His helmet is a styrofoam bowl that I think is supposed to be used for floral arrangements. I just painted it and added the stickers and straps.

Oh... it was so well-fitting I assumed it was handmade. Very cool.

I like him. Good stuff. Cool idea with the helmet. I have not seen them here. I must keep an eye open for them. Free spirited, Shawn? :)The shadow in the top photo gives the impression he is coming up through a hole in the floor. Do you have any plans to use him with your nephew?

Na, yeah I found it and was totally excited. It was a perfect fit. Loves when that happens.

And, Pagestep, no plans. I just like making them. My niece has one too. They mostly come out for story time or school time (home-school preschoolers.)

I adore AJ! You've managed to achieve so much character whilst keeping him simple - really awesome work Your nephew must be stoked.

I do agree I'd love to see more puppets don some pants - perhaps even some legs in the pants...! Half bodied puppets, although incredibly practical, make me a little sad.

Totally agree with the legs in the pants. If you have pants there needs to be legs. Otherwise it just gets awkward. I also haven't figured out how to attach the legs so it isn't weird. I put them toward the front to make room for the hand, and it always looks like they are sitting, or walking around with a load in their drawers.

The small pupils with skull and crossbones work good to sell the character, great work. Hands and fingers are so smooth. I've got to find some of those styrofoam bowls.

Thanks! I got the helmet part at Joanns. It was the first time I noticed them so they might be a new product. The link below is kind of what it looked like before I painted it. It had a little notch to lock two halves together which I had to cut off but that wasn't a big deal.

http://univfoam.com/products/balls-spheres

I also haven't figured out how to attach the legs so it isn't weird. I put them toward the front to make room for the hand, and it always looks like they are sitting, or walking around with a load in their drawers.

I make my patterns with the intent of achieving full bodied puppets so that may be the difference, but I attach to the sides using doll joints. If accessing the puppet through the bum (not sure how most people articulate that!) I make the circumference of the body a little larger so the puppeteer's arm isn't touching the bolts. There's probably a better method and I admit my method took me a little while to perfect, but it stops that whole 'load in their drawers' effect as you so eloquently put it!

Oh that's smart setting the legs on the side with doll joints and just having it a little wider. I will have to try that.

He is very cute. I like the little ears.