keeping your kids busy--"poppets"

 

One of my very favorite activities with the kids.  Ever.  We love this craft, and even my husband joins in, which is nearly unheard of.  You're gonna love it!

We call them poppets.  We totally made them up (although it's entirely possible that you, or someone you know, invented them too!).  Ready?  Okay.

So, first you score some magazines for 10 cents apiece at the library.  (Or, if you're like us, you'll already have plenty)...

 

You need lots of magazines.  Ones with lots of people (meaning your Living Etc. and Domino mags are safe).  Gossipy ones are best, because it's really fun to make fun of celebrities (fun for me, anyway)...

 

And cardstock, scissors, tape and skewers.  And glue sticks and mini-brads for holding all the body parts together...

 

Then you just start flipping through the magazines like crazy.  When you see a part you like, cut it out roughly (not close to the edge), and glue it to the card stock.  Use animal heads fore really crazy looks, and go for a mix-up of scale.  Makes 'em kookier.

 

Once you have all the parts you need, you cut out the pieces close to the edges, right through the picture and the cardstock.

Then, you punch holes (we used a 1/16" punch) and put them together with the mini-brads.  (Use a 1/8" hole punch if you have regular size brads.)

Last, all you have to do is tape the skewer to the back so that you can make your poppet come to life!  Here are a few that we made yesterday.  Olivia's dog is up at the top of the post, but here is Sofia's.  She used a sea-otter head:

 

She accessorized it much as she herself would like to be accessorized, with dog and bright orange monkey-purse.  Next up, Jared's masterpiece:

 

It really is stunning, don't you think?!  (The last time he made one, it also had a bottle of liquor in one hand.  Should I be worried?)  Another of Olivia's, now:

 

And last, and most assuredly least, is my little trio.  Inspired by the "Us" magazine from which I pulled the pictures, I created Brad, Angelina (who, apparently is now certain that Brad is cheating on her.  Is she seriously surprised?) and Jen.  Brad has his hands full with some of his many babies...

 

Good fun for the kids and the grown-ups, I'm telling you.  And we didn't even have a glass of wine before doing this! 

Imagine the possibilities...

Have fun!

Comments

[Diane]

GREAT idea, now I know why you needed the brads! Diane

[Amy Hanson]

Yes, and now you probably understand why I said "it's hard to explain" when you asked me what they were for! :o)

[kerry]

this is brilliant!!

[Venus Perez]

I'm gonna try this with the girls. Good idea!

[Amy]

This is so funny, I love it! My 11 year old stepdaughter will be visiting soon for the summer, and I think we'll have lots of fun doing this project. Thanks for sharing!

[kelley@myislandwedding]

this is probably the coolest thing i've ever seen. i am constantly going through my old magazines with my daughter (6), but never thought of doing this with them.

thanks for the cool idea!!!! my 2 1/2 year old son might do something un-cool with the skewer, so he might just have to watch or rip pages!!!!

[Sara]

Ahaha these are fantastic! :)

[cindy]

The "poppets" are too cool. I think my daughter and her friends would have a blast making these (I would too) even if they are super grown up teens:)

[nath]

very funny. i think i like Jared's one the best. although your celebrity trio comes a very close second.

[sarah]

These are great! I'm on kid duty for a week this summer with 2 nine year olds and a 12 year old. I'm totally going to pull this out of my back pocket! Thank you, once again for the GREAT ideas!

[Amy Hanson]

Yay! I'm so glad you guys like 'em! Have lots of fun!