Subject: RE: Anyone here make hand-puppets?
From: Tig - PM
Date: 18 Apr 09 - 08:30 AM

"If you make them 'glove shaped' by drawing round their hands with thumb and little finger stretched out they will be able to make their own and will be so proud of them."

Thank you, Tig. I shall do that next Sunday (I only see them once a week).

"They will probably be able to sew them - I've made puppet this way with my class of infants - but if not a line of fabric glue works well. Dress them with cut out fabric glued on and wool hair."

The three-year-old definitely not, of course. I'm sure the seven-year-old could be taught. I'm not sure about the nearly-six-year-old. I figured, I or one of the other adults would just do the tricky parts, but thanks for the tip about fabric glue, which I will consider. I didn't know there was such a thing.

"For other models I've used polystyrene packaging - either find some from things like TW's or washing machines or stick it together with glue and then cut it to the shape you want. You can papier mache over them if you want. To re-use the shapes don't forget to put in a lining layer!"

Thanks for the tip; yet another thing I hadn't thought of.

Yesterday I bought a plastic container of latex emulsion for making molds. I've made molds from plaster before, but I've always wanted to try latex. However, I managed to drop it on the floor, not at home, but at the sheet music store, where I'm friendly with the proprietress, and it burst open. The mess wasn't that bad and I don't think I damaged anything valuable, but it was still embarassing. I haven't been doing much arts and crafts in recent years, so I'd forgotten about things like this happening. I managed to get it all home and have somewhat of a mess on my balcony, too. Oh, well. Just off to buy another package of the stuff. I may try the silicon molding material, too.

"Hope it helps"

Very much, thank you, and to everyone else who responded.