I hope to add more tips but one that I thought of off the top of my head is to put a strip magnet, I used the kind with the sticky on the back, on the top of the sewing machine to quickly place pins while sewing.

Love this thread!

I hope to add more tips but one that I thought of off the top of my head is to put a strip magnet, I used the kind with the sticky on the back, on the top of the sewing machine to quickly place pins while sewing.

Love this thread!

That's a great idea! I have a small measuring tape (the one that extends from a container) which has a magnetic strip on the back. I've been keeping my pins on that, but I like your idea of sticking the pins to the machine because it keeps them both in reach *and* out of the way.

Billy
So the bottles are the "box" type, not a cylinder? I've thought of using a heat gun also but I'm not sure if it would be even enough heat if you had anything too big... For something as small as puppet eyes it should be ok I think though. Having just looked at the bleach bottles I have I wonder if they might be a bit thick for a home set up with a heat gun. Still, they are vacuum molded originally (technically blow molded, but much the same) and there is nothing lost if the raw material cost you nothing and the time spent is enjoyable! You can still go to styrene sheets from a hobby shop if needed.
Let me know how it goes if you get around to it.
Scoob

I've been saving the cylinder type bottles. I just cut them vertically so the will lay flat. I'll try to see if it works next week.

Check with Larry on the vacuum molds. He has done them and has some pictures too.

Here is a link to Larry's Profile. http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php?action=profile;u=5216 His site is a facebook profile and if you have factbook account you should check it out.   Very cool stuff!

I hope to add more tips but one that I thought of off the top of my head is to put a strip magnet, I used the kind with the sticky on the back, on the top of the sewing machine to quickly place pins while sewing.

Love this thread!

You can buy a magnet to stick on the machine. It is not recommended for computerized machines.  It's a little bigger than a business card.

I also like the WANDerful magnet, which is a magnet on a wand.  You can buy them at sewing shops, but I have found them cheaper (about half the price) at teacher supply stores like Lakeshore Learning.

Wow this is a great thread! Thanks for reviving it Sonny! I've found several helpful items here so I'll see if I can return the favor and add a few of my own.

1.) For very little money you can get some cotton gardening gloves and wear them when working with hot glue. I used to do the water dipping thing but found this a little more convenient. The ends of the fingers do eventually get a bit glued up but then you can start a new pair.

2.) Keep a puppet making journal. I almost always learn something new whenever I'm building a puppet. Unfortunately I may not need that new lesson or technique again for the next several projects and when I finally do I will most likely have forgotten all about it. So I keep a small notebook nearby and make sure to jot down tips and ideas shortly after I come upon them. I quickly thumb through my notebook before beginning a new project to see if any apply.

3.) I save at least one of EVERY kind of plastic container I come across. Pudding , applesauce, frozen dinners, yogurt, fast food drinks. All of these things and more come in their own little unique plastic containers. I collect at least one of each (after washing thoroughly of course) as potential raw materials. I never know when I'm going to need a solid bit of something to build a feature on a puppet or prop and it's nice to have some resources at the ready.

Puppetainer, I like your keeping of a journal. I too have a journal and folder I like to save any pictures, patterns, pdf files...anything pertaining to puppet build. You never know when an application comes up and you can use something you saved.

One of my favourite ones that I use all the time..

I save all my various sizes of cereal boxes (get them from family or friends if you don't eat cereal) to use as a hard template when you have  finished creating patterns from scratch/or an already made pattern and want to save them for possible future projects....cereal boxes are just thick enough to make nice patterns shapes from and preserve your patterns for a long time to come.

Daryl