Easy Nutcracker Craft (Free Nutcracker Puppet Template)

Ready to add some Nutcracker magic to your holiday crafting? This Nutcracker craft is perfect for kids who love to create and imagine! With just a few simple materials—like paper plates and popsicle sticks—you can make a mini theater complete with adorable Nutcracker and ballerina puppets. Whether you’re looking for a fun activity to do at home, in the classroom, or at a holiday party, this Christmas craft is the perfect way to get everyone in the festive spirit. Plus, it’s easy to customize so kids can get creative! Let’s get crafting.

• Table Of Contents:
  • Materials
  • Instructions
  • Nutcracker Craft Template Download
  • Tips & Troubleshooting
  • Benefits of This Nutcracker Ballet Craft For Kids
  • Final Thoughts

Materials

• Paper plate
• Popsicle sticks
• Scissors
• Green and red paint
• Paintbrush
• Markers, wax crayons or pencil crayons

Instructions

Step 1)

Print and color-in the template pieces for the nutcracker characters then cut them out. If you color them in first, you don’t have to worry as much about protecting your table from marks when your kids go outside the lines.

Step 2)

Cut one paper plate into the shape of curtains. Keep this part small/thin so your puppets have lots of room to fit inside. Paint this paper plate piece red. You can either add a strip of yellow ribbon or paper to the curtains to make it look like it’s tied open, or add a bit of yellow paint like you can see in the photos.

Step 3)

Paint another paper plate green, or you can paint this second paper plate anyway that you’d like in order to make it look like the set of the Nutcracker Ballet. You can get creative and paint a giant Christmas tree back there, or other characters from the show. Cut a slit in near the bottom of this plate so your popsicle stick puppets can slide in later.

Step 4)

Use strong double sided tape or glue to attach the red curtains to the green paper plate. Attach the ballet dancer and nutcracker to their own popsicle sticks with tape or glue. Slide the popsicle stick puppets inside the slit in the paper plate and play!

Video Instructions

Prefer video instructions for your crafts? Subscribe to the YouTube channel for Crafty Kids Play and watch the full video tutorial for this Nutcracker Craft here.

Nutcracker Craft Template Download

You can print this nutcracker template on regular white printer paper. If your children are very young and have a hard time cutting out the little details, you may want to cut out the template pieces with or for them. Young kids should be supervised by an adult during craft time, especially while handling safety scissors. 

This free template is a digital download only for you to use or for classroom use, not for resale or commercial use; if you want to share this template with a friend, please send them the link to this article instead of sharing the template directly. 

Tips & Troubleshooting

Cutting Tips:

When cutting out the template pieces, use small scissors for better control, especially for detailed areas like the Nutcracker’s hat or the ballerina’s arms. If your child struggles with cutting, pre-cut the pieces for small children so they can focus on coloring and assembling.  

Painting Tip:

If the red paint on the curtains is streaky, let it dry and add a second coat. For younger kids, washable paint can help minimize accidents.  

Sturdy Puppets:

For durability, print the templates on cardstock instead of regular paper, or glue the paper pieces onto thin cardboard (like a cereal box) before cutting them out. Thicker paper and a jumbo craft stick can help make this great activity last longer if your kids are a bit rough.

Curtain Adjustments:

If the curtains don’t stay firmly attached to the stage plate, reinforce the edges with extra glue or use hot glue (with adult supervision).  

Customizable Backdrop:

If your child doesn’t want to paint, they can use crayons, markers, stickers or even printed wrapping paper for the background of their stage. Do your kids have big imaginations? Let them use creative inspiration from the ballet to decorate the backdrop with a scene from the show or with their favorite nutcracker characters like the sugar plum fairy.

Benefits of This Nutcracker Ballet Craft For Kids

Boosts Creativity:

This nutcracker puppet craft encourages kids to use their imagination while decorating the stage and puppets. Whether they recreate scenes from the Nutcracker Ballet or invent their own, the possibilities are endless! Crafting is a great way to boost creativity.

Fine Motor Skills Development:

Coloring, cutting, and assembling the pieces for this wonderful craft help kids practice precision and hand-eye coordination, which are important skills for young learners.

Encourages Storytelling:

Once the craft is complete, kids can use the puppets to act out the Nutcracker Ballet or create their own stories. This is the perfect activity to help foster language development and narrative skills.

Holiday Spirit:

Have some holiday fun with our printable crafts. The Nutcracker is a beloved holiday tradition, and this craft introduces kids to its themes, characters, and magic in a fun and interactive way. You can use this craft as an introduction to the story of the nutcracker or as an activity after you watch the show.

Final Thoughts

Ta-da! Your Nutcracker Ballet stage is complete, and now it’s showtime. This craft is a blast to make around Christmas time and doubles as a toy that gives kids hours of imaginative play. From creating mini holiday performances to showing off their artistic flair, kids will be proud of their Nutcracker masterpiece. Plus, you’ve got the bonus of some screen-free fun—win-win! So go ahead, gather your supplies, print the template, and let the Nutcracker magic unfold. 

Stick around Crafty Kids Play for more fun ideas and Christmas crafts for kids of all ages.