How to Make a Simple Dragon Puppet
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Making a Simple Dragon Puppet Is Fun and Easy
Dragon puppets have become popular today. People are perhaps more aware of the significance of the Chinese dragon. The dragon is revered because of the power it represents. People make sacrifices and hold ceremonies in order to appease the dragon and to ask for good fortune as well.
The use of dragon puppets is more popular for its use during dragon dances especially that which is done during the Chinese New Year. The dragon dance uses a life size puppet for this purpose. However, because the popularity has grown, more and more people use the dragon puppets for quite different purposes as well. People can buy dragon puppets but people can also make their own. There are quite numerous instructional materials on the internet for this. People can certainly make their dragon puppets. All they need is creativity and a few simple materials.
If you want a simple dragon face for the dragon parade, you would need two pieces of 9 inches paper plates, assorted bright-colored construction papers and a craft stick. You would also need a picture of the dragon face and a dragon face pattern. For cutting, pasting and placing marks, you would need a pair scissors, glue and a marker. What you have to do is cut the construction papers into 1 inch wide and 12 inches long strips. Then fan fold the strips. Glue these cut strips around the tip of the front of the paper plate. Get the second paper plate, insert the craft stick and glue the two plates together. Staple the stick to hold it in place. Cut out the edges of the plate to hide the plate with the stick still glued to it. Then color the dragon face with attractive colors and glue it on top of the paper plate edges. To make it more fun, you may add horns and bells to add noise for the dragon parade.
Another variety of a dragon puppet would need paper egg carton, yellow and black craft paint, paint brushes and a 7mm wiggle eyes. You would also need a ¼-inch wide ribbon, red-colored felt scrap, ¼-inch white pom-pom balls and two small jingle bells. Before starting, prepare a pair of scissors, a hole puncher and a tacky glue.
First, cut the cups of the egg carton. Make sure that they are all of even height and sizes. For the head and mouth of the dragon, get one cup and paint the inside black and the outside yellow. Get the rest of the cups and paint the outside yellow as well. Then put dots of different colors on the yellow painted cups. Punch a hole on each of the cups and then punch another hole across the first ones. Using the ribbon, tie the cups together through the holes. Then tie a bell on each end of the ribbon. Glue the head of the dragon. Cut a small piece of the red felt for the tongue and glue it in. Glue the 2 pompoms on top of the head and glue the 2 wiggle eyes on top of them. By following these simple steps, you can have your own dragon puppet too.
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