The Nutcracker ballet Story is a great story for the kids to read each Christmas. I grew up reading The Nutcracker and today we have made some fantastic Nutcracker Puppets which are super fun and a great Christmas themed paper craft.
Nutcracker Puppets Christmas Craft
If you're looking for Nutcracker-themed crafts then this is the perfect tutorial for you. It's super easy, simple and fun for all ages. Whether you want to create these puppets to for mat time as you read the Nutcracker story to preschoolers or older kids, I'm sure making and using these Christmas puppets will be a lot of fun!
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Blends Art With Storytelling: Kids don't just craft—they also learn about Clara, the Mouse King, and the Sugar Plum Fairy as they create scenes from the story.
- Builds Sequence Skills: Recreating scenes in order helps little ones understand storytelling structure—beginning, middle, and end—while boosting memory.
- Inspires Dramatic Play: Once finished, the pieces double as props for kids to act out their own ballet performance, encouraging movement and imaginative play.
🎨 Supplies Needed
🖌️ How To Make These Nutcracker Paper Puppets
- Step 1: Select colored craft papers. I’m using grey craft paper for the mouse king base and cream colored craft paper for the nutcracker and ballerina base. Print out the template and cut out the patterns from it. Trace the mouse king patterns on the selected craft papers and cut the traced patterns.
- Step 2: Attach the head cutout on the top side of the base cutout. Also, the inner ear cutouts inside the ear parts of the head cutout are attached.
- Step 3: Attach the rectangular shapes to the base. Attach the top one horizontally and the bottom one vertically.
- Step 4: Attach the strip cutouts; one along the top side of the top rectangle and the shorter strip along the middle of both rectangles. Also attach the boots on the bottom side of the base.
- Step 5: Lastly, attach the crown on the top of the head part and the cape on the back side.
- Step 6: Use a black sharpie or gel pen to draw the eyes, nose and other details on the paper craft mouse king. After the craft is complete, attach it on a popsicle stick to complete the puppet.
- Step 7: Similarly, craft the other puppets.
💡 Pro Tip: Schedule the craft activity after a storytelling session of the Nutcracker ballet to inspire children and provide context for their creations.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Pre-Fold Paper for 3D Effect: Lightly fold the arms and legs of each character before gluing to give the puppets a more dynamic, lifelike appearance during storytelling.
- Use Color-Coded Trays: Organize materials for each character in separate, color-coded trays to help children easily identify and assemble the correct pieces.
- Incorporate Fabric Scraps: Add small pieces of fabric, like tulle for tutus or velvet for capes, to enhance texture and visual interest in the puppets.
- Practice Facial Features Separately: Provide scrap paper for children to practice drawing facial features before applying them to the final puppet to build confidence and precision.
- Create a Story Sequence Chart: Develop a simple chart outlining the sequence of events in the Nutcracker story to guide children in arranging their puppets accordingly.
- Designate a Performance Area: Set up a small stage or designated area where children can use their puppets to reenact scenes, fostering engagement and creativity.
💭 FAQs
Silent cues avoid disrupting nearby groups and help maintain order when multiple stations operate in the same space simultaneously.
Using bold line dividers between rows makes it easier for children to spot their place and reduces missed entries in fast-paced check-ins.
Switching roles gives all participants equal exposure to task types and keeps responsibilities from falling to the same individuals each time.
Labeling bins that hold ongoing materials helps staff identify which ones aren’t ready for restocking and avoids accidental emptying mid-use.
Download Printable
Download free printable templates for the Ballerina, Mouse King, and Nutcracker
Nutcracker Ballet Story Craft For Kids
Equipment
- Scissors
Materials
- Coloured craft papers
- Pencil
- Craft glue
- Popsicle sticks
Instructions
- Select coloured craft papers. I’m using grey coloured craft paper for the mouse king base and cream coloured craft papers for the nutcracker and ballerina base.
- Print out the template and cut out the patterns from it. Trace the mouse king patterns on the selected craft papers and cut the traced patterns.
- Attach the head cutout on the top side of the base cutout. Also attach the inner ear cutouts inside the ear parts of the head cutout.
- Attach the rectangular shapes on the base. Attach the top one horizontally and the bottom one vertically.
- Attach the strip cutouts; one along the top side of the top rectangle and the shorter strip along the middle of both rectangles. Also attach the boots on the bottom side of the base.
- Lastly, attach the crown on the top of the head part and the cape on the back side.
- Use a black sharpie or gel pen to draw the eyes, nose and other details on the paper craft mouse king. After the craft is complete, attach it on a popsicle stick to complete the puppet.
- Similarly, craft the other puppets.
Did you make this craft? Leave a review and comment below! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
Where do I find the templates? Thanks.
Hi the link was broken but has been fixed now. https://www.theinspirationedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Nutcracker-Template.pdf
Is the link only intended to share the ONE(1) Nutcracker template? I was hoping to get the other characters as well. Thank yoU!
Tami
Same here - are there templates available for the other characters? Thanks!
Only the one template is available at the moment.