Hi all,

I'm a new puppet director and my church and I ordered a pattern online for my group to build their own puppets instead of buying a bunch online.  

I've done puppetry in the past, but I wasn't aware of how much time, energy and money goes into creating your own puppetry team. When looking over the materials that I need to create the puppets the first thing that stands out is that I have no idea where to get this stuff or how much its gonna cost me altogether. So I was wondering if you all could give me a rundown of the cost to make a single puppet from the materials that I had and where the best place to buy it would be?

Thanks in advance for the help

• Velour, stretch terry, stretch velvet or brushed flannel fabric
• Fake fur
• monofilament thread or threads to match fabrics
• red felt for mouth
• white felt or white plastic materials for eyes (or pre-made eyes purchased from craft store)
• colored felt for pupil of eye
• 1" polyfoam (36"x15" minimum)
• polyester fiberfill for ears, nose and arms
• Contact cement
• tacky glue
• Formica, thin plywood, hardboard, or stiff plastic
• rigid flat plastic for mouth

Once again if you guys can help me out with where to get this stuff and an average price of each item it would be awesome

Thanks
-Bryan

For starters you can check my new website resource page............ If you don't find something you need just ask and I will be glad to help you locate it. what puppet pattern will you be using? I have some free patterns in my gallery you can try as well. Don't forget while you are at my website register for the free drawing.

http://sspuppets.com/resources/

Billy D.

Right off the bat.......... Most of your supplies can be bought at fabric store like Hancock fabrics, Joann fabrics and a hardware store like lowes or home depot. If you have a hobby lobby or micheals crafts in your area is a good place to look to. Professional puppet eyes you can get from our members Matt and Julie or can use plastic spoons , bottle caps, use recyclables like the white plastic from the sides of Clorox bleach bottles............ The sky is the limit.

Bryan,
   First let me say you've taken on an exciting ministry. Take it one step at a time.  Be patient with your self and the progress of your team....you'll do great!!!
Just curious....which company did you purchase the pattern from?

As far as the cost you can figure on $15-30 per puppet or more if you choose high end supplies.  What I mean is you can purchase 1" foam from Walmart for about $12 for a 24" x 72" piece, but it is very squishy and breaks down faster that a high quality foam say from Hancock Fabrics or JoAnn Fabrics.  Not that it's not a good place to start, but puppet team puppets get used a lot and not always with the greatest of care. LOL I was a puppet director for about 15 years. Premade eyes verse spoons, high end fur etc. Since you have joined the puppetry world you will soon, if your not already a bargin hunter and I'm not ashamed to say dumpster diver.  Meaning ask around at construction site, sign shops...lots of people throw great stuff away.  

If you are making quite a few puppets, then you should figure how much foam you need and try buying it online in bulk.

I'll try to address each supply:
Velour....I'm assuming skin for your puppets.  Check fabric stores, but you might think about regular anti pill fleece.  It has more stretch and is more forgiving.  Don't use sweatshirt fleece....it is to stretchy.  Of course it has it's place also, but for your first puppets start with the basics.  Cost $3.99 per yd. (sale) and up.

Fake Fur - Again some fabric stores carry short pile fur possibly $12 per yd (sale) - one yard goes a long way if you're making hair, if your covering the whole puppet count on using just as much as it calls for regular fabric.  Tip.....one the back side of the fur....use a box cutter blade to cut instead of scissors that way you don't cut through the pile of the fur.  Mendels http://www.mendels.com/fur2.shtml  is a great place to buy fur.  They will also send you samples.  A little prices, but good quality.

Monofilament thread:  what for?  Just use regular sewing thread a color close to the fabric color. I use quilting thread for hand sewing.  Again fabric store...some Walmart are still carrying sewing supplies.

Red Felt - Craft store by the 8" x 11" piece .25 -.50 a piece or by the yard from fabric store 6.99-9.99 depending on thickness.  You can also use other fabrics for the inside of the mouth.  Say a dark fleece or velour, then add a red tongue etc.  The possibilities are endless.

Eyes - Spoons with the handles cut off and sanded down are great, teddy bear eyes for pupils work also.  Spoons...cheap, pupils maybe $1.50-2.50 per single set.  Also, myself as well as others here sell acrylic dome eyes and other styles. http://www.outoftheboxpuppets.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=126

pupil - Walmart has felt dots in the hardware section.  Different sizes.  Don't remember the cost.  I think a couple of dollars per sheet.

Foam - search the topics here...a lot of good foam site.

Polyester fiberfill - Walmart  $2-4 a bag...more that enough for a lot of puppets.

Contact Cement - Walmart or Hardware store.  I prefer the Weldwood Original.  They make a gel, but I don't think the can lasts as long.  $4-20 depending on size

Tacky glue - sorry no clue.  I don't use it.

Formica - For Mouth plate? You can use sintra plastic (sign shop), gator board (craft/art store).  Many of us use different supplies for mouths. Foamboard, plastic cool whip lids, coreplast, shower pan liner, gasket rubber.  The cost will vary.  

Hope this helps.  Have fun!!!  Let me know if you need any help.

Julie

Looks like while I was rambling Billy beat me to the punch.  LOL


Julie

What pattern did you purchase? Generally you can purchase the materials to make a puppet for around $20. Let me know if you need any help with the pattern, I've been making puppets for 15 years and have a lot of tips to share.
You can buy tacky glue at joann fabric or walmart.

Sue

I bought the puppet pattern from one way street. It's what I used when I was just a member of a puppet team and not a director so it was what I was used to, and I knew it was reliable. I also purchased a few of their training DVD's.

As far as the pattern that I bought. It's the One Way Street "People Puppet Pattern"
I thought it would be easiest to start out with people puppets and move on with Monster and animal puppets once the teens get a handle on them.

And yes we will be making several puppets. There are a good 7 teens that are interested and I thought it would be a good idea for each and every one of them to make their own personal puppets as well as a few puppets for the church itself.


I have two human arm monster puppets that I'll be using as an example with the teens and once their ready, I'll let them use them but I think it's necessary that they have their own..

Thanks everyone. This has been a big help. Not sure I could do without you

@Julie. I know its an exciting ministry I just hope that the teens that I'm working with can be as excited about doing it as I was and still am when I first started. I'm also hoping that I haven't undertaken too much. I'm currently working on my bachelors' degree as well so I'm gonna have to do a lot of delegating xD

I have used that pattern for many years and it can be a little tricky to use if you're not familiar with it. I have also taught workshops using their pattern and have put together a CD with some tips and tricks to help the process. I can send one to you if you're interested. Well, first I need to find them, I just moved and haven't unpacked my workshop yet. Let me know.

Sue

What would the CD cost me??

Couple of things that I have found in all my years of making puppets.
1.  You can't buy the stuff to make just one puppet.  You end up with enough to make several. I tell people if they are going to make one or two, they are defeating their purpose in making them (cost wise).
2.  I used the pattern you are referring to a number of years ago and also found it tricky (I do not care for it).
3. Agree with Julie - fleece is the best, and fleece for the mouth rather than felt.
4.  I would get foam at Hobby Lobby or Wal Mart to make the first ones. Since you aren't sure how excited your team is at this point, it will help keep the cost down.
Another option is to find a place that sells foam in your area (check the yellow pages, the book or online, for foam rubber).
5. I have used the training CD's you mentioned many times and consider them a necessity to train a team.

Now I have a question.  Julie - where do you find foam at Hancocks?  The ones I have been to do not have foam (and have not had it in several years). They replaced it with a stiff fiberfill/quilt batting type stuff for upholstery.  I use to buy it there all the time.

Have fun!

I got the 5 basics Cd and the Basics and Beyond CD. The Basics and Beyond CD is really helpful specifically to me as the director. I've already written up a policies sheet that the kids are going to have to get signed (and if under 18 their parents have to sign as well)