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Creativity => Arts & Crafts Corral => Topic started by: Little_Bird_Sorrel on April 02, 2014, 09:11:56 PM

Title: Puppets! (and WIP Furfrou puppet thing!)
Post by: Little_Bird_Sorrel on April 02, 2014, 09:11:56 PM
I really like puppets, especially marionettes. I have this pink and white dog one that looks like the 2-legged things on this site: http://www.puppetville.com/yarn-marionettes/
Years ago when I was a kid I used it for talent shows and junk like that. It was tons of fun!

Ever since last year I've had the urge to make a giant marionette type puppet thing. The only thing is that I have no idea what I'm doing.
 
This year I want to make a huge four legged furfrou puppet for no reason other than to say that I got off my lazy butt and did something with my life (and in case I decide that a Skullgirls cosplay is too hard for me to to make and a Pokemon trainer thing turns out to be the smarter option).

Are there any puppet makers out there with any ideas on what to do?

And also any puppet makers/ collectors who feel like showing off and letting me see there awesome puppets? I'm really in a puppet mood right now.
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: systemcat on April 02, 2014, 09:53:25 PM
Amateur builder & puppeteer, plus whenever I find a cool one in a thrift store I buy it  ^.^.
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: Little_Bird_Sorrel on April 02, 2014, 10:01:38 PM
Quote from: systemcat on April 02, 2014, 09:53:25 PM
Amateur builder & puppeteer, plus whenever I find a cool one in a thrift store I buy it  ^.^.

Oh cool! That sounds awesome! Do you have any that you can show me?
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: Flitter on April 02, 2014, 10:09:42 PM
I love puppets  ^.^
I have a few but they are packed in tote boxes right now.
I have a Kermit the Frog, a chimp puppet that I've had since I was like 3 yrs old named Georgie, a furry 2-legged marionette that I'm not sure what it's called...
I'm actually not quite sure what all we have anymore actually. We had these "fighting" nun & devil puppets but I might have given them to goodwill???
My husband used to make puppets occasionally but I'm not sure if we have any of them anymore, either...

I've always had quite a fascination with them though and I think of ideas for puppets sometimes but I'm awful at actually making the things I have ideas for  :redface:
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: Little_Bird_Sorrel on April 02, 2014, 10:13:58 PM
Quote from: 3377345 on April 02, 2014, 10:09:42 PM
I love puppets  ^.^
I have a few but they are packed in tote boxes right now.
I have a Kermit the Frog, a chimp puppet that I've had since I was like 3 yrs old named Georgie, a furry 2-legged marionette that I'm not sure what it's called...
I'm actually not quite sure what all we have anymore actually. We had these "fighting" nun & devil puppets but I might have given them to goodwill???
My husband used to make puppets occasionally but I'm not sure if we have any of them anymore, either...

I've always had quite a fascination with them though and I think of ideas for puppets sometimes but I'm awful at actually making the things I have ideas for  :redface:


Your collection sounds so interesting! : D

And I know that feeling! Every time I try to sew something I mess up. I'm going to try for this thing, though! I failed  enough times to have an idea of what I'm doing!XD
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: Flitter on April 02, 2014, 10:19:51 PM
Quote from: Little_Bird_Sorrel on April 02, 2014, 10:13:58 PM
Quote from: 3377345 on April 02, 2014, 10:09:42 PM
I love puppets  ^.^
I have a few but they are packed in tote boxes right now.
I have a Kermit the Frog, a chimp puppet that I've had since I was like 3 yrs old named Georgie, a furry 2-legged marionette that I'm not sure what it's called...
I'm actually not quite sure what all we have anymore actually. We had these "fighting" nun & devil puppets but I might have given them to goodwill???
My husband used to make puppets occasionally but I'm not sure if we have any of them anymore, either...

I've always had quite a fascination with them though and I think of ideas for puppets sometimes but I'm awful at actually making the things I have ideas for  :redface:


Your collection sounds so interesting! : D

And I know that feeling! Every time I try to sew something I mess up. I'm going to try for this thing, though! I failed  enough times to have an idea of what I'm doing!XD

Thanks :) I'll see if I have time to dig through my closet and take some pics sometime soon.
I'd love to see the one you are planning on making once you finish  :good:
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: Little_Bird_Sorrel on April 02, 2014, 10:30:04 PM
Quote from: 3377345 on April 02, 2014, 10:19:51 PM
Quote from: Little_Bird_Sorrel on April 02, 2014, 10:13:58 PM
Quote from: 3377345 on April 02, 2014, 10:09:42 PM
I love puppets  ^.^
I have a few but they are packed in tote boxes right now.
I have a Kermit the Frog, a chimp puppet that I've had since I was like 3 yrs old named Georgie, a furry 2-legged marionette that I'm not sure what it's called...
I'm actually not quite sure what all we have anymore actually. We had these "fighting" nun & devil puppets but I might have given them to goodwill???
My husband used to make puppets occasionally but I'm not sure if we have any of them anymore, either...

I've always had quite a fascination with them though and I think of ideas for puppets sometimes but I'm awful at actually making the things I have ideas for  :redface:


Your collection sounds so interesting! : D

And I know that feeling! Every time I try to sew something I mess up. I'm going to try for this thing, though! I failed  enough times to have an idea of what I'm doing!XD

Thanks :) I'll see if I have time to dig through my closet and take some pics sometime soon.
I'd love to see the one you are planning on making once you finish  :good:

Aww thanks! If I ever get around to it I'll definitely post pictures!  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: systemcat on April 03, 2014, 12:13:31 PM
Quote from: Little_Bird_Sorrel on April 02, 2014, 10:01:38 PM
Quote from: systemcat on April 02, 2014, 09:53:25 PM
Amateur builder & puppeteer, plus whenever I find a cool one in a thrift store I buy it  ^.^.

Oh cool! That sounds awesome! Do you have any that you can show me?

Here are some of the puppets I've made:

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 (http://s175.photobucket.com/user/systemcat/media/FuzzwattsampFemale_zps4dfd9fea.jpg.html)

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 (http://s175.photobucket.com/user/systemcat/media/FampF_zps1ad87a21.png.html)

These videos feature puppets I've made, with me puppetearing, and not for the second.

http://youtu.be/pljxYZXbWi4

http://youtu.be/HDpwzAfq1IM

These videos all have me as the puppetear, but I did not make these puppets, they were collected:

http://youtu.be/5x1NKvbBJCc

http://youtu.be/F9ydCvz7x08



Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: Little_Bird_Sorrel on April 03, 2014, 01:53:12 PM
Quote from: systemcat on April 03, 2014, 12:13:31 PM
Quote from: Little_Bird_Sorrel on April 02, 2014, 10:01:38 PM
Quote from: systemcat on April 02, 2014, 09:53:25 PM
Amateur builder & puppeteer, plus whenever I find a cool one in a thrift store I buy it  ^.^.

Oh cool! That sounds awesome! Do you have any that you can show me?

Here are some of the puppets I've made:

visitors can't see pics , please register or login
 (http://s175.photobucket.com/user/systemcat/media/FuzzwattsampFemale_zps4dfd9fea.jpg.html)

visitors can't see pics , please register or login
 (http://s175.photobucket.com/user/systemcat/media/FampF_zps1ad87a21.png.html)

These videos feature puppets I've made, with me puppetearing, and not for the second.

http://youtu.be/pljxYZXbWi4

http://youtu.be/HDpwzAfq1IM

These videos all have me as the puppetear, but I did not make these puppets, they were collected:

http://youtu.be/5x1NKvbBJCc

http://youtu.be/F9ydCvz7x08

These are so cute! I love the last video!
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: ZennaBug on April 12, 2014, 07:56:07 PM
I've never made more than a little hand puppet, nothing fancy.  I still have my old favorite marionette somewhere, though.  I had a blue Limber Louie as a kid and I loved that thing.  I also have an awesome monkey hand puppet from when I was younger too.
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: Little_Bird_Sorrel on May 11, 2014, 01:51:38 PM
So since classes are done until September (yay!), I have time to work on this puppet thing. I've been trying to make a bit os a blueprint for it, but as usual I have no idea what I am doing. I want to make something that gives the illusion of walking a dog, but I don't know how to go about this. Any suggestions?

Below is just a wonky looking furfrou blueprint (if you can call it that much).
Spoiler
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Post Merge: May 11, 2014, 01:54:35 PM

Quote from: ZennaBug on April 12, 2014, 07:56:07 PM
I've never made more than a little hand puppet, nothing fancy.  I still have my old favorite marionette somewhere, though.  I had a blue Limber Louie as a kid and I loved that thing.  I also have an awesome monkey hand puppet from when I was younger too.

I just looked up limber Louie. It looks so cute and familiar!
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: Griffin on May 12, 2014, 08:05:54 AM
The sketch looks great to me! Unfortunately I know nothing about making puppets, I hope someone more knowledgeable will be able to offer you advice. :)
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: hathorcat on May 12, 2014, 12:33:40 PM
Ooooh! She is going to look great as a puppet. I hope you get everything worked out. I cant wait to see her all done.
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: Little_Bird_Sorrel on May 31, 2014, 09:05:52 AM
Update 1

So using this as a reference http://www.deviantart.com/art/Making-of-Puppeterasu-Pt-2-276598774 (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Making-of-Puppeterasu-Pt-2-276598774) I finally got an idea of how to make this puppet work! The little blue print sketch was also updated a bit so it would be easier to figure out how the legs would work.
Spoiler
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I'm thinking that if I put some kind of stretchy string to the front of the front legs and back of the back legs, I might be able to get the affect that I want.

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A few weeks ago I bought some chicken wire and wood for the project, since I was pretty sure that I was going to need both. Unfortunately, it turns out that chicken wire is not the best thing to use for this. It was easy to cut and bend, but I couldn't figure out how to fold it into the right shape (unfortunately I figured this out after cutting things). I'm thinking it would be best to use plain old wire for this instead, so I'm going to try to get that today.

Next time I'll hopefully have progress pics that actually show progress. :1
Title: Re: Puppets!
Post by: Little_Bird_Sorrel on June 05, 2014, 11:44:48 PM
Update 2

Finally got the wire that I needed, and it works like a charm! I started working on it earlier, and despite a few scrapes everything's going fine. It's much easier than I thought it would be. The wire is easy to cut and bend, and I was able to make the head and torso.

Spoiler

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There's even a little handle at the back of the neck to make it move up and down.

I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the legs. In the end I think that I'll abandon my whole string idea and just add more wire handles to the limbs. It seems like it would be easier to manage.

I was going to follow the guide to a T and cover this with foam, but I think I'll cover it with two layers of paper mache instead. When that's done I'll glue the fur and features onto it.
Title: Re: Puppets! (and WIP Furfrou puppet thing!)
Post by: Griffin on June 06, 2014, 11:28:49 AM
Glad to hear it's coming along well! I'm excited to see the finished puppet. :)
Title: Re: Puppets! (and WIP Furfrou puppet thing!)
Post by: ZennaBug on June 08, 2014, 08:44:51 PM
Oh wow, that looks like a ton of work.  :faint:  I'm anxious to see how it turns out though!
Title: Re: Puppets! (and WIP Furfrou puppet thing!)
Post by: Noepse on June 30, 2014, 08:38:38 AM
I absolutely can't wait to see it when you are done! Furfrou is my all time favorite Pokémon. ♥
Title: Re: Puppets! (and WIP Furfrou puppet thing!)
Post by: Little_Bird_Sorrel on July 11, 2014, 03:55:21 AM
Thank you all for your patience! It's crunch time since tomorrow is the con and I still haven't gotten far :P

I'm honestly worried about this. It's looking ugly, and there's nothing I can do about it right now. The paper mâché didn't stick to the tape I covered the skeleton in so I went with the foam idea. The fabric is glued on instead of seen on because my sewing skills don't exist. The legs are looking a bit stalky, and once again the plan for the wires was changed.

Spoiler
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Despite the fact that this is a train wreck I'm still gonna finish it to the end. I burnt and scratched myself up way too much to quit now. ||:1

Thanks for being awesome about all this

Better photos eventually.

Post Merge: July 11, 2014, 12:23:37 PM

Also if anyone knows how to get a fluffy poodle hair effect please let me know.
Title: Re: Puppets! (and WIP Furfrou puppet thing!)
Post by: fingerpaints on July 11, 2014, 10:04:48 PM
Puppets are hard to make, time consuming and from my experience never turn out like the idea you had in mind. Ive made a few different ones, but all hand puppets. I gave most of them away, normally I work with felt and / or fake fur material. Keep at it, this will all be one big lurning curve for you, and they are a lot of fun if you do enjoy crafts :)

I don't have any photos online unfortunately, but ive made a couple of unicorns, a crocodile, a lion, a dog and my own monster hand puppet called bob (he comes with me to work and spends time playing with the children). Ive also made a few finger puppets, a snow owl, three penguins and a set of five monsters. Over time you learn from previous mistakes and learn what methods work better.
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