A kit for making a personalized hands operated puppet, the kit comprising a sculptable block of material, such as a flexible foam, that may be readily cut and trimmed to form a head portion that can be manipulated by the hand of the puppeteer. The kit may further include a piece of fabric to be glued to the mouth opening to help stimulate the mouth of the puppet, a pair of eye balls to be inserted in eye sockets, an elongated sleeve, with simulated arms, for receiving the puppeteer's hand to operate the mouth motions of the puppet, and a pair of rigid wire members that may be used by the puppeteer's other hand to manipulate the arms of the puppet. A process for making the puppet is also disclosed.