We use strange colored puppets with strange shaped heads and odd colored hair, no one and everyone can relate to them. Our fish is turquoise and meows like a cat. If you do use realistic skin tones be sensitive to stereo types that might be offensive. I admire more realistic puppets, but my current team wanted funky colors.  Show your team pictures and see what gets them excited. I finally figured out how to post pictures in the gallery yesterday if you want to see our motley multicolored crew. Your audience is another consideration, ours is 2 to 4 years olds these days.

These puppets were made with the OWS pattern. I tweeked the pattern on some of the puppets, while others were made without changes at all. Still looking for the CD I made to go with the pattern. I also show how to make a different mouthplate etc.

Personally another thought is make them into animals.....you have way more flexibility by dressing them up as different characters and animals. They are way more appealing for people to watch than people puppets.   You don't have to worry about skin tones and whether it is a male or female just add a few things and you will be fine to distinguish sexes and the looks ect.

All the best with your directorial debut on the puppet world....

Daryl H.

Thanks for all the advice. It's been really helpful. Hopefully really soon I'll either have the fabric i need to make this or the money to go get the fabric.

Thanks for all the advice. It's been really helpful. Hopefully really soon I'll either have the fabric i need to make this or the money to go get the fabric.

I did a adopt a puppet program at a church I attended before. Church members donated $60 per puppet to the church puppet ministry. In return they were issued adoption papers and were allowed to name the puppet.

Billy d.

I did a adopt a puppet program at a church I attended before. Church members donated $60 per puppet to the church puppet ministry. In return they were issued adoption papers and were allowed to name the puppet.

Billy d.

Thats not a bad idea