Last Updated on July 3, 2025 by Team Ideas24
Do you like doing craft projects with your kids? Here’s an adorable and very easy unicorn idea that will give you and their hours of fun!
You can create these magical unicorns using simple materials from your craft supplies. It’s a great activity you can do at home on a rainy day. Perfect, because these unicorn puppets will keep your kids entertained for hours.
Gather all the materials and have your kids help you make these unicorn puppets. It will help them improve their artistic and creative skills.
This project can be made with recycled cardboard boxes and leftover yarn.
Now if you and your kids are feeling extra creative, you can create other puppets so that your unicorns have friends!
Unicorn puppets! Is this going to be your next craft project with the little ones?
Contents
Crafting a Unicorn Hand Puppet
You’ll need the following tools and materials to create this easy project.
- White Heavy Cardstock
- Silver Cardstock
- Small Googly Eyes
- Yarn (different colors)
- Tacky Glue
- Glue Stick
- 3/4 inch Circle Punch
- Hole Punch
- Pink Marker
- Scissors
Steps:
1. Create the unicorn out of the cardstock
Trace and cut a unicorn-formed horn, head, neck, ears, and body from the thick cardstock. The silver shiny horn will come from the silver cardstock while the head, neck, ears, and body will be coming from the White Cardstock.
2. Make the finger holes
Create a hole by punching a ¾” circle underneath the body.
3. Assemble the unicorn
Attach the neck, head, and body using glue. Then add the horn and ears.
4. Make the hair
To make the unicorn’s hair, gather various colors of yarn. Cut into small strands. Attach all of your cut-out yarn strands to the unicorn’s neck back to the head.
5. Make the unicorn tail
To make the unicorn tail, make a hole at the back of the body. Using the remaining gathered various colors of yarn, cut into long strands. Then you can insert them into the unicorn’s hole at the back.
6. Make a cute unicorn face
Finally, you can now add two fancy unicorn eyes, and using your pink marker, draw a nose and a smile on your unicorn’s face.
Crafting Movable Mouths for a Lively Unicorn Hand Puppet
A talking puppet keeps kids engaged and fuels imagination. Learn how to give your unicorn hand puppet a mouth that opens smoothly and stays durable.
Pattern Selection and Sizing
Start by sketching a mouth pattern that fits the head profile. Use scrap cardstock to trace upper and lower jaw shapes. Check alignment by folding the template over the head cut-out. Trim where the edges overlap so the mouth closes flush.
Transfer the final pattern to felt or thin foam. Felt stretches less than knit fabric, so the mouth keeps its shape longer. Foam flexes, which lets younger kids flex the jaw without tearing stitches. Either choice works as long as you keep layers thin.
Remember to mark hinge points with a soft pencil before cutting. That reference spot prevents crooked mouths once you glue or sew pieces together.
Sewing or Gluing the Jaw Hinge
Attaching the hinge is easier than most crafters expect. Sew a strip of bias tape to connect upper and lower jaws if you like stitching. Bias tape bends neatly along curves.
If you prefer glue, choose a fabric-safe adhesive and press both jaw pieces onto a thin canvas strip. Hold with clips until fully dry. Test the range of motion before the adhesive sets hard. You can still nudge pieces a millimeter or two at this stage.
Add a second reinforcing layer inside if the puppet will see heavy play. This hidden strip doubles the life of your unicorn hand puppet without adding bulk.
Testing Articulation and Adding Support
Slip your hand inside and pinch the jaws. The hinge should open wide enough for a plastic spoon. If it sticks, trim any fabric that snags near the hinge. Glue a foam tongue to the lower jaw so it hides your fingers and adds color.
Attach soft craft wire along the neck seam. The wire acts like a spine and keeps the head upright during shows. Finish by brushing the mouth lining with nontoxic fabric paint in a bright hue. A bold lining makes every word pop when the unicorn hand puppet talks.
Eco-Friendly Materials: Sustainable Options for Unicorn Hand Puppet Crafts
Teaching sustainability adds extra value to craft time. Discover earth-friendly supplies that make your unicorn hand puppet fun while respecting the planet and future generations.
Recycled Fabrics and Cardboard
Raid old T-shirts, pillowcases, or jeans for colorful fabric. Cotton breathes, so hands stay cool inside the puppet. Denim works for hooves because it resists fraying. Cut large pieces first, then small accents like ears.
Use cereal boxes for stiffeners instead of new poster board. Layer two pieces with glue for added strength. This trick turns kitchen waste into useful craft stock. Your kids see how everyday items get a second life.
Natural Adhesives and Dyes
Skip solvent-based glues when possible. Plant-based craft glue holds fabric, felt, and yarn securely. For color, boil red cabbage for purple dye or turmeric for golden tones. Dip small accents into the dye bath, rinse, and air-dry.
The colors look soft yet vibrant beside the white body of a unicorn hand puppet. If you need sparkle, choose biodegradable glitter suspended in cornstarch adhesive. It washes away without leaving microplastics in waterways.
Low-Waste Decor and Packaging
Decorate manes with yarn scraps bundled into tiny braids. Tie each braid with cotton thread instead of plastic clips. Save offcuts to stuff mini pillows or pin cushions. Store finished puppets in fabric bags rather than plastic sleeves.
Print instructions on recycled paper or share a digital file to cut paper waste entirely. These habits teach children that every craft has an environmental footprint. Crafting a greener unicorn hand puppet shows them how small choices protect the planet they’ll inherit.
Adorable DIY unicorn ideas
Here are more easy DIY unicorn puppets for you!
Click on any image to start the lightbox display. Use your Esc key to close the lightbox.
1. Unicorn Stick
Simply play with your sticks with these fancy unicorn heads on top.
2. Felt Unicorn Finger
A cute finger unicorn puppet. Have your kids create their own unicorn puppets by making the unicorn head and four finger-sized feet with tiny horseshoes.
3. Unicorn Valentine Box
Want to give a gift on Valentine’s day to your kids or special someone? Why not consider making your own unicorn valentine’s gift box? Made of colored cardboard, foil, ribbon twirls, and glitters. Using your scrap materials and creativity skills, you can make these unicorn Valentine boxes in no time!
4. Valentine Pillow
A unicorn pillow is so fascinating. These pillows can be used in the bedroom or living room. Your kids will love to hug these toy pillows at night, and you will surely love to have them too. Having a unicorn pillow in your bed makes you feel like a child again. 😉
Adding Sparkle: Safe Glitter and Gem Techniques
Kids love sparkle, but safety matters most. Explore ways to add shimmer to a unicorn hand puppet without messy fallout or harmful chemicals during play.
Choosing Child-Safe Bling
Search for cosmetic-grade glitter made from plant cellulose. It shines like plastic glitter yet dissolves in water over time. Flat sequins with rounded edges pose less scratch risk. Stick-on gems labeled nontoxic stay secure even if curious fingers pry at them. Test any embellishment on a scrap of fabric first to check colorfastness and adhesion.
Applying Glitter Without the Mess
Mix a tablespoon of clear, washable school glue with a pinch of biodegradable glitter. Brush a thin coat onto the horn or hooves. Let each side dry before turning the puppet to avoid smudges. The glue seals glitter under a glossy film, so it won’t shed on couches or carpets. Protect your workspace with a silicone mat that releases dried drips easily. This controlled method keeps parents calm and costumes clean.
Securing Gems for Long-Term Play
Use fabric-safe hot glue on low heat to attach flat-back gems. Press for ten seconds so glue penetrates fibers. Reinforce gems along high-stress edges with a matching stitch through the gem holes if present.
Store the sparkling unicorn hand puppet flat until the glue cures fully. Periodic checks ensure decorations remain tight and safe. Replace any gem that loosens instead of re-gluing over old residue. Maintaining shine is simple when you inspect the puppet after each storytelling session.
Highlighting the Horn with an Ombre Glow
Mix two piles of biodegradable glitter in contrasting hues like deep violet and pastel lilac. Blend each with a teaspoon of clear washable glue in separate cups. Load a small flat brush with the darker mixture and coat the horn’s base.
Wipe excess glue off your brush, dip into the lighter blend, and sweep from the mid-point to the tip. Feather the boundary with gentle dabs so the tones merge without a harsh line. Rotate the unicorn hand puppet slowly while the first layer dries to stop drips from pooling on one side.
Layering Fabric Appliqués Beneath the Sparkle
Choose felt scraps in colors that match the puppet’s mane or contrast the white body for pop. Trace tiny stars, hearts, or clouds onto the felt, then cut with sharp embroidery scissors to avoid frayed edges. Dab a dot of plant-based craft glue on the back of each shape and press it onto the puppet’s flank, horn base, or cheek.
Smooth from center outward so no bubbles form under the felt. Let the glue set for five minutes, then outline each appliqué with a fine bead of clear glue. Sprinkle micro-glitter over the wet line, tap off the excess, and watch a slim shimmering border appear.
Adding Glow-in-the-Dark Details for Nighttime Shows
Buy cosmetic-grade phosphorescent powder that charges under indoor lights. Stir a pinch of the powder into clear washable glue until the mixture looks milky. Brush a slim stripe down the center of each yarn mane section and across the tail tips. Add tiny dots along the horn’s ridge for extra twinkle.
Work fast because the blend dries quickly. Place the puppet under a bright lamp for fifteen minutes so the pigment absorbs light. Turn off the lights to test the effect, noting any dim spots that need a second coat.
Conclusion
Crafting a unicorn hand puppet turns simple supplies into a magical toy that fuels endless storytelling. The movable mouth brings characters to life and keeps children engaged. You’re also teaching eco-friendly habits by choosing recycled fabrics and plant based glues. Safe sparkle techniques ensure the puppet shines without leaving a mess. Finish the project with pride and watch the puppet inspire imagination long after the glue dries.
If you liked this project, you might also like to view DIY Clothespin Puppets…
