That tip (Scoob) is great (You have to explain it with photos)

Miguel. I'd be happy to (over time...these things take a while in my house) which one did you mean?

These:

Glue a little foam (poly) inside the concave shape, cut off flush with the eye and glue the foam to the head to give a greater surface area.
Or... Glue the foam inside then cover with fabric using stitch and glue then sew on. Sewing eyes on means less mess and the ability to unpick and change if you want.
If you sew eyes on and one is not sitting straight try stuffing poly fill under it with surgical tweezers till it lifts, (good for eyes "on top" of a head where height is important.
1st time glue gun users, keep the tip moving over a small area to avoid a big lump of glue oozing out and into every crevice surrounding the thing you are trying to glue. Float it back and forward, just touching the surface as you slowly squeeze the trigger.
More to come I'm sure and I'm looking forward to reading more!
Scoob

I thought I'd bring this Post back to life since we have so many great new people here.

Join In! Please add any ideas and short cut tips you have to share.

Pin Collector:
A good item to keep your pins in one place is to use a magnet.
I have a nice strong magnet that serves as a corral for keeping all my pins together.
The magnet also serves as a nice 'vacuum' picking up loose pins in a blink.

Extended Razor:
This one is a very sharp item. The purpose here is to lengthen the reach for a razor's cutting job.
What you'll need: Hot glue gun  - wooden craft stick/chop stick  - razor
By securing the razor at the end of the wooden stick, you can reach places otherwise too tough to reach. I will sometimes angle the razor on the stick using a nice binding seal with the glue gun for obstructed cutting.

Garage Sales:
Its that time of the season for Garage Sale. A great opportunity picking up puppet clothing, Old stuffed animals for eye recycling or to grab a few patterns off the dissected Stuffed toys pieces. Playing Di Vinci can build a nice collection of different patterns for different application parts. You might even keep your eyes open for miniature props, doll hats, kid shoes, fishing bobbers, ping pong balls and small orbs for eyes, containers, multiple fabrics..ect... I look at everything and ask myself, could I use that for something...lol   Remember,....Always Barter especially if you have a nice pile of puppet gems.

Dollar Stores:
They have a nice selection of containers for any application you have. They also have a nice supply of kid make-believe props as in Cowboy gear, Ballerina, Fairy tutus, Super Hero, Police hats badges,Fireman gear.. that all work well with the needs of your build.


Please add any ideas of short cut tips you have to share.

Sonny 

I use my Folgers coffee containers and ice cream buckets to store assorted eyes. I save bleach bottles and remove the top by cutting away with a straight razor then cut away the bottom ( makes a great paint tray) and the body of the bottle can be used for vacuum formed eyes.

Don't forget Easter is a great time to collect plastic eggs.

Fettig writes about his puppets being made almost solely from cartboard eggs (like you get for Easter) and PVC- tubes from the sanitary department of the hardware- store...

Print your own fabric by ironing on butcher paper to the back of fabric. It gives the fabric enough stiffness to go through your printer and then easily peels off when complete. Remember this only works for an ink jet printer.

Billy, I'm aware of vacuum forming and would love to make a box for it. how do you get the bleach bottles to go in the frame? Do you use a heat gun on the cylinder  to flatten it out to start with then oven heat it to such flat?
I have access to lots of bleach bottles so I'm curious. Just realised some are "square-ish" shapes, I guess I was thinking of the round ones. Unless I'm missing something else...
Sonny thanks for reviving this again, lateral thought from things like this is fun!
Scoob

Miguel,
Having read through this I've realised I owe you a few photos, sorry it's been so long, will do my best soon. In the meantime I was refering to using things like spoons as eyes. When you're trying to glue this on it can be difficult to get enough surface area to get the glue on cleanly without looking like the eye is weeping or infected! So I glue foam in the back of the spoon. Some spoons need white paint on the foam first so the green polyfoam doesn't show through.
Since posting that I've found that sewing is so much better that I only do the glue when I'm throwing together a puppet for my kids that doesn't get to much scrutiny.

Steve

To be honest I have not used my vacuum box yet.....................  I cut the top and bottom away from the plastic bottle then I cut vertical making a sheet of plastic. I bought a heat gun and that was my thought on melting the plastic instead of heating in a oven. I'll have to try it soon. Have not been much in the puppet building spirit lately.