Let me start by saying that my husband and I are just getting into puppet building, and have probably jumped in over our head (but hey, how else are we gonna learn!?!  )

We are attempting to make a pair of puppets who can sing the "doo doo doo" backup parts on our songs. We really want them to have mouths like the Snowths from "Mahna Mahna", but are on our 3rd attempt, and can't make the mouth squeeze together.

I would try to explain to you what those 3 attempts consisted of in detail... but then you'd really know what amatuers we were! *grin*, but simply put we've tried 2 versions with elastic, and 1 with a more traditional mouthplate. Each time, the poor little gals just sit their with the shocked "O" on their expressions... we just can't get the darn things to squeeze.

So... any suggestions??

Thanks in advance.

~ATOMIC Ang

Good question! I thought I'd drop in to offer some assistance but by no means am I an expert, I'm as amateur as you are!

The way I'd approach it is creating a tube and stuff it and sew the ends together to creating the ring shape, the ring diameter when flat would probably be the width of your hand and then mounting the black insides of the mouth from there and then from there the rest of the head.

I doubt they have much depth to their mouths, since it would complicate the opening and close, rewatching the scene on video, they close when cleanly don't they. Hmm.

I'm new myslef and have only used two mouths gasket rubber and milk cartons both worked well for me and close easily ! Not sure what help you are needing but this is the perfect place good luck !

Well, after much frustration... we finally have a working prototype! Ended up, the basic mouthplate DID work, but had to be attached at the very front of the lips to pull it all the way down (we thought, at first, that it should be farther back to keep the illusion of the "big O" mouth.)  The mouthplate we have right now is a little too big, it flattens the mouth into an oval, so we're going to make some modifications, and try to get it put together.

I'll post pictures as we go along, but hey, if anyone else has any input, I'd love to hear it! Thanks for those of you who responded!

~ATOMIC Ang

Sounds great cant wait to see it !

Can't wait to see the puppets!  Are you going to use them at I-Fest?  I would love to see them in person!!

No, it's our first I-Fest, so we're just there to learn this year, not perform! *grin* However, I'm sure we could bring one of the gals along with us! We're packing the car to capacity anyway with sewing machines and all that jazz!

We're heading back out to the garage today to see if we can start getting them put together!

~Ang

I can't wait to see them finished.  I am glad that you figured out a solution to the mouth problem. 

Daryl H

If you have room - please put one of the puppets in!  I would love to see it!  We should have a forum table at lunch some time!  We always have a OWS forum lunch, so let's plan on a P&S forum lunch too how does that sound?  I know Jomama will be at I-Fest too, maybe there are a few others lurking around, however most of us probably belong to both forums so we could just have a forum lunch and meet everyone at the same time.  Of course Dear Myrah will be there too!!!  Will be SOOOOOOO much fun!!!!  My advice to you as a first time attendee to I-Fest is: Don't try to do everything you will get overwhelmed!

Rob and I were just wishing we could have a meet-up with our online buddies... glad you brought it up!!

~Ang