So...if I want to buy all the supplies, I should buy a pattern and it will give me a shopping list?

As far as the foam...I was wanting to get him a bunch. When he starts obsessing on a new project he goes all in. So I thought it might be more cost effective to mail order a couple of full sheets...but not if I order something that can't be used... I was thinking a 1/2 inch and a full inch since those are the 2 sizes I have seen people say the most. Then he can decide which thickness he prefers.

LaLainya, you can read your Kindle purchases on your iPad with the Kindle app.

There are no special scissors, needles or thread necessary other than the standard options used for crafts. If he designs costumes then I'm sure he has all right types of needles he would need.

If you buy a pattern from ProjectPuppet it includes a materials list.

No special needles. I use regular thread on our machines and hand quilting thread to hand sew.

I don't remember exactly what is listed in the project puppet patterns kit, but most patterns tell you about items needed, but not included in a kit.

I purchase Weldwood Contact cement, original not gel (i don't feel it lasts as long) from Walmart. It can be can be purchased at other hardware stores, but it seems to be the lowest cost at Walmart. We use alot because we produce hundreds of puppets, but 1 qt will last him a long tine.

We purchase our foam from www.foamdistributing.com. You will want 1/2" LUX regular foam and 1" HD36 regular.

I suggested the ProjectPuppet kit only because it was has all the "pro level" supplies such as Antron fleece (muppet fleece) and reticulated foam, but as NA said only his creativity can limit what he uses.

I think you have a good start.

Let me know if you need any other advice.

Julie

Since he is already a costumer he is going to have the majority of things he needs I am sure. That is my field now and they are very inner changeable.   I wouldn't worry about "The Foam Book" at this stage.  What are the other two you have purchased for him. Go for the Rolly, Pinhead or Melonhead patterns.  I think he'll get the most out of one of those.

Oh when you do gift him all these great materials tell him to stop by here and sign up!  We'll be more then happy to answer any questions he may have and it would be great to see what he comes up with.

What a sweet present. If he does not already have fur scraps from his costumes you could get some small pieces of different fake fur to be used for hair, costumes, or for animals, colored fur adds a lot of punch. My fabric store had a scap bin of end of bolts.

I am starting to think I might make an attempt at one with him. I look at all the pictures everyone has posted and it just looks like FUN to make one! And y'all are all so nice and helpful!

*Weldwood Contact cement, original not gel (i don't feel it lasts as long) from Walmart.
*We purchase our foam from www.foamdistributing.com. You will want 1/2" LUX regular foam and 1" HD36 regular.
Julie

Thank-you. I went and ordered 2 full sheets of each. That should last him awhile, right? I was going to do 1 of each but the 1/2" was so cheap I put 2...then I saw this undermat for $22 and thought it would be great for my whelping box so when I added that, my total was $77.95. So I ordered another sheet of the 1" in order to save $12.99 on shipping.

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?

Kindle format does work on ipad. You just need to download the free ipad app for reading it. (I have the kindle app myself and several kindle format books for my ipad)

Okay, so I am looking at the patterns on Project Puppet. *I* like the Mostro one, but I think he would prefer the others.

What is the difference between the Simple Series and the Forma series? The simple series says it includes an optional foam head pattern. And then there is the add on pattern with the foam body. I was wondering if I got him one of each of those two kinds if he couldn't just use the different shaped Simple pattern head with the Forma body pattern? If it's just a matter of size difference I am sure he could scale...

and I found THIS on eBay: This offer is for two pattern books, one for a large foam-based puppet and one for clothing & accessory patterns for that size of puppet. Titles and descriptions are given below:

Combination People Puppet Pattern Book - This pattern makes a 24" tall foam-based people puppet that may be used as a rod-style puppet or human arm puppet. This puppet can wear a size 4-5 in children's clothing and includes a pattern for making a human arm style Shirt and gloves for the human arm puppet, but not a pattern for a rod-style shirt.  It is designed for constructing a puppet with body skin of fabric like velour that has stretch at least one way which you sew up and then stretch over a glued polyfoam skeleton. This pattern was written by Glenda Hoyle Berry and published by Son Shine Puppet Co. A photo is included of a sample human arm boy puppet and rod arm girl puppet that were made from this pattern.

It is called a combination pattern because you can construct a rod arm style puppet or a human arm style puppet both from this same pattern.  You may also make the rod arms detachable and also construct gloves so that the same puppet can be interchangeable from a rod style to a human arm style.

Creative Costuming - Creative Costuming is a pattern book for making your own specialty clothing, hats and wigs for your people puppets. This book contains over 30 patterns for regular size puppets that wear a 4-5 in children's clothing.

The 2 books I ordered - before I started asking - are: Puppet Planet: The Most Amazing Puppet-Making Book in the Universe and Puppet Mania!