DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Paper Bag Dog Craft
Materials:
You can make a Dalmatian type dog like the one in the picture or use different colors for a grey, brown, tan or black dog. Or even a red (Clifford type) or blue (Blue's Clues type) version.
- a paper lunch bag (white would be good for this project, but brown is ok too)
- if using a brown lunch bag: two sheets of white construction paper,
- a printer,
- some crayons,
- scissors,
- glue,
- paper for the printer
Optional:
- big wiggly eyes
Print the Template:
- 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.
Get Familiar with Your Paper Bag:
- 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!
Template #1
- White Dog: Cover the paper bag with white construction paper (just glue it on and trim) or paint the paper bag white and let dry.
- 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 above the nose. If you like, you can use wiggly eyes instead of the paper template pieces.
- Glue the ears onto the sides of the HEAD
- Glue the tongue underneath the flippy tab so you can see part of the circle sticking out from under the muzzle.
- Glue two whiskers (long, thin rectangle pieces) onto either side of the muzzle.
- Glue as many spots as you like to the puppet. You can put them on the front, back, ears or face.
Template #2
- Glue the arms into the FLAP.
- Fold the tail in half (so it's colored on both sides). Fold the dotted line tab and use this to glue the tail onto the BACK giving it a 3D effect.
- Glue as many of the extra spots as you like to the puppet. You can put them on the arms, front, back, ears or face.
Templates:
- 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).