Today you’re going to learn a really easy kids’ activity that’s a double whammy: it’s a craft that doubles as a homemade toy.

When my kids were younger, they were constantly putting on shows and making videos. (Mostly it was just my girls, but sometimes they would get their little brother involved too.)

Many of the videos starred their American Girl dolls, some (like “Stuffed Annie Jr.”) involved stuffed animals … and of course several involved puppets.

However, these puppets don’t need to be used for something so elaborate as a scripted production. They can also simply be used for pretend play.

If your kids are into unicorns, you could use the same process using these free unicorn templates.

We used wood skewers for our sticks, but I don’t see why you couldn’t use craft popsicle sticks (which I’m guessing are more likely to be laying around your house somewhere).

Obviously, you’ll have a thicker, more noticeable stick with the popsicle sticks, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. One plus is that you can also design your stick, if you want. Your kids might enjoy labeling each stick with the dinosaur’s name.

Stick Puppet Supplies

• Dinosaur & Egg Templates (see below)
• Craft Felt
• Wood Skewers (or popsicle sticks)
• Pen
• Scissors
• Glue Gun
• Glue Sticks
• Googly Eyes (optional, but fun!)

Stick Puppet Instructions

1. Download and print this dinosaur and egg template. (You can also click on the image below to download it.



 

2. Trace printed templates onto felt and cut out two of each shape.



 

3. Cut out and glue spots on the egg.



 

4. Glue the pointed end of the skewer on the back of a shape.



 

5. Add more hot glue around the perimeter.



 

6. Place the matching felt piece on top.



 

7. Continue this same process with the other pieces.

   

 

8. Add googly eyes if desired.

Dinosaur Stick Puppets

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Print

Materials

• Dinosaur & egg templates (see post)
• Craft felt
• Wood skewers
• Googly eyes (optional)

Tools

• Pen
• Scissors
• Glue Gun
• Glue Sticks

Instructions

1. Download and print the templates.
2. Trace printed templates onto felt and cut out two of each shape.
3. Glue felt spots on the egg.
4. Glue the pointed end of the skewer onto the back of a shape.
5. Add more hot glue around the perimeter.
6. Place the matching felt piece on top so the stick is in-between two pieces of felt.
7. Repeat for same process for the remaining shapes.
8. Add googly eyes if desired.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun with 30pcs Glue Sticks
• 
  Assorted Color Felt Fabric Sheets
• 
  Natural Bamboo Skewer Sticks

We have a few people in my family who are crazy about cold cereal, so needless to say, we go through several jugs of milk every week.

If you’re tired of having all your milk jugs become sad little smooshed things at the bottom of your recycling bin, try transforming one into a beautiful fairy house.

Not only is this fairy house pretty, but it’s a homemade toy that can be used for lots of imaginative pretend play.

Fairy House Materials

Minil Hot Glue Gun with Needle NozzleArtificial Silk FlowerInstantGreen Moss Mat, Peel n StickLime GreenPaper ShredSelf-adhesive foam craft sheets

• Empty, cleaned and dried milk or water jug
• Black fine point Sharpie marker
• Utility knife
• Self adhesive foam craft sheets in dark green, light green, brown, purple and pink
• Artificial Flower
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Moss craft sheet
• Scissors
• Green paper artificial grass (or just use crumpled green tissue paper)

Fairy House Directions

1. Begin by outlining a door and windows with a black Sharpie marker on your milk jug. You can make it any shape that you like.

   

 

2. Use a utility knife to cut out the door and windows.



 

3. Trace over the opening with a black Sharpie marker to even it out and give it a little more definition.

   

 

4. Hold the brown adhesive foam sheet up to the handle of the milk jug to measure enough to cover the length of the handle. Then cut three pieces the length and width of the handle. (This will become your “chimney.”)

   

 

5. Attach the three pieces of brown foam to the milk jug’s handle.

   

 

6. Use the Sharpie marker to draw a brick pattern on each of the sides.

   

 

7. Cut a square out of the leftover brown foam sheet, and place on top of the “chimney”. Use the Sharpie marker to draw a square on the foam square. This is the top of your “chimney”.

   

 

8. Cut 5-6 strips out of the dark and light green adhesive foam sheets, approximately 1 ½ inches wide.

   

 

9. Then cut those strips into squares approximately 1 ½ by 1 ½ inches.

   

 

10. Remove the adhesive backing and begin applying the green squares around the top of the milk jug, alternating dark and light green as you go around the top.

    

 

11. Make three overlapping layers that will serve as the “roof shingles” for your fairy house.

    

 

12. Once all green shingles have been applied, use a hot glue gun to glue the artificial flower to the top of the jug.

    

     

    

     

    

 

13. Use the black Sharpie marker to draw some butterflies, flowers, ladybugs, or anything else you would like to decorate your fairy house.

    

 

14. Use scissors to cut out your drawings, and attach to your fairy house.

    

     

    

 

15. Put a handful of green shredded paper grass inside the bottom of the milk jug.

    

 

16. Cut a square out of the moss craft sheet and lay it on top of the shredded paper grass. This helps to make a flat surface to play with your fairies and garden creatures.

    

 

17. Enjoy your fairy house!

    

     

    

How to Make a Milk Jug Fairy House

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Print

Materials

• Clean empty milk jug
• Self adhesive foam craft sheets in dark green, light green, brown, purple and pink
• Artificial flower
• Green paper artificial grass
• Moss craft sheet

Tools

• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors
• Black Fine Point Sharpie pen
• Utility Knife

Instructions

1. Use a black Sharpie marker to utline a door and windows on your milk jug.
2. Use a utility knife to cut out the door and windows.
3. Trace over the opening with a black Sharpie marker to even it out and give it a little more definition.
4. Hold the brown adhesive foam sheet up to the handle of the milk jug to measure enough to cover the length of the handle. Then cut three pieces the length and width of the handle. (This will become your “chimney.”)
5. Attach the three pieces of brown foam to the milk jug’s handle.
6. Use the Sharpie marker to draw a brick pattern on each of the sides
7. Cut a square out of the leftover brown foam sheet, and place on top of the “chimney”. Use the Sharpie marker to draw a square on the foam square. This is the top of your “chimney.”
8. Cut 5-6 strips out of the dark and light green adhesive foam sheets, approximately 1 ½ inches wide.
9. Cut the green strips into squares approximately 1 ½ by 1 ½ inches.
10. Remove the adhesive backing and begin applying the green squares around the top of the milk jug, alternating dark and light green as you go around the top.
11. Make three overlapping layers that will serve as the “roof shingles” for your fairy house.
12. Once all green shingles have been applied, use a hot glue gun to glue the artificial flower to the top of the jug.
13. Use the black Sharpie marker to draw some butterflies, flowers, ladybugs, or anything else you would like to decorate your fairy house.
14. Use scissors to cut out your drawings, and attach to your fairy house.
15. Put a handful of green shredded paper grass inside the bottom of the milk jug.
16. Cut a square out of the moss craft sheet and lay it on top of the shredded paper grass. (This helps to make a flat surface to play with your fairies and garden creatures.)
17. Enjoy your fairy house!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Artificial Silk Chrysanthemum Flower
• 
  Green paper artificial grass
• 
  Self-adhesive foam sheets