Kids Crafts: Peanut Finger Puppets - Red Ted Art

Well.. as you know it is Christmas in our dolls’ house too. Last week we made some little Christmas presents. I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas festivities!! Today we have little Peanut Puppet Dwarves for you. I apologies in advance for those of your with Peanut or nut allergies in the family. Please do NOT read on. Pip Squeak ADORES sticking the lids of pens on her fingers. She is forever doing it (which can be a little boring when you have to match all the pens and lids back up again). So when I saw Peanut Puppets on my crafty journey, I knew I had to make some. I confess however, that I cannot remember WHERE I saw them. I think it was in a craft book (I get to review them every so often). So, I apologise for not crediting someone properly. The original I saw, were made for “Halloween” and included a little bat and ghost.

Also.. this is a craft that I ended up making FOR the kids. Though Red Ted did help me paint he dwarves coats a little. I do want to make some with them to do.. and we will probably have a go at creating little imaginary beings over the coming days. But I really fancied some dwarves… especially as the peanut shape is PERFECT for dwarf hats!

The Book/ The Story

Snow White and The Seven Dwarves, by Laura Ljungkvist.

Well… do I really need to tell you the story of Snow White? Surely, *everyone* knows this classic Brother Grimm’s tale. It has of course been popularised by Disney and many images of Snow White that will pop into your head when her name is mentioned are indeed Disney’s! We have a collection of Grimm’s tales in German at home. But as a fan of Laura Ljungkvist (you may remember her Follow The Line books) I also love this version of Snow White. As with previous titles you can “trace” the story by following the line throughout the book. Quirky. Bold. Wonderful. And certainly a change to your standard Disney!

The Craft

If like us, there is always a bowl of nuts to crack and peel at Christmas, then these are for you. They are an awesomely thrifty craft, as you get to still eat your nut! And then play with the “waste”.

Materials: whole peanuts, acrylic paint, brush, cotton wool & glue (optional)

1. Cut the bottom of your shell off and carefully shake out your peanuts

2. Look at your peanuts – what creatures do they remind you of? I actually made a Smurf first. Just irresistable. But my children don’t know the Smurfs, so there was no point in making more. Dwarves it is. Which is great, as Pip Squeak is learning her colours and Red Ted can practice counting.