Normally I write really long, helpful posts on how to make a certain type of puppet - a sort of freebie as it were. Well, this time around, I’m not. Ok so I caved in.

In the spirit of halloween, I’m giving you a fun…ok, creepy… shadow puppet pattern. If you like that, then do check out the other shadow puppet patterns I have available at my online shop. In those patterns, you’ll get to learn more about making proper shadow puppet rods, how to attach them securely, and how to make the whole puppet in a more durable way than shown below, and they’re good for building with kids… this really is an extremely basic tutorial…

UPDATE: I’ve now created another free pattern/tutorial here. It’s of a dog, which is somewhat more useful than the below spider puppet 

You’ll find more free shadow puppet patterns here. How shadow puppets are different to silhouettes is discussed here. More patterns and products are available here.

Materials and tools

More on materials is discussed here (not necessary to read to use the below tutorial).

• Download and print out my pattern (pdf format) - you don’t have to resize it, but you can if you want. Just remember to resize all of the parts if you do choose to make it bigger - you definitely shouldn’t make the puppet smaller than what is given
• Scissors, scalpel or box cutter
• Joints - I’ve used brads cause I was lazy (), but you can use string or copper wire if you prefer
• Masking tape
• Two rods - coathanger wire is perfect, but you may want to add a handle (and probably you’ll need some pliers so you can bend the wire straight)
• OPTIONAL: Red cellophane or ‘fantasy film’ (used in doll making)

Note: all pics can be clicked on for a larger view.

Step One

Print out the pattern - linked above - and cut out all three Parts along the hard black line. Don’t worry about any of the other coloured lines/etc just yet. You should have two sets of legs and one body cut out. (You may want to trace the pattern onto cardboard instead, which is much more durable than paper… but I was lazy again, and since paper works just as well for this tutorial, I just skipped that step)

(Photo to right: how all the Parts fit together)

Step Two

Using the instructions in this post, and the video provided, join the parts together. The blue circle on the body (Part A), marked 1a, should be joined with the blue circle (1b) on the first set of legs (Part B ). Because I was using brads, I simply inserted a brad into 1a and then through 1b and pushed the legs of the brad apart. If you’re using string joints, follow the instructions in the video and thread some string through 1a and 1b and knot it off either side of the puppet. If using wire, then do the same, only make sure to use a spiral on either side of the puppet to ensure it doesn’t come through the joint hole.

Step Three

Do the same for joints 2a and 2b, on the body (Part A) and the other legs (Part C) respectively.

(Photo to right: All of the parts joined together. This is a pic of the ‘back’ of the puppet, or the side that faces the puppeteer. The front of the puppet, or the side that faces the audience, can be seen here)

Step Four

At this point, all of the parts of the puppet should be joined together. You may want to leave the spider as is, or add some colour. I chose to add some colour. Using a box cutter or scalpel, cut out the shape on the body marked with a hard red line. This should leave a weird squarish hole in the bottom of the spider (just in case you were wondering, we’re making a redback spider, which is native to Australia and is quite dangerous).

Take out your cellophane and cut a piece to cover this hole; it should be big enough so that it slightly overlaps the hole. Now grab some masking tape and attach the cellophane to the back of the spider (ie. the side that will face away from the screen/audience).

Step Five

Now to attach your rods. I’m using rods already made for shadow puppets… and unfortunately I’m not going to give out all my secrets here . Suffice to say you need two straight wire rods. At one end you’ll probably want a handle, in which case you could attach a bead or piece of dowel. At the other end, you’ll want a Π shape. This is so that you can attach the rods at right angles to the puppet (as shown in the pics to the right); it makes it easier to move the puppet’s legs, while standing or sitting behind your shadow puppet screen.

Once you have your rods made up, attach the top of the one of the rods (this ‘Π’ bit) to the puppet’s leg (again, as pictured) on Part B using masking tape. Do the same with the other rod, this time attaching it to one of the legs on Part C. (Another pic is here for clarity)

Step Six

Play! UPDATE: Learn how to make a screen here. Hang up a piece of white cloth between a door or chairs, add a desk lamp behind it, and see what you can do with the puppet. I’ve made a short video as an example (you can tell I probably should have used cardboard after all):

Want more? Help build a puppet!

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