Make a Paper Puppy Pull Out!
Make a pull-tab paper puppy puppet using paper, scissors, tape, and straws; decorate it and test the pull-out movement safely and carefully.
Step-by-step guide to make a paper puppy pull-out puppet
Step 1
Gather all Materials Needed and ask an adult to help you before you start.
Step 2
Cut two rectangles from the paper about 10 cm by 15 cm each.
Step 3
Place one rectangle landscape and use the pencil and ruler to draw a horizontal guideline 7 cm long centered 2 cm from the bottom.
Step 4
Cut out the horizontal slot along the guideline to make a small opening.
Step 5
On the second rectangle draw a puppy head shape near the top and add a small rectangular tab about 1 cm tall at the base of the head.
Step 6
Cut out the puppy head shape carefully, leaving the tab attached.
Step 7
Insert the straw through the slot from the back so one end sticks out in front of the slot.
Step 8
Tape the puppy head tab to the straw about 1 cm from the straw end so the head will move when the straw slides.
Step 9
Place the front rectangle (with the slot and straw) on top of the second rectangle aligning the edges.
Step 10
Tape the left side right side and bottom edge of the two rectangles together to make a pocket while leaving the top open.
Step 11
Decorate your puppy with colouring materials and add eyes a nose spots or a collar.
Step 12
Gently pull the straw to make the puppy head pop out and see how the pull-out movement works.
Step 13
Push the straw back to hide the head and make any small tape fixes if the movement needs adjusting.
Step 14
Share a photo or video of your finished Paper Puppy Pull Out on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a drinking straw if we don't have one?
If you don't have a drinking straw you can use a wooden skewer, a coffee stirrer, or a tightly rolled strip of cardboard of similar thickness inserted through the slot.
Why won't the puppy head slide when I pull the straw?
If the puppy head doesn't move smoothly, make sure the 7 cm horizontal slot isn't too narrow, the 1 cm tab is taped about 1 cm from the straw end with only a small piece of tape, and the pocket edges aren't taped tight against the straw.
How can I change this activity for younger or older kids?
For younger kids have an adult cut the two 10×15 cm rectangles and the slot and pre-cut the puppy head, while older kids can design more detailed heads, use different straw thicknesses, or add extra moving parts.
How can we make the Paper Puppy Pull Out more creative or challenging?
To extend the project, decorate the puppy (eyes, nose, collar) as instructed, add a background scene, make a series of pull-outs, or combine two straws to make the head and tail move independently.
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Facts about paper crafts for kids
🐶 Kids love dog puppets—making a paper puppy is a fun way to practice storytelling, emotions, and pretend play.
🧩 Pull-tabs are a paper-engineering trick: a sliding tab through a slot turns straight pulls into wagging tails or flopping ears.
🤖 Early automata (self-moving toys) go back over 2,000 years to ancient Greek and Chinese engineers who built moving figures.
🥤 A drinking straw makes a great smooth guide rod for pull-tabs—it's cheap, light, and helps prevent paper from tearing.
🎭 Puppetry is a global art—shadow puppets, marionettes, and hand puppets each inspire different kinds of movement and stories.
