DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Paper Bag Raccoon Craft

contributed by Leanne Guenther

This is an easy cut and paste paper craft that uses a paper bag as a base to make a raccoon puppet.

You can either print just template one or both templates.
- The more children you have per adult and the younger the children are, the simpler (less templates) you want the craft to be.
- If you aren't sure how many templates you should use, print both, but hide #2. If the kids make it through #1 and are eager for more, bring out the other. If they are tired of crafting, save them for another day or just discard them.
Color (as required) and cut out the template pieces.

I'm going to walk through this slowly. Look at your paper bag.
It should be closed and flat like a piece of paper. Just like when they are brand new.
On one side, it's all smooth. This will be the BACK of your puppet.
- It's important that all the kids get the back and front straight at the beginning!
On the other side there's a flippy tab (which is typically the bottom of the bag when you're carrying your lunch around...)
- This flippy tab will be the HEAD.
Lift the flippy tab up a bit. Underneath of the tab will be the mouth,
- When the child puts her hand in the bag, she'll be able to make the puppet talk.
Look at the rest of the front of the bag. (The 3/4 or so of the bag below the part with the flippy tab) This will be the BODY.
Look at the sides of the bag. There should be a FLAP of paper.
- We'll be slipping the arms (template 2) into this flap.
- If the kids goof and glue the arms onto the front or back of the bag, it isn't a big deal.
OK, now that we're comfy with our bags, let's craft!

Grey Raccoon: Cover the paper bag with grey construction paper (just glue it on and trim) or paint the paper bag grey and let dry.
Glue the mask onto the HEAD.
Glue the muzzle (upside down heart shape) onto the HEAD. It should overlap the body a bit.
Glue the nose onto the HEAD. It should overlap the muzzle a bit.
Glue the eyes onto the HEAD so that they are on top of the mask. If you like, you can use wiggly eyes instead of the paper template pieces.
Glue the ears onto the top of the HEAD.
Glue the hair onto the top of the HEAD between the ears.
Glue the tongue underneath the flippy tab so you can see part of the circle sticking out from under the muzzle.
Glue the arms into the FLAP.

Glue the tail onto the BACK so that the colorful side can be seen when looking at the puppet.
Glue the stomach onto the BODY.

Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).