Duck Puppet and Paper Bag Puppets are a fantastic way to get creative with the kids! If you’re on the hunt for a fun duck or frog craft for preschoolers, these easy paper bag puppets are just what you need. They’re simple to make, tons of fun, and perfect for sparking little imaginations.
I never made a paper bag puppet as a child but it's something that as an adult I find fascinating. Not only is it a great recycle art, but paper bag crafts can also be doubled up as gift bags for parties or they could be used in a classroom display.
I do hope you love this. We have a free paper bag puppet template so don't forget to go and download this!
Enjoy.
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Quackin’ and Croakin’ Fun: These puppets bring instant giggles and silly voices.
- Hands-On, Screen-Free Play: Craft it, then play with it—win-win for moms!
- Great for Groups: Ideal for classrooms, parties, or rainy day sibling bonding.
🎨 Supplies Needed
- Card Stock
- White Paper Gift Bags
- Blue Paint
- Foam Paint Brush
- Glue Stick
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Black Marker
- Googly Eyes
- Paper Bag Puppet Template
🖌️ How To Make Your Duck Paper Bag Craft
I will now share a step-by-step guide to demonstrate these easy paper bag crafts. I'll share the paper bag duck first followed by the frog craft.
- Step 1: Print out the template. Cut the template out. Trace the body of the duck onto yellow cardstock and cut out.
- Step 2: Cut the head from the duck template, trace onto yellow cardstock and cut out. Trace the wings onto yellow card stock and cut out. Trace the beak and the feet onto orange card stock and cut out.
- Step 3: Cut a small strip of yellow and orange cardstock. Glue the beak and googly eyes onto the duck’s head.
- Step 4: Fold the small strip of yellow cardstock into the shape of an M. Glue the folded strip of cardstock onto the duck’s body and the other side onto the head.
- Step 5: Glue the wings onto the duck, slightly flapping them up. Fold the small strip of orange cardstock into the shape of an M. (do this 2x)
- Step 6: Glue the folded strips of cardstock onto the duck’s body and the other side onto the feet. Set the duck aside.
🖌️ How To Make Your Frog Paper Bag Craft
To make the frog paper bag puppet you will need to use the frog puppet template.
- Step 1: Trace the body of the frog onto green card stock and cut out.
- Step 2: Cut the head and legs from the frog template, trace onto a darker green card stock and cut out. Refer to the photos. Cut a small strip of green card stock.
- Step 3: Glue the front legs onto the frog.
- Step 4: Glue the back legs onto the frog. Only glue at the edge and flap up the rest of the legs for a 3D look. Refer to the photo.
- Step 5: Glue googly eyes onto the frog’s face. Use a black marker to draw on a mouth and nostril holes. Cut small pink circles and glue onto the frog’s cheeks.
- Step 6: Fold the small strip of green cardstock into the shape of an M.
- Step 7: Glue the folded strip of card stock onto the frog’s body and the other side onto the head. Set the frog aside.
- Step 8: Trace the puddle template onto dark blue cardstock and cut out.
- Step 9: Trace the puddle template onto light blue cardstock and cut out strips from it. Glue the light blue strips onto the puddles.
- Step 10: Glue the Frog and Duck on top of the puddles.
- Step 11: Use a foam paint brush to give the white gift bags a thin coat of blue paint.
- Step 12: Allow the paint to dry completely and glue the frog and duck onto the gift bags.
- Step 13: Cut small droplets of water from blue card stock and glue onto the gift bags.
- Step 14: Your paper bag puppets are completed. You can use these as a Puppet or a gift bag.
💡 Pro Tip: Use the duck puppet as a teaching tool to introduce topics like animal habitats, life cycles, or farm life, combining crafting with learning opportunities.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Incorporate a Quacking Mechanism: Attach a small squeaker or use a folded piece of cardstock inside the beak to create a quacking sound when the puppet is used, adding an interactive auditory element.
- Use Feathers for Texture: Glue real or faux feathers onto the wings and tail to give the puppet a more realistic and tactile feel, enhancing sensory engagement.
- Add a Detachable Hat: Create a small hat using construction paper and attach it with Velcro, allowing kids to dress up their duck and encouraging imaginative play.
- Incorporate a Name Tag: Attach a small name tag or label to the puppet, prompting children to name their duck and fostering a personal connection to their creation.
- Create a Puppet Theater: Use a cardboard box to build a simple puppet theater, providing a stage for storytelling and enhancing the play experience.
- Introduce Movement with Articulated Wings: Use brads or paper fasteners to attach the wings, allowing them to move and making the puppet more dynamic during play.
💭 FAQs
Yes, you can attach the wings using paper fasteners (brads) at the base, allowing them to flap when moved. This adds a dynamic element to the puppet, enhancing the play experience.
After creating the puppet, encourage children to develop a short story featuring their duck character. This promotes creativity and language skills, turning the craft into an educational exercise.
Yes! Attach a small party squeaker inside the bag's head area. When kids squeeze the puppet gently, it can make a quacking noise for added fun
Did you make this craft? Leave a review and comment below! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
Download Printable
Get your free Printable PDF For Frog And Duck Craft Template here!
Paper Bag Frog And Duck Puppet
Equipment
- Scissors
Materials
- Card Stock
- White Paper Gift Bags
- Blue Paint
- Foam Paint Brush
- Glue Stick
- Pencil
- Black Marker
- Googly Eyes
- Paper Bag Puppet Template
Instructions
- Print out the template. Cut the template out. Trace the body of the duck onto yellow cardstock and cut out.
- Cut the head from the duck template, trace onto yellow cardstock and cut out.
- Trace the wings onto yellow card stock and cut out.
- Trace the beak and the feet onto orange card stock and cut out.
- Cut a small strip of yellow and orange cardstock. Glue the beak and googly eyes onto the duck’s head.
- Fold the small strip of yellow cardstock into the shape of an M.
- Glue the folded strip of cardstock onto the duck’s body and the other side onto the head.
- Glue the wings onto the duck, slightly flapping them up.
- Fold the small strip of orange cardstock into the shape of an M. (do this 2x)
- Glue the folded strips of cardstock onto the duck’s body and the other side onto the feet.
- Set the duck aside.
- Trace the body of the frog onto cardstock and cut out.
- Cut the head and legs from the frog template, trace onto darker green card stock and cut out. Refer to the photos.
- Cut a small strip of green card stock.
- Glue the front legs onto the frog.
- Glue the back legs onto the frog.
- Only glue at the edge and flap up the rest of the legs for a 3D look. Refer to the photo.
- Glue googly eyes onto the frog’s face. Use a black marker to draw on a mouth and nostril holes. Cut out small pink circles and glue onto the frog’s cheeks.
- Fold the small strip of green cardstock into the shape of an M.
- Glue the folded strip of cardstock onto the frog’s body and the other side onto the head.
- Set the frog aside.
- Trace the puddle template onto the cardstock and cut out.
- Trace the puddle template onto light blue cardstock and cut out strips from it.
- Glue the light blue strips onto the puddles.
- Glue the Frog and Duck on top of the puddles.
- Use a foam paint brush to give the cardboard a thin coat of white paint.
- Allow the paint to dry completely and glue the frog and duck onto the gift bags.
- Cut small droplets of water from blue card stock and glue onto the gift bags.
- Your paper bag puppets are completed. You can use these as a Puppet or a gift bag.
This is adorable! My kids would love this!
Super cute is for sure.. these are just adorable! A fun project to do over the summer to keep the little ones occupied.
This is such a cute idea for a hands on activity!
Glad you like it!