Measure the size of your players to determine the proper scale for your prop. For example, a shoe box diorama would use a much smaller scale than a production using children for actors, but the scale would be similar for many puppet productions. A diorama may use items that are approximately one-sixteenth to one-tenth of life size, and a children’s production may use props that are half the normal size. Remain consistent with your scaling so that all your props look relationally balanced when viewed as a whole.
Select a medium for your miniature prop. For example, adapt a toothpick to create a spear for a Native American habitat diorama. Toothpicks offer light construction, ready availability and low budget cost. Slender dowel rods or food skewers offers a larger size, with similar construction weight and availability, but a higher production cost. Both the toothpick and the skewer have pointed ends, reducing the amount of work necessary to create the spear. Weigh the benefits of the more expensive construction cost against the visual effect of the prop.
Similarly, fold and draw decorations on an origami tepee for the diorama or use craft sticks, hot glue and a fabric covering to make a more substantial structure for your tepee. The origami would provide the most cost-effective solution, but its construction limits what you can do with it.
Match the markings and distinguishing features of the real object to the miniature. For example, you could use a chipped hematite bead to form the head of your miniature spear, gluing the pointed end of a skewer inside the bead hole. Paint the shaft of the spear with tribal markings if appropriate. Scratch the markings using a wire or use fine-tip pens to draw the embellishments if the size prohibits use of a paintbrush.
View your prop under the lighting conditions where people will view it. Assemble all the elements of the set. Lean your spear up against the side of a tepee and hang the game you constructed from faux fur on trees you made from tree branches. Examine each element with an eye for detail and adjust the appearance according to which elements attract the most attention.