[img]Hi,

I know you are brill at giving help on this site so fingers crossed xxx

I am doing some voluntary work in a special needs school and have got roped into making animal puppets with some 9 year ODs using pa pier mac he.  The theme is based around Carnival of the Animals, so this week we started to make the heads of animals using balloons and plastic bottles.  The problem I had was that the children struggled with the technique of pa pier mac he and both the teacher and children have high expectations of what they are doing.

I am with a second group this week and I am open to any ideas to encourage the children more to the Technique of pa pier maching.  Here is a list of the animals the children want to make, Monkeys, elephants, tigers, lions, zebra, giraffe, rhino, hippo, ostrich, fish, etc.

How do you upload a photo on this site?  Having a few problems...

I assume you are using the old fashioned kind of paper mache (strips of paper and flour/wheat paste)?   Do you have access to the instant paper mache (do a web search on instant paper mache - http://www.dickblick.com/products/blicks-mix-instant-papier-mache)?

Having used both (when I was a child and in a school setting with children), the instant is much easier to use.  Also easier to obtain desired results. 

Having said that... what exactly is the child expecting?  If he is expecting it to look very realistic, it probably won't.  Eight years old is pretty young, and at that age (unless he is truly a gifted artist) items made will be somewhat rough looking.   

Some animals are easier than others.  I have made a hippo, pig, and a few others (entire animal, and not puppets).  Have you searched for any books/instructions on making puppets this way?  Might be helpful.  I find it helps when working with children (and some adults) to make a sample item, so the child has something to look at when making his project.

Hope this helps.

T

Hi,

We are using PVA Glue mixed with water, a layer of paper towels then a layer of cut up newspaper.

I did make sample puppets for them of different animals.  Can't upload my photos of the sample puppets for some reason, thats why I hve not got any photos on this site yet.

The idea is for the children to make a rod style puppet.  The head only out of paper mache using a balloon or plastic pop/milk container for the shape.  The body is made from card and other materials they are about 24inches tall.

Have tonight started a similar project with an after school club.  They are again making rod puppets out of paper mache but theirs are based around victorian people.

I work with a second group of special needs children next week so I am trying to think of ways that might help them.

Thanks T
Kim

In regards to uploading images, if you click on Gallery at the top then once in the Gallery you should see a button link to the right that says "Your Album". Click on that and then you should see a big "Add Photo" link in the middle of the page. That should let you add your first image to your personal album. Once that first one is added, to add others you have to use the "Add Items" link in the top left box that shows up when you are actually in your personal album.  Hopefully that helps.

One thing that is important with paper mache is to not rush it. Smaller strips or squares of paper are going to give you a cleaner result.  Also once the pieces are on it is important to really work each layer nice and smooth. I get a layer on then kind of wet my hands with the paste and really give the whole thing a good rub down.  

I get a layer on then kind of wet my hands with the paste and really give the whole thing a good rub down.

This is a very good tip!

Hi
Thanks for your advice on the paper mache, we are doing all the advice you have given.  I think the problem is that the children can not see the results quickly enough and they think it's messy.  I am doing the same project with another school and they are enjoying it.

I am still having a few problems loading photos.  I have done what you said and found my album and put the file name in the brouser but I still am not uploading any.  Can you help?

I am still having a few problems loading photos.  I have done what you said and found my album and put the file name in the brouser but I still am not uploading any.  Can you help?

Hmm... Do you get any error messages?  The one thing that I can think is perhaps the images are two big in file size.

How do you take these pictures and get them on your computer?  Often a digital camera if that is what you are using comes with a program for modifying pictures. In fact many computers have some type of program for this even if you don't have a camera.  The thing to look for if it is the file size is a saving option in such a program that will save the image at a smaller size. Often they call it something like "Save for internet".

Hi Shawn

Thanks for your help, however still no luck at up loading a photo, it must be something I am doing wrong but cant see what.

1) I have followed your instructions.
2) My photos are okay size wise for up loading and have not had any trouble with sending or uploading before.
3) After putting file name in browse, where do you click to upload photo?

Regards Kim

Ok so you are clicking on the Browse button here at the site then a window pops up that shows your own computer and lets you navigate to the photo file. Then you click on that file and it puts it into a text field in the pop up window then you click something like OK or Open in that pop up file. Then back on the website page that file name is in the File text field. Are we at the same part now as when you have a problem?  If so at the bottom of that page should then be an "Add Items" button that you click on. Once you do that it should upload the image and you are done. By default on that page you should have had two File: boxes with a Browse button next to it.

Hi Shawn,

I am doing exactly what you have said, it puts the info of the photo to be upload from my computer in the file browser.
All that is fine!

The problem comes when I click "Add Items" the file browser just clears the info but nothing has uploaded, sorry to be a pain.