I have been searching on the internet for days and have now become so desperate I am contacting random strangers on facebook who have puppet making as their interest.

*I* am not interested in puppet making at this time...but my husband IS.

His birthday is coming up so I thought I would get him some supplies and let him give it a try.

All the topics with links to resources I have found, the links are outdated OR the ones that work don't list the foam the same way the forums do. I am overwhelmed and confused and hoping to find someone that will point me in the right direction as to WHAT to buy him for a basic starting kit

(I bought 2 books and I found a place with patters and more pattern pdfs in the forums.)

I know I need to get him foam but am confused as to what type. Some say polyfoam, some say reticulated. Some say 25 ppi and others 35...but then I can't FIND the ppi on the websites... some say 1/2 inch. Some say 1 inch. I am okay with buying him more than one sheet of foam and had seen a foam block on one site and thought maybe one of those...but I am just looking for some guidance.

A list of basics he will need spelled out and links to buy them from would be wonderful! Feel free to treat me like an idiot as I am totally out of my element here.

Thanks so much in advance for any and all assistance.

Personally, I would start with a Simple Series pattern from projectpuppet.com.  For 1 puppet, you will only need about 1/2 a yard of fleece and maybe less than that in foam.  Depends on what pattern you choose.  To start, I would suggest the green foam sold at fabric stores.  Stores such as Joanne's always seem to have sales.  Start with 1 puppet, then go from there.

I agree with TygrrHawks, Project Puppet is a great resource for beginners. Their Simple Series are all downloads so you get them right away and you can make some really lovely puppets with them. That and a gift card to someplace like Jo Anne Fabrics and he is set to go!

Here is a link to Project Puppets puppet supply kit. http://www.projectpuppet.com/servlet/-strse-32/Simple-Series-Supply-Kit/Detail

You will also need to purchase any of the parrterns in Simple series to go along with the supplies. 

You will also need to purchase some Rit Dye for him to dye the Fleece. Rit can be purchased at Walmart and most grocery stores or you can order is from Fabric stores like www.joannfabrics.com

Once he gets the pattern is will list other supplies needed such as contact cement, needles and thread and scissors.

Please let me know if you need any other help.

Julie

I think Julie covered it but if I can help please ask.

Jay

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

Julie has definitely covered it. The only other thing I would add is maybe purchasing 'The Foam Book'. An absolute bible for budding puppet builders and a resource I continue to refer to. Please share how you go and if he creates his first masterpiece in due course, we love pics!

the others have covered it, but I just want to add one important thing:

there is a logical reason to be confused. There is no 'right' material ,just personal preference and budget. Recommendations will usually form around the same bunch of things, hence the agreement above. But don't freak out if you get something based on some advice even if some other person/resource tells you another. With puppets, the only limit is your imagination and there is no 1 material that *has* to be used. Also, patterns and books will have a materials list; it's best to buy whatever is recommended there first.

Looks like the crew has you covered!  

Like Na said foam type and thickness can be a personal preference and or depend on the project you are doing. Reticulated foam is popular with many puppeteers but I myself have always used the sheet foam that you can find at hobby and fabric stores like TygerHawks mentioned which is normally about 1/2". 

The contact cement that many use can be hard for some to find but normally you can get it a hardware stores like Home Depot or Ace Hardware. Just make sure you get contact cement and not rubber cement. They are very different things.   Some folks do use glue gun instead because it is not as toxic or have found other glues they like that work on poly foam.  Poly foam is what you are working with not Styrofoam. Just trying to think of some of the things that often confuse new puppet enthusiast.

If you decide you want to get him The Foam Book, you can buy it from the original authors here. http://www.greysealpuppets.com/ It is for the puppeteer who wants to move beyond what is available in patterns out there and uses a kind of fold and sculpt method. This can be a bit daunting for new puppet builders so I always suggest starting with a pattern.

Julie has definitely covered it. The only other thing I would add is maybe purchasing 'The Foam Book'. An absolute bible for budding puppet builders and a resource I continue to refer to. Please share how you go and if he creates his first masterpiece in due course, we love pics!

If I could find it for less than $60 I WOULD buy it... but I haven't been successful yet. That's why I bought the other 2 puppet making books... I went to their website but the BOOK is no longer published. Only in kindle download format...and I wasn't sure if Kindle works on an ipad?

Julie are there SPECIAL needles and thread and scissors? He has a sewing room and has those things for costume design...but if he needs special ones I will get them!