The Fandango movie ticket ads have breathed new life into the old paper bag puppet. I love it when some creative genius takes a mundane thing that’s been around for ages and makes me sit up and take notice of it again. The beauty of the puppets is that they are engaging, and yet are entirely low-tech. There is nothing more humble than a paper bag puppet.
When I see one of these ads, I want to run right home after the movie and make a funny puppet with pasta hair and real jewelry. I’ve never done it, but after I saw my daughter’s paper bag puppets she made with just felt, yarn and markers for a video for a school project, I’ve been reinspired. Now I just have to find an excuse to make one.
These guys were the stars of a project for English class.
If you look closely at the Fandango puppets you’ll see that they are made with everyday objects like paper clips for noses and construction paper lips. Some objects are a little more out-there, like starfish hair on the surfer dude. Basically, to make your own, just use whatever you happen to have.
So if you have a rainy afternoon with the kids, gather up some paper bags and whatever supplies you have handy. Look in the pantry, your junk drawer, in your office supplies and other random places for good materials. Get a good, strong nontoxic glue and go for it.
Another fun, but ambitious, idea is to host a party for kids and have everyone make their own puppet. Then you can stage a puppet show.
For Fandango puppet fans like me, here’s a site where you can download puppet icons:
http://www.makaimedia.com/fandango/buddy_icons/
For more inspiration, check out fan-made Fandango puppets here. Fandango ran a contest for fans to design a Fandango-style puppet and these are the winners.
http://contest.fandango.com/