http://www.district7.org/puppets/

I found this website and contacted someone about their slinkies.  Remember the slinky I made?  Well, aparently it wasn't anything like what they described in their "how to" area.  I told ya' I was a visual learner.  Anyway.  They sent me a photo of the slinky puppet - so cute!  Very different from my bird puppets.  But I can't wait to make these and use the scripts they posted on their site.  Thanks District 7! 

Hey cool!  (I use the word way too much but I mean it.)

Can't wait to see what you do with this new version.  BTW I was unable to track down the images you uploaded for the slinky bird.  Any chance you could attache a couple news ones to this thread.  If you can I will go back and post a note on the old thread to check out this one for missing images or if you can remember what you uploaded I think you could go back in and Modify the originals to re-attach the images.  Sorry about that.  I really tried to make sure everything made it in the change over. 

My slinky birds -

AB your puppets are just so stinking cute, I bet the kid and adults alike just love your shows.
Keep up the good work
Chris

oh my gosh,
how funny to see that picture amy and remember my first blacklight show. maybe i should have gotten a patent on my design cause this is so similar. what i did 17 years ago, and this was the first time out in blacklight for me, was make a long stuffed neon lycra tube, about the same size as that stretched out slinky. i then added black elastic to the ends for our feet to slip into. added a black dowel stick to the center top, like where his hat is. as we walked these "things" across the stage, pulling up on the dowel when the feet came together and pushing down when the feet stepped into open position. does that makes sense? they were so funny! i need to bring those back. they were able to do some cute moves. and CHEEEEEEAAP to make! you might find them fun amy.neon lycra is easy to find too.

I love your puppets.  Last year, my son and I drove over to Ifest.  Earlier in the year we had seen a slinky based puppet and I was bound and determined to see how the things were made.  What I found amused me....nothing more than a slinky body with washers and nuts holding on cloth covered rubber bungee cords on either end.  Metal wire through handle and feet at the bottom (Probably went right through the existing holes, and simple head attached at the top....but boy were they fun to watch.  I took some pictures in case some re-engineering/changing was in my future.....here are a couple.

hey ! love it - can you expand him and take another picture!

I may have already asked this, but what makes black light fabric work.  Is it the color of the fabric, or something in the fabric.

http://www.spyglasstheater.com/index.htm

a cool website and a good description of black light properties

Again, these are not my creation.  These are produced, sold and marketed through One Way Street......here are a couple of pics from their website.

I may have already asked this, but what makes black light fabric work.  Is it the color of the fabric, or something in the fabric.

here's some cool info for you..hope they come up

http://ask.yahoo.com/20030305.html

http://www.howstuffworks.com/black-light2.htm

Well, just to post an update, yes I also attended Ifest and fell for the yellow stretch a belly, wat they r called.  I bought one, for 75$, but if u r handy with crafts and stuff, u could probably make one, tho the ppl i talked to, their creator, told me extensively how hard they r to make because of hiding seams, blacklight fabric and the machined parts, etc.  They r very cute and well worth the money, even if u dont do alot of blacklight, I figured u could use them in blacklight or behind a curtain made of that stuff in halloween masks, were u can see out but ppl cant see in.  Use some long black gloves and stick him through a slit.  anyway, they are alot of fun to play with and experiment with, they r so easy and with unlimited possiblilities.  I took the class, have some hadouts i could scan in on things or ideas to use with them....  tell me if ur interested!!  ttyl,
Alan

yes, we're interested!  scan away!

Wow! We were getting ready to try to make 3 of these puppets at our church and I find this wonderful topic about them.

Any idea what the legs are made of?

I am interested in a copy of a handout if available.

THANKS!
PB

The legs are made from Approx. 14-16" rubber bunge cord.  The kind you find in the automotive/camping section.  The ones I have purchased came with metal S-Hooks in both ends (easy to remove). 

If you have any more questions, just ask, I've made bunches.  The only thing I could not find that is different in the ones I made is the diameter of the slinky.  The Jr. Slinky (plastic) is still a little wider and the smaller gift bag type slinkys were not strong enough.  It doesn't matter if you use the larger one though they still have the same effect.

www.spandexworld.com is a good place to get low cost blacklight spandex.  Attached is a picture of samples.  The fourth one on the right, the one that looks like brush strokes would be good (PS1764 product code $8.00), because of the smaller print. They also have solid colors. I try to buy my spandex in the spring when swimming suit material is avaliable at Hancocks, a little lower in price.

Julie