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This sweet craft is the perfect activity for kids at Christmastime. Get our free printable Nutcracker puppet theater and enjoy some fun crafting time. Then host a puppet show in the theater!
Nutcracker at Christmas
It’s that time of year!
Every year, as the Christmas holiday season approaches, dance studios and ballet companies big and small take to the stage. The Nutcracker Ballet is a family tradition for many of us and a great way to experience live theater. The story of The Nutcracker, written by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, was first performed in 1892.
Featuring some of the most recognized classical music pieces including Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies and Trepak: Russian Dance, The Nutcracker is as entertaining to listen to as it is to watch on stage (or watch on the movie screen).
There are plenty of Nutcracker crafts out there, and we think this one would work great at home or in the classroom.
Fun Craft for the Christmas Season
This printable paper theater is a fun craft that doubles as entertainment! Perfect for your ballet-loving kids or really anyone who loves fun Christmas crafts.
It does not require many supplies (see list below) and you can print as many copies as you’d like (personal use only, please).
What’s Included in the Printable Pack
- Theater
- 2 backgrounds
- 6 Puppets (2 ballerinas, 2 Claras, 1 soldier, 1 mouse king)
List of Craft Supplies
To put this craft together, you will need the following:
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Tape
- Nutcracker printable pack
- Craft sticks
Get the Free Printables
Get the pack here: Nutcracker Template
You can grab our printable right here. Simply enter your email address in the box and opt-in to receive our free newsletter. Check your inbox for this printable, which you will receive as a subscriber bonus. The printable is a PDF file, so you must be able to open PDF files to view/print it. NOTE: This file is for PERSONAL USE ONLY. You may NOT sell the digital file or sell the printed work. You may NOT redistribute the digital file or printed work.
How to Assemble the Craft
The pages on this printable pack are all labeled with simple instructions, but here are some more details.
1. Print out all of the pages in the pack. I highly recommend printing them all out on white cardstock to make them a bit sturdier than regular printer paper.
2. Cut out all of the pieces. Be careful not to cut the dotted lines – those lines get folded.
3. Glue sides and bottom the the front part of stage, using the tabs. Cut out back of stage and fold tabs along dotted lines. Glue back sides and bottom piece to back of the stage. You should have two main components of the stage now.
4. Position the front stage onto the back of the stage. Make sure the front sides end up on the outside of stage. Glue at bottom and sides thoroughly to make sure your stage is sturdy.
5. Cut out both stage scene backgrounds. Guide the backgrounds into stage box, hanging them using the cut out notches.
6. Glue each puppet figure onto a craft or popsicle stick. So cute, right?
That’s it! You’re ready to perform!
I hope you love this one! It’s so adorable – it could even double as holiday decor if you display it on a shelf or table. Make sure you take a look through my huge collection of Christmas ideas while you’re here! Lots of printables, DIYs (ornaments, gift ideas, etc) and recipes.
Let us know if you give this one a try! I would love to hear how it turned out for you! If you post a picture of your finished creation on social media like Facebook or Instagram, feel free to tag me!
