PUPPET THEATRE: The theatre is made from a tissue box that has an oval opening

1. Make the decoration on top of the theatre from cardboard. Trace out on cardboard, cut out and paint to match the theatre. Fold it back on the dotted line and glue this folded edge to the  front edge of the box as shown in the photograph.
2. Paint the theatre. The brighter the better! Paint the inside a contrasting colour.
3. Add fabric curtains, buttons and painted Ditali pasta for decorations (small tubular shaped pasta).
4. To enable the puppets to “move” cut a slit in the “floor” of the theatre and the puppets can move back and forth through the slit.

These puppets are made from peanuts and toothpicks.

TOOTHPICK ESTHER AND MORDECAI PUPPETS:

1. Paint peanut flesh colour. In case of peanut allergies, substitute a wooden ice cream spoon. Add facial features with a felt pen and yarn for hair or beard. You can also leave the peanut unpainted if you wish.
2. Glue a scrap of fabric around the figure, stapling a “pleat” to the front of the robe as shown in the photo.
3. Form a finger toothpick holder by making a small hole at the bottom of the peanut; add glue to the hole, then insert the toothpick.
4. Add yarn hair, beard, and a yellow paper crown to the queen!
5. For younger children you might want to break off the sharp tip of one end of the toothpick for safety reasons. A slight sanding with an emery board or sandpaper would smooth the rough edges.

STAND-UP FIGURE OF KING XERXES:

1. Copy the pattern of King Xerxes on cardstock or paper. Colour and cut out.
2. The arm is cut out separately.
3. A paper fastener is inserted so that the arm can be moved up and down.
4. There are two versions for this craft: You can make a colouring picture from the pattern below or older children might want to make a collage design. For the collage, cut out all of the pattern pieces pictured below. First glue the face behind the beard, then glue both to the robe. The arm is fastened to the body by means of a paper fastener. Add a crown and trim to the robe. Add a cardboard stand so that your figure can stand up!

TO MAKE A STAND FOR A STAND-UP FIGURE:

1. Cut a piece of cardboard (a cereal box will work fine) approximately 1.4” (3 cm) x 7” (19cm).
2. Draw a line 2” (5 cm) from the bottom edge of the cardboard strip.
3. Fold this edge and bend it back.
4. Glue or tape the back of the strip to the figure. The 2” lower section is not glued. It is placed on the table and enables the figure to stand up. See the photo at the bottom of this page for further explanation.
5. NOTE: These measurements are flexible. Change them to suit the size and height of your figure.

NOTE: The stand for King Xerxes should be made wider at the bottom to accomodate his feet. See the photograph for details.

An easy, fun craft to do. And no sewing involved whatsoever!

MORDECAI IN THE BED:

1. The bed can be a matchbox or any small box, painted brown.
2. For the bedstead cut out a cardboard or paper rectangle to fit your box. Curve the ends of the rectangle according to the photograph. Paint it brown.
3. Glue the bedstead to the bed.
4. Add glue to the inside bottom of the bed. Fill the bed half-full with fiberfill.

TO MAKE THE BEDDING:

1. Cut a piece of fabric 4.5” (11.5cm) x 8” (20.5 cm) to make the comforter.
2. Fold in the raw edges on all sides, making a narrow hem. Glue them down.
3. Fold the fabric in half. Place fiberfill on one half.
4. Glue all the edges together. Tuck the comforter into the bed on top of the fiberfill.
5. The pillow is made in the same way from fabric 3” (7.5 cm) x 3.5” (9 cm)

TO MAKE MORDECAI:

1. For Mordecai’s robe cut  felt 2.5” (6.5 cm) x 1.5” (3.5 cm)
2. Insert a mini craft stick into a 1” (2.5 cm) styrofoam ball. This will be the head.
3. Cut a 2”( 5 cm) square of panti-hose or nylon stocking and stretch it tightly around the styrofoam ball.
4. Secure tightly around the “neck” with a pipe cleaner or wire. Trim off the excess fabric and wire.
5. Glue the scrap of felt around the body. Make a stapled “pleat” in the centre.
6. Add googly eyes and a beard. The beard can be made from yarn or from “roving” (unspun wool available in some yarn shops or on the Internet).
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MORDECAI’S DREAM: STORYTELLER GLOVE

1. Copy the patterns on to card stock and cut out on a doubled layer of felt.
2. Stuff the figures lightly with fiberfill.
3. The figures can be sewed by hand or glued. Follow the photo for details.
4. The figure of Mordecai is a finger puppet and is not glued to the glove.
5. The other figures can be glued to the glove or adhered with Velcro so that they can be removed or added as needed to tell the story of Mordecai.
6. Only one layer of “spikes” is cut out. This is placed between the two layers of the dragon.

Mordecai was given a horse and crown by King Xerxes (Esther 6:8)

TO MAKE THE HORSE:

Copy the pattern on card stock for the horse’s body and head. Paint and cut out.

1. Glue the horse’s head to the body.
2. Paint the clothespin “legs” and clip to the horse.
3. Glue on yarn for the mane and a googly eye.
4. Make a tail from a narrow strip of cardstock and add yarn for the tip of the tail.

TO MAKE THE PEG DOLL:

1. Cut off 1.25″ (3 cm) from the bottom of the peg. Lightly sand the rough edges. Paint the doll.
2. Cut out the pattern for the hair and crown and glue it on to the head according to the photograph.
3. Add an eye with felt pen. Place the doll on the horse.
4. To make the reins, glue on a length of yarn or embroidery floss to make it look as though Mordecai is holding on to them.