I've used a variety of materials but have grown rather fond of this self-adhesive mounting board.

http://www.amazon.com/Pres-On-Mounting-Board-16x20/dp/B000Y00S8K/ref=sr_1_2?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1331395452&sr=1-2

It just makes it so much easier when it comes time to attach the mouthplate fabric. I will have to try your plastic idea though Ms. Puppet!

I find that I am using more of a hard type mouth board (foam core, wood, etc.) because often my flexible ones (craft foam, gasket rubber, etc.) tend to droop at the corners of the mouth on the finished puppets. While this can be a cool affect at times, most of my designs don't call for it.

J

For those of you who use wood, do you use a thin balsa? What thickness? This was one of the things I noted for improvement for myself. I wasn't happy with the mouths on any that I recently built. I was using some craft foam from Hobby Lobby, but it really isn't firm. Tonight I threw together a sort of practice puppet, needed to work on the mouth mainly, and used some stiff cardboard. I much prefer the stiffer look, but don't want to use cardboard, so I am thinking thin balsa.

Gary - I've run into this myself, try DVD covers. I use them with 1/4 foam glued to them and have been completely satisfied.

You can also try the plastic lawn trimmers from Walmart, $5 for 9 feet...

Gary - I've run into this myself, try DVD covers. I use them with 1/4 foam glued to them and have been completely satisfied.

You can also try the plastic lawn trimmers from Walmart, $5 for 9 feet...

Oooh... I have a stack of empty DVD covers from an old job, and never knew what to do with them. Now I do!

I think that a thin balsa might snap on you.  When ever I've used wood for something like this it has been a hard wood kind of like what paneling is made of.  Man I can't remember the name of the stuff at the moment. Theaters often use it on the floor of the stage and then paint it to get a certain look. It is also used as the back or bottom of draws in cheap dressers.  It is not chip or particle board it is a finer grain then that.

I think that a thin balsa might snap on you.  When ever I've used wood for something like this it has been a hard wood kind of like what paneling is made of.  Man I can't remember the name of the stuff at the moment. Theaters often use it on the floor of the stage and then paint it to get a certain look. It is also used as the back or bottom of draws in cheap dressers.  It is not chip or particle board it is a finer grain then that.

I was wondering if it was plywood myself, although I'm currently using plastic sign board for a mouth board, which is like corrugated cardboard, only plastic.

Were you maybe referring to wainscoting Shawn?

I bought a "Beware of Dog" sign because it felt like good, sturdy yet flexible kind of plastic. Works great in my opinion.

No not Wainscoating.  It is called Tempered Hardboard or at least that is what Home Depot calls it.   http://www.homedepot.com/Lumber-Composites-Plywood-Sheathing-Subfloor/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbqm7/R-202404545/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053  Another name for it is Eucaboard although I think that is a name brand.