Mouth Plates: Paper or plastic or what?

[officermom]

In regards to the "ring" question...

If you are referring to the hoops made of plastic tubing which are placed at neck, base, and at the bottom of the head sleeve, these tubes give a really nice shape and structure to the puppet. They give the foam and fleece something firm to wrap around. They make the sleeve easy to find for puppet changes and keep the sleeve from riding way up on (often) sweaty arms.

I have built puppets without the hoops...but only as toys for my pre-school aged nieces.

Reconsider using them. Check the plumbing (and refrigerator ice-maker) section at your local Lowe's or Home Depot. It's lightweight and inexpensive.


Puppetually,

Melissa

 

[Fozzie Bear]

They generally don't last long after they have foam at the mouth!

Yeah, we had to put him down, rip out his insides, pull it apart, and replace it with paper plates. Well, so when that got soggy and didn't work anymore I used the cardboard from the back of an artist's sketch pad because it was thick and that lasts. Or has been lasting. I mean, when I'm 100 years old I doubt the cardboard will be good any more. Like this guy-->

 

[thatonekid]

lol, i've just been using some cardboard i found in my basement
no idea what kind of cardboard it is but it works pretty well.

 

[Yahnke]

well, i decided to "man up" and go find the meterials i needed. I mean, hey, if i really want to build a puppet i'll try ever avenue right? so i called a sign company about 20 mins from here and they said they had scraps of sintra i could get, so i drove up there and i got about 5 or six sheets. I have enough sintra for probably 10-15 puppets. The best part is--- it was free! The funny thing is, when i called and asked for scraps they asked me what size. I told them. They said "we don't have any thing like that" I said, "too big?" They guy said no, they don't keep anything that small.

I used the ALP pattern and made a few changes of my own, and this is the best puppet i have ever made. I am very excited to continue.

So to make a long story short...i found sintra...and it is as awesome as everyone says it is.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Do you have any pictures of your puppet?

I'm supposed to help a friend of mine make an Elton John puppet soon. This will be interesting.

 

[scarylarrywolf]

There's something I've been hiding from you guys for a long time, and I feel it needs to come out here...

I found a WONDERFUL method for hand grips! I'm getting very comfortable using the 1/2 inch plastic binding that comes on shipment boxes and news papers as a holster for my hand on the mouth plate -- just attach a band of it! It's pliable, but the material itself doesn't stretch. You can get this stuff free at any store that gets shipments in boxes. Just grab some while they're re-stocking shelves and undoing packages. And if you already have a comfortable way of makeing fingertubes or whatever, at least try some for ribbing/re-enforcing foam shapes that are vulnerable to getting squished in (such as a big hollow head or body). It's a light-weight substitute to anything else. I hope you get a chance to work with this stuff!