I was recently gifted with 32 miniature boxes of cereal, and I was immediately thrown back into the summer vacations of my childhood. My mother would pick them up as a treat on the rare occasion, and I loved it when they showed up in the cupboard, because it meant I could make cereal box puppets. I have no idea if I made this up or if someone taught me how, but it turns out that it’s still a lot of fun 25 years later, even if you find out that you’re completely out of glue, construction paper, or any other serviceable craft supplies.
How To Make A (Possibly Gonzo) Cereal Box Puppet
1. Get yourself a miniature box of cereal. My cereal boxes came in a variety pack, so I chose to destroy a box of raisin bran, because bran turns my guts into cement and raisins are evil. If you hate the cereal inside the box you are destroying, too, feel free to take perverse pleasure in it. It’s not weird. Really. I just did it.
2. Saw the box through the middle width-wise with a serrated knife. Take care not to saw through the cardboard on the back side of the box.
3. Empty the box of all of its contents, including the plastic liner.
4. Fold the box over, pressing a tidy crease along the fold.
See? Potential!
5. This is where the project has the opportunity to go a little off the rails if you, like me, find out that your glue is ten years old, you’ve lost your construction paper somehow, and your markers have dried up.
Personally, I would suggest that you paint the box with craft paints or cover it with glue and paper. Being out of all of those things, though, I, of course, went the peanut butter route en lieu of glue.
And, because I am ever so resourceful, I, of course, decided to use the bran flakes en lieu of paper.
Are you still with me?
6. Now you’re ready to decorate your puppet with eyes, ears, hair, antlers, and whatever else you feel moved to create your character with.
I found out that the bran flakes made gluing on extra features a little difficult, so I chose to settle for two eyes made out of raisins. Really, at this point, I wasn’t making myself any promises. I was covered in peanut butter up to my wrists and had bran flakes stuck between my toes.
But it worked, and voilà! Birdie was born!
Birdie wanted to show off her Ethel Merman impression while singing a morbid song from her childhood, so I gave her the stage. She does go on a bit, but it’s worth the full two minutes, I swear. Her timing is impeccable.
Take it away, Birdie!
About Schmutzie
My day definitely needed a peanut butter puppet in it. So, thank you.
Twitter Name: TamingInsanity
You’re welcome!
Twitter Name: schmutzie
That’s great! But I can’t let my husband see this. He would totally do it… and leave the mess for me to clean up.
I should send it to my friend who has two kids. ::evil grin::
I’ve been finding peanut butter all over for days.
Twitter Name: schmutzie
Holy peanut-buttered bran flakes, Birdie. You’ve got talent! And stage presence. And a pretty sweet voice — for high-fibre cereal.
Thanks for the show.
P.S. Don’t ever exfoliate. I love you just the way you are.
Twitter Name: writewrds
Birdie wouldn’t think of it.
Twitter Name: schmutzie
You are such a weirdo. I heart you.
:)
Twitter Name: schmutzie
you are brilliant and i love you
MWAH.
Twitter Name: schmutzie
This is terrible and you are terrifying.
Burn your puppet and kill yourself.
omigodletsmakeout
Twitter Name: schmutzie
Woah! This just made my day! Thanks, Schmutzie (and, Birdie too, of course.)
This makes all that peanut butter abuse worthwhile.
Twitter Name: schmutzie
At work we have one of those “accident-free for ___ days” signs. My personal “laugh-free for ___days” sign was in the two digit numbers before I saw this. Now it’s back down to zero.
Twitter Name: ffantastica
YOU just made my day with that comment. You really needed a good laugh, and I’m glad to have been a part of it.
Twitter Name: schmutzie
Your mind must be an amazing place to be. I keep going back to the peanut butter turning point and then I giggle uncontrollably.
I love this! I was waiting for the Gonzo nose attachment step – is that for part 2?
Twitter Name: DresdenPlaid
Not going to lie: I’m a little bit scared of Birdie. Something about him reminds me of The Silence of the Lambs when Anthony Hopkins wears the other guy’s face on his face. Am I nuts?
Twitter Name: nystoopmama
This sounds like how my craft projects go… and my attempts at cooking…
Twitter Name: bitingmyhand