Make your own
Fauna-inspired Paper Puppet

This puppet is inspired by Fauna from Soft Forest, an Erth Visual & Physical show about wonder, nature and caring for the living world. Fauna is a gentle forest creature who is part plant and part animal, who speaks for the trees.
Your puppet will be made from two sheets of A3 recycled paper and finished with a plantable heart that can grow Swan River paper daisies.

You Will Need

  • 2 sheets of recycled A3 paper

  • 1 small cut-out paper heart made from plantable paper embedded with Swan River paper daisy seeds

  • Masking tape

Steps

Make the head and body

1. Scrunch up one of the A3 sheets of paper to make a long, thin piece that will form Fauna’s head, body and legs.

2. Fold the paper in half to make Fauna’s round head. Gently scrunch the middle of the paper to make a rounded forest-creature body and separate out the legs.

3. Use masking tape to define the head and legs.

Attach the arms

4. Take the second piece of A3 paper and scrunch it up longways, like the first piece. This will become Fauna’s arms.

5. Wrap the scrunched-up paper around the centre of Fauna’s body, with the crossover fold at the back. Tape down with masking tape.

Make hands and feet

6. Spread out the ends of her legs and arms to form feet and fingers. Fauna can be part plant and part animal, so your shapes do not need to look perfect.

Add eyes

7. Use a texta or pencil to add Fauna’s big eyes.

Add the heart

8. Place the seed-paper heart on Fauna’s chest. Use a small loop of masking tape so it can be removed later for planting. Or you can tuck it into her body, safe and secure.

Wake up Fauna

9. Now you can breathe life into Fauna. Try gentle movements, listening poses and curious head turns. Do you remember how she breathes in and out? Her wide arms are perfect for hugging.

Play With Your Puppet

10. Fauna moves slowly and kindly. Imagine your puppet has just woken up in a soft forest. What does it hear? What does it notice? What message would it share about caring for plants, animals and tiny hidden things in the soil?

Take-Home Planting Instructions

  1. When you have finished playing, carefully remove the heart from the puppet.

  2. Choose a pot or a warm, sunny garden spot with soft soil.

  3. Lay the heart flat on top of the soil.

  4. Cover it with a very thin layer of soil, just enough so it is tucked in.

  5. Water it gently and keep the paper moist while the seeds wake up.

  6. Watch for tiny green shoots. Swan River paper daisies can bloom in lovely colours such as blue, purple, pink and white.

Planting Option

If you like, when you’ve finished playing with Fauna, you can plant her in your garden too. She is made from recycled paper and is biodegradable. Make sure that the heart is on top and facing upwards, so the seeds can sprout. Once she has been planted, Fauna will continue her connection with nature, speaking to the plants and trees through the underground mycelium network.

Seed Planting Q&A

Q: What kind of seeds are inside the heart?
A: The plantable paper heart contains Swan River paper daisy seeds. The paper is designed to break down in the soil so the seeds can grow into flowers.

Q: When should I plant the heart?
A: Plant it when you can give it sunshine, water and care. If the weather is very cold, very hot or very windy, start it in a pot inside or in a sheltered spot first.

Q: Where should I plant it?
A: Choose a pot or garden bed with good-quality soil and plenty of light. A sunny spot is best, but ask an adult to help choose a safe place where the tiny shoots will not be stepped on.

Q: How deep should I bury the paper?
A: Lay the heart flat on the soil and cover it with only a thin sprinkle of soil. Do not bury it deeply, because the seeds need light, air and water to wake up.

Q: How much water does it need?
A: Water it gently so the paper becomes damp, then keep it moist while the seeds are germinating. The paper should not dry out and become hard, but it should not sit in a puddle either.

Q: How long will it take to sprout?

A: Be patient. You may see tiny green shoots in about 1 to 3 weeks.

Q: When will the flowers appear?
A: The plants need time to grow strong first. With good care, Swan River paper daisies may flower after a few months, depending on the weather, soil and sunlight.

Q: What if nothing grows?
A: Seeds can be fussy. Check that the paper stayed moist, the pot had enough light and the soil was not too hard. You can keep caring for it a little longer, because some seeds take extra time.

Remember: Your puppet began as recycled paper, became a forest friend, and can finish by helping flowers grow. That is a beautiful way to let your story continue in the garden.

Fauna’s beauitful seeded paper heart is made locally by Little Bossy Creates, in Newcastle, NSW Australia