Santa Stick Puppet Craft With Free Printable Template

Make a Santa stick puppet craft with colored paper, a popsicle stick, and our free printable template. Kids can assemble the red suit, add a fluffy white beard, and use their finished Christmas puppet for imaginative play and holiday storytelling.

This easy Christmas craft fits into an afternoon of Christmas crafts and printables at home or a classroom craft station. Set out the paper pieces before you begin so children can see how the festive character comes together.

Plan for about 35 minutes, plus drying time if you use liquid glue. Preschoolers can help assemble prepared pieces, while older children can practice tracing and cutting.

Table of Contents

Supplies for Your Santa Stick Puppet Craft

Free printable Santa paper puppet template
Red paper for the suit, sleeves, and hat
White paper for the beard, mustache, cuffs, and hat trim
Skin-tone paper of your choice for the face
Black paper for the belt, boots, and buckle center
Yellow or gold paper for the buckle
One clean wooden craft stick or popsicle stick
Pencil
Child-safe scissors
Glue stick or washable school glue
Tape for reinforcing the handle
Black marker for facial details

Ordinary paper works for the beard. Embossed white cardstock adds texture without making the puppet bulky.

Optional decorations: a small amount of cotton for the beard, a white pom-pom for the hat, or googly eyes. For children under 3, use drawn details instead of small loose decorations.

Get the Free Santa Stick Puppet Template

Use the free Santa template provided with this post to trace the puppet pieces onto colored paper. Print at actual size, or 100%, to keep the pieces in proportion.

Before gluing, arrange the cutouts on the table to check where everything belongs. Keep the small buckle and cuff pieces together in a shallow dish.

For a different cut-and-paste activity, try our Build a Santa printable.

How to Make Your Own Santa Stick Puppet

1. Trace and Cut the Pieces

Print the template, trace each shape onto the matching paper, and cut it out. Use white for the beard and trim, red for the clothing, and black for the boots and belt.

Santa stick puppet cut from free Santa template

Adults can prepare the small pieces for younger kids.

2. Assemble the Hat and Belt

Add the white brim and round white tip to the red hat.

Make the belt buckle separately: glue the smaller black square onto the larger yellow or gold square, then attach the finished buckle to the center of the black belt strip.

3. Make Santa’s Arms

Attach a white cuff to the end of each red sleeve, then add a hand or mitten beneath each cuff.

Check that you have a left and right arm before attaching them to the body.

4. Attach the Arms to the Suit

Glue the upper end of each arm behind the side of the body. Keep the hands visible beyond the suit.

For the basic puppet craft, glue both arms in place. See the moving-arm option below if you want the character to wave.

5. Build the Face

Glue the beard and mustache onto the head, leaving space for the facial features. Add the hat across the top.

Draw the eyes, nose, and mouth where visible. A washable fine-tip marker is an alternative to a permanent marker.

6. Finish the Body

Attach the belt across the suit’s middle. Glue the head at the top and the boots along the bottom.

Let each overlapping piece make enough contact with the body to hold securely.

7. Add the Stick Handle

Turn the assembled figure over and attach the craft stick vertically behind the body. Leave enough stick below the boots for a comfortable grip.

Santa stick puppet and free Santa template

Reinforce the attachment with tape across the back. Let the glue dry before lifting your festive puppet for its first performance.

Tips for a Puppet That Holds Together

Use a glue stick for flat paper layers. It spreads a thin layer of adhesive and is less likely to wrinkle lightweight paper than too much liquid glue.

Choose washable school glue for texture. Small dots work well for cotton or a pom-pom. Leave the puppet flat until the glue dries.

Try double-sided tape for quick assembly. It avoids drying time between flat paper pieces, although some children need help removing the backing.

Keep decorations light. A thin layer of cotton gives the character a fluffy beard without weighing down the head. Paper eyes and drawn details also keep the puppet easy to hold.

Reinforce thin paper. If the body flops, glue an extra cardstock layer behind it before attaching the handle.

Felt can replace some paper details, but it needs a fabric-safe adhesive. A cardstock backing helps a felt puppet keep its shape. Leave bells and heavy decorations off a beginner craft project.

If an adult uses hot glue to attach pieces, keep the gun away from children and let the glue cool completely before play.

Completed Santa stick puppet craft with a gift.

Make a Santa Puppet Without a Printer

You can make a simpler Santa using shapes drawn directly on paper:

Cut a red rectangle with rounded top corners for the body.
Add a skin-tone circle for the head.
Cut a white beard shape and a red triangle hat.
Add white paper strips for the hat brim and cuffs.
Use a narrow black strip for the belt and black shapes for boots.
Draw the face, glue the layers together, and tape a stick behind the body.

Arms are optional for this version. Younger children can create a jolly Santa with just a body, head, beard, and hat.

Trace a cup for the face circle if drawing a circle is tricky. The pieces do not need to match the printable template exactly.

Adapt the Craft for Different Ages

Choose how much help your child needs based on their scissor skills and comfort with small pieces.

Toddlers: An adult cuts and assembles the main puppet. Children can choose colors, draw details, and, with supervision, help press down larger pieces.
Preschoolers, roughly ages 3–5: Prepare the small cutouts ahead of time. Let children arrange and glue the large shapes.
Early elementary children, roughly ages 6–8: Many can trace, cut, and assemble with occasional help. The small buckle pieces may still need adult support.
Older children: Offer textured materials, extra Christmas characters, or the moving-arm variation.

Wider Handles for Small Hands

A jumbo craft stick offers a wider grip than a narrow popsicle stick.

For a paper handle, fold a strip of sturdy cardstock lengthwise, tape it closed, and attach it behind the figure. You can also fold a strip cut from a paper plate, covering any rough edges with tape.

A short, clean cardboard tube makes another handle option. Tape the paper character securely to the outside of the tube and leave space below it for the child’s hand. This works best for a small, lightweight paper toy.

For more activities for kids using simple supplies, browse our Christmas crafts for preschoolers.

How to Give Santa Moving Arms

Older children can turn the fixed arms into waving arms with small paper fasteners.

Before gluing the arms to the body, have an adult make a small hole at each shoulder and a matching hole near the top of each arm. Overlap the pieces and connect each pair with a paper fastener.

Leave the joint loose enough to rotate. Cover the open fastener ends on the back with tape, but don’t tape over the rotating joint.

Children can move the arms by hand. To control one during a puppet show, tape a second thin craft stick behind the hand and use it as a separate arm handle.

This is an optional modification to the basic Santa puppet template. Paper fasteners are small parts, so reserve this version for children who can use them safely with adult help.

Add Characters to Your Christmas Puppet Show

Make a few handmade companions using the same paper-and-stick method for a festive puppet show.

Mrs. Claus: Start with a red dress shape and a face circle. Add white paper hair, an apron, and drawn glasses.

An elf: Use a green body, a pointed hat, and striped paper details. Make the elf puppet smaller than Santa for a varied cast.

A reindeer: For a simple reindeer craft, cut a brown head and body, add paper antlers, and draw a nose. Keep the antlers broad enough to resist tearing.

A Christmas tree: Cut a green triangle, add paper ornaments, and tape a stick behind it. The tree can serve as scenery or a speaking character.

These hand-cut ideas don’t require additional printable templates. Children can also add our Santa paper bag craft to the show as another puppet style.

A Short Santa Puppet Show Script

Title: The Missing Christmas Star

Characters: Santa and an elf. A single child can voice both characters, or two children can take turns playing the roles.

Prop: A large star cut from paper.

Santa: Oh, oh! The star is missing from our Christmas tree! Do you know where it went?

Elf: I looked around the wrapping table. There was plenty of ribbon, but I couldn’t find the star!

Santa: Maybe we can find it together. Can you spot anything near the tree?

Elf: Wait! I see something bright and yellow. Could that be the missing star?

Santa: That’s it! Can you help me place it on the tree?

Elf: I’d be happy to! Christmas feels even better when we help each other.

Santa: You’re such a wonderful helper! Wishing everyone a merry Christmas!

Have an adult help place the star on a paper tree or backdrop. Children can change the ending, add a reindeer, or invite the audience to point out the missing star.

For a simple stage, perform behind a sofa or a cloth-covered table. Hold the puppets above the edge and practice speaking one line at a time.

Store Your Santa Puppet Between Shows

Let the glue dry completely before storing the puppet. Store it flat in a shallow box or on a tray so the beard, hat, and arms stay supported.

Separate multiple puppets with sheets of paper. Avoid piling books or heavy holiday crafts on top, especially if you added cotton or pom-poms.

Keep puppets in a dry place. Before the next show, check the stick attachment and reinforce any loose paper pieces with a small amount of glue or tape.

Santa popsicle stick craft with free printable template

More Christmas Crafts to Make Together

Continue crafting with a Build a Santa printable for another paper assembly activity, or make a Santa paper bag puppet with a larger handle.

Our Christmas paper plate crafts offer more fun crafts using everyday supplies. Find ideas for your next craft day in our collection of Christmas crafts and printables for kids.

How Can You Create a Paper Puppet Using a Craft Stick?

Cut out a paper character, assemble and decorate it, then attach a craft stick vertically to the back. Leave part of the stick below the character for a handle. Reinforce the attachment with tape and let glue dry before play.

Can I use regular printer paper?

Yes, although thin paper may bend during play. Use cardstock for the body, or add a cardstock backing for a sturdier puppet.

Can children make this Santa puppet independently?

Children with confident tracing and scissor skills may complete most of it independently. Younger children usually need the pieces cut out and help positioning small details. Base the level of support on ability rather than age alone.

Can You Make This Puppet Without a Popsicle Stick?

A stick isn’t necessary. Try using folded cardstock or a small cardboard tube as the handle for your lightweight creation. Secure it firmly with tape, and check the connection before handing it to a young child.

Are Mrs. Claus and elf templates included?

This tutorial uses the Santa template. You can make Mrs. Claus and an elf from simple hand-cut paper shapes using the character ideas above.

Can I turn the same craft into an ornament?

To make a hanging decoration, skip the handle and secure a ribbon loop to the back of the head or body. Choose lightweight embellishments so the finished piece hangs properly.