're ready to put on a show!