It’s Show Time!!!!
This week in #thecraftycupboard @thegugg we are making a doorway theatre for the puppets we made last week…You are going to need a large, or two medium sized, cardboard boxes and a kit from the cupboard. There are still a few puppet making kits available too if you wish to swell your cast…but if you don’t want to make any just use Barbie and Ken….teddy and panda or draw a face on a wooden spoon or two!
1. Including your kit from the Crafty Cupboard you will also need one large, or two medium sized, cardboard boxes, some strong, wide tape, a sharp craft knife, a bradle [or skewer], some scissors, a permanent marker, PVA, poster paint…… 
2. ……and a door! 
3. First of all flatten your box[es], cutting along one corner with your craft knife [get an adult to do this for you – craft knives are sharp!] to create a long, flat piece. 
4. Offer one piece of cardboard up to your door and mark the point at which it fits, snuggly, between the two door jambs. 
5. Cut your cardboard into sections of the same width as the door. [TIP: use your adult to do the craft knife bits…] 
6. Depending upon the size of your cardboard box[es] this will determine how many pieces you will need in order to create…… 
7. ….a flat piece that, when taped together and stood on end, is tall enough in the doorway for you to stand behind unseen, plus an extra 30cms or so taller; to create the stage surround. [TIP: make sure that you tape the cardboard pieces together on the side that was originally the outside of the box so that any labels or lettering will eventually be on the back side of the doorway theatre]. 
8. Use any left over carboard to strengthen taped joints. 
9. Flip over the sheet and, using your marker pen, create the design for your theatre. Draw a box for where the ‘stage’ will be. [TIP: if you lay down next to the sheet of cardboard you can ensure that the square for the stage is low to mid eye level for your height]. 
10. Start painting! [TIP: start with lighter colours first, then move to the darker ones and let each colour dry thoroughly before moving on to the next]. 
11. Let the theatre dry thoroughly and then…. 
12. …add the rest of your design elements using materials and card from the Crafty Cupboard, or anything you have at home. Then with the craft knife, carefully or using an adult, cut out and remove the stage rectangle to create your puppet theatre stage opening. 
13. Next, take the material you have selected for your stage curtains and use the cut out piece of card as a template to determine the size they will need to be. Leave at least 5-8cms around each edge. 
14. Cut the material into equal halves. 
15. Using the bradle make an even number of holes at an equal distance, along the top edge of your two curtains. 
16. thread the two curtains onto your cane, starting from front to back. 
17. Lay your curtain ‘rail’ on to the theatre and make two marks near to where each end of where the cane reaches above the ‘stage’ hole [as shown]. 
18. Using your craft knife cut two slits where your marks are and then thread the cane through from back to front to back [as shown] and then secure the cane front and back with tape. 
19. Disguise the cane holes with a design element. This will mean that your curtain ‘pole’ is behind the scenes but that the curtains can hang over in front. 
20. Using your sharp skewer/bradle make two holes along the top of your theatre and add string to hang it in the doorway. then with a marker pen, or more paint, name your theatre! 
21. Create the opportunity to use interchangeable scenery by placing two split pins from front to back, just above the curtains. 
22. You can then either paint scenery or use a plain backdrop for your shows by simply adding or removing sheets of paper from the back. 
23. Adjust the length of the string to the right length so that , when it is hung from a tack or drawing pin from the top of the door, your theatre reaches all the way to the floor. 
24 Your theatre is complete…. 
Select your puppets and entertain your family and friends! 
You can even star in the show yourself! Puppets not muppets
1, pick up your kit from the bag below the Crafty Cupboard! 
2, you will also need: some duct tape, paints and pencils, some cardboard [an old cereal box is perfect] a bradle or other sharp point, and some scissors 
3, using the stiff card supplied draw the outline of the front of your character puppet, without arms, and two arms separately 
4, using the less stiff card draw around the cut out of the body from the last step to create the back 
5, paint the bodies and arms and leave to dry 
6, once dry make six holes corresponding to the photo in the bodies and arms [ask and adult to do the sharp bits!] make sure that the holes in the body line up with the holes on the arms that are nearer to the elbows 
7, using duct tape attach the longer of your two green sticks to the stiff body front 
8, using the piece of string provided, tie the arms together, leaving enough string to attach the shorter stick as shown [tip: do not tie the arms together too tightly, make sure that there is enough ‘play’ in the string for the arms to move up and down] 
9, place the arms with the holes lined up and have your split pins to hand 
10, push your split pins through from the front 
11, the pins should emerge from the two holes nearer to the elbow 
12, using another piece of duct tape create a ‘loop’ over the two sticks, leaving the sticky side up 
13, now place your back onto the puppet, pushing it down firmly onto the sticky side of the tape and opening the split pins [tip: do not open the pins right at the base or push them in or down too firmly – you need to keep the arms free to move] 
14, using your pencils, or any other decoration you may have or can pick up from the Crafty Cupboard, decorate your puppet and give it a face 
15, wave! Paper bag bunting!
Here are the #craftycupboard paper bag bunting ‘how to’s:
1. Collect your kit from the cupboard! 
2. You will also need: scissors, an iron and a cheese grater…. 
3. Mark out and cut out your bag flags: REMEMBER to make sure the bottom of the bag is the top of the flag…. 
4. Grate your crayons! 
5. Place your string along the fold of the bag flag and sprinkle your crayon shavings in a random or planned fashion… 
6. Fold the bag flag over 
7. Iron carefully on MEDIUM heat 
8. Tie off the string one side with a loop for hanging up with later 
9. Repeat as many times as you have string and bags, whilst remembering to leave enough string over to tie a loop at the end…. 
10. Hang your bunting! REMEMBER PLEASE: Get an adult to do the dangerous bits (they love it), keep away from fire when complete, your bunting is not water proof! AND ALWAYS wash your hands! Happy Bunting!!!