Make these super fun snowman puppets using clothespins to animate them – free printable template included! This is a fun variation of my original clothespin puppets that I shared a while ago and that went viral on Facebook. Disclosure: this post contains commissioned links.

Click for the free template to make these cool snowman puppets with clothespins! These fun winter crafts for kids help practice fine motor skills, communication, and more, as well as teaching kids about winter.

Teach kids about winter and snow using these fun snowman puppets! To keep this craft open-ended, I included a few variations.

This one is a side-facing (profile) color-in puppet. You can embellish it simply if you want. This version is perfect for younger kids who won’t design their own elements from scratch. They can simply color-in an existing design.

For the side-facing clothespin puppets, I also made a simpler one where you can dd your own embellishments. I curved the mouth on this template. This is great for slightly older kids who love a creative challenge.

I did create a template for the reverse side of the profile snowman puppets – but you don’t need to use it; you can keep it single-sided.

I added a little twist on these clothespin puppets that I didn’t put on my previous batch – I made them forward facing too. This was a reader suggestion and it worked out wonderfully!

On the forward facing puppets, I also created two similar versions. One features all the elements, except this one is a cut-out-and-paste style. But you have all the elements ready – a cone to fold into a nose, a scarf, a hat.

The second of the forward-facing snowman puppets is a very plain version with a curved mouth. I added elements on my own – a chenille stem nose, beaded eyes, a stiff felt hat.

All these snowman puppets use a clothespin to make them feel like they are talking. This adds a fine motor element to the craft, and helps kids practice pincer grasp and strengthen those muscles.

They also have all the benefits of dramatic play, and allow kids to role play, express their emotions, etc.

Finally, I’ve heard great feedback from readers who have used clothespin puppets as a language or music learning tool. Give it a winter twist with these snowman puppets! I’ve also designed a monster puppets version as well as a unicorn puppets version that you can try.

Get my Little Red Riding Hood puppets to print for a fun literacy activity!

Download your Snowman Puppets template below:

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Looking for a super fun craft book for big kids? Want to learn how to make jewelry out of anything? Get the book!

What you need to make snowman puppets:

The template (download it above) printed out on paper or card stock
Clothespin
Markers
Scissors
Glue (I used tacky glue on these)
Decorative accessories such as feathers, chenille stems, beads, small buttons, felt scraps – I highly recommend having Kid Made Modern’s Arts ‘n Crafts library handy for crafts like this! It makes a great gift as well.

How to make snowman puppets:

Watch the video for the tutorial or scroll down for the step-by-step. Find printable instructions at the end of this post.

1. Color the parts of your puppets that you choose to use. The ones with x markings are designed to add crafty embellishments.

The top left grouping features a forward facing snowman with add-on embellishements. The rounded triangle is rolled into a cone for the nose. the top right is a forward-facing snowman with a rounded mouth. The two side-facing ones feature one that is designed for add-on embellishments and one that’s a simple color-and-craft template.

2. Cut it out, including splitting it on the central line. Add an orange felt nose.

Bead or button eyes…

And a felt hat.

3. Glue the top half of the puppet on the top half of the clothespin.

4. Add the bottom half of the puppet so that it lines up neatly with the top. Repeat on the reverse side if you want a two-sided puppet.

5. For the simple color-in puppet, color, and cut out on the horizontal line.

6. Glue it as you did the previous, making it two-sided if you want to. If your glue gets into the inside of your clothespin, simply remove as much as you can. When it’s almost dry, force it open, making sure it’s not glued shut.

7. If you’d like, add on an embellishment or two, such as this pretty feather. This detail shakes as you open and close your puppet, making it more animated and fun to use.

8. For the forward facing puppets, simply glue the top and bottom parts to the small flat parts of the front of the clothespin.

9. Embellish it – I did this after the attached puppet dried, because I found it easier to let it dry without the embellishments.

10. For the template with the separate parts, simply create your parts individually and then assemble it. Roll up your carrot nose, and then straighten the bottom edge. Glue it onto a pool of glue on the face.

Have you tried making these snowman puppets? How did you embellish yours? Comment below!

These easy clothespin puppets make a great winter craft for kids! Click for the free snowman puppets template and make this sweet fine motor snowman craft for preschoolers and kids. #finemotor #snowman #wintercrafts

Want to print the instructions for these snowman puppets? Click the printer button below to give it a go:

Snowman Puppets

Use the free template to make these fun clothespin snowman puppets!

Materials

The template printed out on paper or card stock
Clothespin
Markers
Scissors
Glue (I used tacky glue on these)
Decorative accessories such as:
feathers
chenille stems
beads
small buttons
felt scraps

Instructions

↵

1. Color the parts of your puppets that you choose to use. The ones with x markings are designed to add crafty embellishments.

2. Cut it out, including splitting it on the central line. Add an orange felt nose, bad or button eyes, and a felt hat.

3. Glue the top half of the puppet on the top half of the clothespin.

4. Add the bottom half of the puppet so that it lines up neatly with the top. Repeat on the reverse side if you want a two-sided puppet.

5. For the simple color-in puppet, color, and cut out on the horizontal line.

6. Glue it as you did the previous, making it two-sided if you want to. If your glue gets into the inside of your clothespin, simply remove as much as you can. When it's almost dry, force it open, making sure it's not glued shut.

7. If you'd like, add on an embellishment or two, such as a pretty feather. This detail shakes as you open and close your puppet, making it more animated and fun to use.

8. For the forward facing puppets, simply glue the top and bottom parts to the small flat parts of the front of the clothespin.

9. Embellish it - I did this after the attached puppet dried, because I found it easier to let it dry without the embellishments.