Paper Puppet - I can't remember!

[bobquasit]

Paper Puppet I used to fold these in elementary school, and they were a lot of fun. Unfortunately I've totally forgotten how to make them, and so far I haven't been able to find them online. Does anyone remember how to fold these? They weren't extremely complicated. This is a side view, by the way - I can remember exactly what they looked like, but I'm not a good enough artist to represent them. They were shaped something like Kermit the Frog's head, with big lips. I remember that you had to make three cuts or tears to make the lips, incidentally. They made great puppets.

Comments

[tprjones.livejournal.com]

I remember! Or at least I know something we used to do that sounds sort of like what you are talking about. Start by doing the steps in this link here: http://www.uggabugga.com/Arts%20&%20Crafts/Origami/Origami%20-%20Hat%20Instructions.htm (http://www.uggabugga.com/Arts%20&%20Crafts/Origami/Origami%20-%20Hat%20Instructions.htm)

From that step, unfold the two thin strips (the brim) back down, fold up the corners of each up to their crease lines, and then fold the strips back up again. This will tuck the corners in and leave you with a big triangle. Reach inside the large edge and pull it open, continuing to pull while bringing far corners together and flatten out the whole thing into a big square (this will make more sense if you follow along). Fold the front bottom quadrant (one of those corners just mentioned) up to the top, flip it over and do the same to the other side (turning the square back into a smaller triangle). Open the largest side, continuing to pull while bringing the far corners together and flatten out the whole thing into a small square (yes, this is a bit of a repeat of a prior step).

The seem running across this thing will open like the mouth of Pacman if you pull at the place where the seem meets with loose corners. As you gently pull it open, flatten the "tongue" to the side it seems to want to pull towards to get it out of the way. And, if the thing you are looking for is the same as the ones we used to make where I was a kid, then this should look familiar!

[tprjones.livejournal.com]

Although, having just made one in order to make sure my directions made sense, I just realized this isn't exactly what you are looking for. There's no cutting involved, and those strips that would become "lips" are tucked up inside on this model.

It's close, though.

[bobquasit.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough I found that puppet design right after I posted, but it's definitely not the same. The one that I used to fold made a great "clapping" or "chomping" sound, and the lips made it look really hysterical.

I've tried and tried, but I just can't remember how to do it. It was a little like one of those paper "fortune tellers" we also used to make, and a bit more like a paper hat or boat...but I just can't figure it out.

It's a pity, because it was an excellent puppet.