The Perfect Mouth

[Super Scooter]

Hello, there.

I'm looking for any suggestions on how to create the perfect mouth for your puppet. I've tried several different techniques, but I'm really not satisfied with any of them, and I would like something that will give the most flexibility without coming apart at the seams (I thought I had a good one once, but it broke when I tried moving the mouth a certain way).

One way I tried was to sew the mouth right to the fabric before putting it over the foam or before stuffing it. Then the plastic/cardboard part is glued right to it, but I don't really like it. It's kinda difficult if you're working with foam.

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Buck-Beaver]

For starters, I would not use cardboard or plastic for the best results. Rigid mouths are fine if you have a big puppets, but ideally you should make the mouthplate out of something very flexible like 1/2" foam, foamie, gasket rubber. Gasket rubber is my favourite material to use personally, but I recently found placemats at Wal-Mart that are made from some kind of silicone material that work well too.

The method you were trying, sewing the mouth to the fabric before covering the head is the way I do it and I find it works very well, but it is difficult with some kinds of puppets. With practice it gets easier.

I hope this helps!

 

[Super Scooter]

Thanks for the help, buck!

There's a plastic cutting board that they sell at JoAnn's that's fairly flexible. That's what I've been using. I think I'll try something different, though.

I have question, though. "Placements at Wal Mart." Are you talking about table placemats, or something else?

 

[Buck-Beaver]

They are blue, oval shaped table placemats. I bought them at a Wal-Mart here in Mexico, so I'm not sure if they carry them in the U.S./Canadian stores.

 

[Super Scooter]

... Mexico??? I thought you were in Canada? Am I thinking of someone else?

I'll check and see if I can find something. Thanks!

 

[Buck-Beaver]

I'm originally from Canada, but currently live in Mexico.

 

[wes]

When I met Terry Angus a Very talented puppeteer who worked on Fraggle Rock told me he use gallon ice cream buckets,(the plastic ones)i tryed it out of my frog puppet and it works very nice I can Bend and flex the mouth with no problems.

Here a test I did with the puppet see how it flexs :http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f299/beltar/?action=view&current=Jose.flv&refPage=20&imgAnch=imgAnch30