Outdoor Scene Props

• Make props to use in outdoor scenes of puppet plays. Make a tree by gluing a plastic foam ball to the top of a paper towel roll. Tear a piece of green tissue paper into small pieces and glue the pieces to the ball to make the top of the tree. Paint the tube brown to form the trunk. Other outdoor scene props include tissue paper flowers and a park bench made by gluing craft sticks together.
  
  

Indoor Scene Props

• Some puppet play scenes take place indoors. Make props for these scenes out of simple materials. Make a refrigerator by painting handles onto a rectangular box. You can even glue some buttons onto the box to serve as magnets. Create a decorative table by cutting the side panels of a box and leaving only the corners to serve as the legs. Paint it to look like wood grain and glue some small picture frames on top to complete the table.
  
  

Hand-held Props

• Create props that can be used directly by the puppets. Cut a butterfly shape out of cardboard and paint it a bright color; pin or use a Velcro tab to attach the butterfly to the puppet's hand. Find a small, lightweight book to attach to the puppet's hand. Hang a purse or briefcase over the shoulder of a puppet.
  
  

Other Prop Ideas

• Props can also be attached to the front of the stage. A sign for a store can be hung on top of the puppet stage, facing the audience. Use small dolls and stuffed animals as toys in a small wooden or cardboard toy box to embellish the stage of a puppet play.