Welcome! It’s showtime! Today’s not-so haunted house is full of imaginative play, origami characters, and spooktacular fun! Mr. Ghost, Miss Bat, and Mr. Pumpkin are gearing up for their first production of Spooktacular Halloween Puppet Theatre! You don’t want to miss the show! It’s sure to amaze! Before we start the show, let’s go behind the scenes to the making-of Spooktacular Halloween Puppet Theatre and see how’s it’s all done! We’ll visit the cardboard stage construction, creaky webbed door, and glittery roof-top!

To construct your not-so haunted house, you’ll need the following materials:

• Cardboard Box
• Cardboard (roof)
• White Glue/Hot Glue
• Scissors/Blade
• Acrylic Paint, black & purple
• Sponge Brush
• Paper, orange, black, & yellow
• Glitter
• 1 x Shimmer Pipe Cleaner
• 2 x Buttons
• White Halloween Web

This simple DIY house is primarily recycled cardboard and paper scraps. The kids can get involved in the making-of too! Aside from the hot gluing and blade cutting, C did the bulk of the work!  I can’t wait to get to all the fun jingles we made up!

First, I hot glued the top of the box shut to give it more stability while cutting.  Next, I traced the door and cut it on two sides, leaving the hinged side un-cut.  After the door, cut the bottom of the box completely off, then the back.  I flipped the box over and used a blade along the seams.  It’s easier and makes a nice clean-cut.  Be sure to work on a protected surface too. It’s that simple! You’ll need an extra pice of cardboard for the roof with a bendable seam.  I used the side/top of a cardboard box.  With just a few more details, paint, and sparkle, your stage will be ready!  Now, the kids can join in the painting fun!

We used black acrylic paint for the not-so haunted house. On raw cardboard, it only takes one coat.  I recommend using raw cardboard, nothing with a sheen or image.  I made that mistake in our rainforest small world and it took three coats — not fun!  I finished the inside of the box off with black.  Next, paint the purple roof and set both aside to dry.  They dry super quick! Next, we’ll make the windows, add the door knobs, and webbing.  Assemble the windows and door details BEFORE the roof, it’s easier.

For the windows I used orange paper cut into small strips.  Once our paint was all dried, C glued them on with white school glue.  The door knobs are buttons.  I used one on the door and one on the side of the house.  I attached them with hot glue because I knew C would be opening and closing the door a lot.  Finally, twist the webbing around the button knob and the door, leaving a long enough piece to reach the side of the house.  Inexpensive, fun, and it holds the door open for the big show!

Once your roof is dry, attach it with hot glue.  You’ll need to create a hinge or bending point to get a nice slope! As you can see, my roof didn’t go all the way back.  I needed a taller back piece originally.  You’ll need a deep slope for the moon and chimney to stand upright.

Next, add your yellow circle moon, a black rectangular chimney, and a glittery pipe cleaner for the smoke.  Slab on a lot of glue and sprinkle the glitter! C loved this part! The web is so fun.  It’s the same concept as a snowflake.  Once you make it, add it on with a dab of glue and a spider.  C had fun pealing the stickers.  I think he went through four spiders before he settled on the orange one.  Now, just the origami characters and it’s show time! No time for origami? Simply use plastic Halloween figures or draw a picture and attach it to a mini-popsicle stick!

Meet the origami characters! Pumpkin, Ghosts, Bat, and the spider web! These are basic folds that the kids can enjoy folding too!

Origami Tutorials:

• Pumpkin and Ghost
• Bat
• Spider Web

To complete the origami puppets, I added a piece of scrap card-stock to create a handle. Simple and fun! Originally, I planned on just doing pencil-top puppets, but then it hit me — a haunted house puppet theater! I remember seeing these amazing 3D foam houses at Michaels and was completely inspired! C loves imaginative play, so I knew the house would be a big hit!

BOO! It’s showtime! Presenting Spooktacular Halloween Puppet Theatre! Even Daddy joined in the puppet fun!

We made up a few jingles that go a little something like this …

I’m a Bat!

I’m a Bat!

I like to fly in the night!

I swoop up and down and all around,

Watch me hang up-side down — yeah!

I’m a Pumpkin!

I’m a Pumpkin!

I shine bright in the night,

I like to spin and I like to twirl,

watch me go ah, ah, ahhhhh!

I’m a Ghost!

I’m a Ghost!

I like to swoop through the night,

I spin up and down and all around,

watch me go BOO, BOO, BOOOO!

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