At each quarter inch around the circumference of the toilet paper cardboard roll, make a small cuts; this will be the neck. Then affix the cut end of neck to the opening of the empty gallon milk jug using the glue gun. Cut the flat cardboard into a roughly 10inch x 6 inch oval, then cut a circle in the bottom of the oval; this section is the shoulders. Use the glue gun to affix the neck to the shoulders. Punch two small holes on each side of the shoulders piece, then pass the string through each hole and tie off the end of each string so that they are held at the top of the shoulders; each string will form an arm. Using the glue gun, affix two independent toilet-paper cardboard rolls to each string, so as to allow the arms to flex at the elbow (where each cardboard tube meets on both arms). Fold in half the blue felt, and then cut out a simple dress shape: (i) each arm sleeve 5 inches wide and 9 inches long and (ii) a rough "A" shape for the body. Fold in half over the puppet and use the glue gun to seal (rather than sewing together). [alternatively, you can use old children's clothes]. Cut out hands from cardboard, and attach using the glue gun to a long cut section of cardboard (this is for the child to handle for hand motions). Cut out ears and nose and affix to the milk jug head using the glue gun (note that the two round sections on the milk jug are the eyes). Finally, glue the center of the brown felt to the top of the head (bottom of the milk jug), then cut strips in the felt to make hair, braids, etc.

Now that the puppet is fully assembled, use the flesh tone (or other color) acrylic paint to paint the face and neck. Use the Pink to paint rouge circles on the cheeks. Finally, cut out paper circles to match the size of the circles on the milk jug head; these will be the eyes. Use the sharpie to illustrate the eyes, then glue in place after the flesh paint is dry. Add additional features to the face, hands, and clothing as you see fit with the sharpie.

Have the child hold the milk jug handle in one hand, and the cardboard arm extension in the other hand. Now they can play with the puppet! It's easy and fun! This is just one example of what can be done with the process; our photo has both the above listed puppet, and a second puppet, both made in a couple of hours.