Are you looking for more ways to encourage imaginative play in your kids? Sometimes our kids become so inundated with toys, their imagination muscles get weak and boredom skyrockets. A few key toys, like these DIY mermaid and narwhal hand puppets, are perfect for encouraging play without the avalanche of stuff in their bedrooms.

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Does it feel like your kids have a million toys but are always bored? These DIY mermaid and narwhal hand puppets encourage play without the toy avalanche. Click To Tweet

I honestly believe in the power of imagination. Not only for kids, but for adults as well. Imaginative people are the problem solvers.

These are the people who can cope with difficulties because they have creative solutions. Imagination is what creates awesome stories like Harry Potter. I want my kids to grow up with as much imaginative power as possible.

That’s why I will always make fun toys for them like these DIY mermaid and narwhal hand puppets.

 

Materials for DIY Mermaid and Narwhal Hand Puppets

• Teal and Blue Silicon Potholders (I found mine at Dollar Tree but here are similar ones)
• Scissors
• Yarn (similar)
• Small Notebook
• E6000
• Glitter Pompoms in Various Sizes
• Hot Glue Gun and Glue
• Silver Glitter Foam (I used the one from this pack)
• Assorted Googly Eyes

 

Mermaid Hand Puppet

 

Step 1

First, remove all of the tags from your potholders.

 

Step 2

Next, pull out your skein of yarn and wrap the end around a small notebook 10-20 times.

 

Step 3

Cut the end of the yard still attached to the skein.

Step 4

Then cut a second small piece of yarn from your skein.

 

Step 5

Tie the small piece of yarn around your wrapped yarn as pictured.

 

Step 6

Next, cut through your wrapped yarn on the opposite side of your notebook.

 

Step 7

Put a dab of E6000 on the top center of your potholder and attach your yarn.

 

Step 8

Lastly, glue on 2 googly eyes toward the opening of the potholder. See the picture above for reference.

Note:

• I chose the googly eyes with eyelashes for a more girly look.

 

Narwhal Hand Puppet

 

Step 1

Start by hot gluing 4 pompoms together, with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on top.

 

Step 2

Next, glue the pompom “horn” to the top center of the potholder with E6000.

Tip:

• I definitely recommend using a blue potholder for this one. It makes the puppet look more like a whale.

 

Step 3

Then, choose 2 googly eyes for your narwhal and glue them to the potholder with E6000.

Note:

• I chose a smaller size for this puppet because I thought it looked adorable. The eyes are also yellow which contrasts nicely with the blue potholder.

Step 4

Set your puppet to the side and pull out a piece of silver glitter foam.

 

Step 5

Next, cut a tongue out of the silver glitter foam.

 

Step 6

Lastly, use E6000 to glue your tongue into the opening of the potholder (where the pot would go).

 

Now your kids will be ready for all of their undersea adventures with these DIY mermaid and narwhal hand puppets! Even better, you can breath easier without all of those toys cluttering up your home. Come back later this month to find out how to make this fun Mad Scientist Hand Puppet! Until then, the the pretend play begin.

See where I’m linking up!

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More Ideas You’ll Love:

• DIY Painted Canvas Play Set
• Free Printable Summer Scattergories Game
• Easy Ways to Let Kids Be Creative Independently
• Dinosaur Small World in a Suitcase – The Craft Train