MAKING A SIMPLE MOUTH PUPPET

Here are the pics I have compiled to show how the mouth puppet was made.
The pattern can be downloaded at the following link:  http://www.scribd.com/shelf

I am using an old t-shirt.   It is better to use an ADULT-LARGE size so you have enough for the whole pattern. 

PREPARING THE FABRIC: Cut out the pattern leaving a 1cm seam all around.  However, take note that you need only to leave 1/2 cm seam around the fingers.  Then sew all around leaving the mouth open as shown in B.  Take note to cut as close to the valley between the fingers as possible before turning them out (shown in A). 

THE MOUTH PIECE: Trace out the mouth pattern on a piece of hard card(A).  I am using card from a box for this.  Trace another one on a piece of black felt and glue the two pieces together(B).  Lightly cut a line across the card(C) to make it bendable as shown in D.

THE MOUTH: Apply glue along the edge around the mouth piece on the black felt side and place the edge of the mouth fabric over the edge where the glue is applied(B and C).  Cut the foam piece for the head as shown in D (more details in the pic below).

THE HEAD: Apply cement glue along the two inside edges.  Use a piece of hard card to spread the glue on both edges and leave it for a min before placing the two edges together (B and C).  Then gather the fabric together so it is easier to insert the foam inside the head over the upper jaw.



THE BODY INSERT:  Trace out the pattern for the foam body and cut it out with a sharp blade (A and B).  Apply cement glue to the two ends and join them together(C and D).



Insert the ready foam body into the sewn fabric.



THE TONGUE: Trace out the tongue patterns on a piece of bright-colored felt(B).  Glue them to the inside of the mouth piece as shown in C.  Cut out a piece of the lower jaw from foam(D) to insert to the lower jaw.

THE ARMS:  Fill both arms with poly fiber(A).  Sew a line across half way where the elbow joint(B) is so the arms can be bent(C).  Gather the opening and sew them closed, taking care to push the edges inside(D).

Apply glue to the end of arm where it attaches to the shoulder(C).

THE FACE:  I cut a ping pong ball into halves and wrap one half in a piece of fabric and glue it to the face near to the mouth and glue two googly eyes to complete the face(A).  Take note of the difference it will make when the eyes are placed closer together(B) and further apart(D).  Use furry material or wool for the hair. 

Dress it and you have a simple mouth puppet ready for the show!

PUPPETS

20 May 2011

This is a puppet making week for me as I prepare for a simple puppet workshop with some of our church's children workers tomorrow.  It has been a long time since I work on things like this and I enjoyed every moment of it.  I got most of the ideas from a DIY Book.  The mouth puppet was from a YouTube tutorial but I have to draw out the templates and added in more details.
So here are some pics to show you what I have done.

Sorry, I am not dressed yet ...shy...shy...

 Woof! Woof! I am a sock-doggie!

 mmm...what am I?  Funnel Monster?

 Winchy Winchy Spider, Climbing up the wall....

 Peep-A-Boo Puppet......"Now you see me, now you don't!"

 Sockie Spiderman!

 Miss Spongie

 I joined 2 big boxes together, cut a window in the centre, hold the top flaps together and there goes a simple puppet stage in a box.  Put two stools inside and the puppeteers can sit comfortably to perform the puppets through the window.  I look forward to see it painted and ready for Part II when they will come together to make more puppets and practice using them.

I didn't cut off the window piece, instead it is lifted up on the inside and attached to the opening ends at the back to hold the stage together.   A curtain is needed to form a backdrop(attached to the lifted window piece) so the puppeteers won't be visible from the outside.  I used split pins to hold the two boxes together and notice the white tapes which are to keep the pins intact.

 7 puppets and a puppet stage! Can't believe I did these in 5 days!

A small group but everything starts from a Little Dream.  I hope to see a puppet team born here.

THE PENCIL AND THE ERASER

A friend sent me this and I think it is so true and would like to share with parents who may pass this way :) 

Children come into our lives and they grow to leave.  God says they are gifts from Him and only for us to invest our lives in and to let go when the time comes.  Perfect parents never existed and never will as parenting is still a life time lesson as God is so amazingly creative that His creation is so unique and individual.  We never stay the same anyway, as we changed along with our maturity and age.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,  The fruit of the womb is a reward."  NKJV Psalm 127:3

And I am so blessed with the fruits I have received.  PTL!

Pencil: I'm sorry

Eraser: For what? You didn't do anything wrong.

Pencil: I'm sorry because you get hurt because of me. Whenever I made a mistake, you're always there to erase it. But as you make my mistakes vanish, you lose a part of yourself. You get smaller and smaller each time.

Eraser: That's true. But I don't really mind. You see, I was made to do this. I was made to help you whenever you do something wrong. Even though one day, I know I'll be gone and you'll replace me with a new one, I'm actually happy with my job. So please, stop worrying. I hate seeing you sad.

I found this conversation between the pencil and the eraser very inspirational. Parents are like the eraser whereas their children are the pencil. They're always there for their children, cleaning up their mistakes. Sometimes along the way, they get hurt, and become smaller / older, and eventually pass on. Though their children will eventually find someone new (spouse), but parents are still happy with what they do for their children, and will always hate seeing their precious ones worrying, or sad. All my life, I've been the pencil. And it pains me to see the eraser that is my parents getting smaller and smaller each day. For I know that one day, all that I'm left with would be eraser shavings and memories of what I used to have.

“We never know the love of our parents for us till we have become parents.”

Here are a few of the many things the Bible says about children (which I got from http://blogofdan.co.uk/?p=879)

1)  Children must learn to love and fear the Lord. 

In Deuteronomy 6:2 we read that commands, decrees and laws were given by God to Moses to pass on to the Israelites so that they, their children and their children’s children may fear God. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 the command is to love God with all your heart, soul and strength. This is to be on the parent’s hearts but also to be impressed upon their children.

 

 

2) Children are to be told God’s Words and God’s Works so that they will trust in Him. 

In Psalm 78:4-7 parents were told to pass on God’s works (his praiseworthy deeds, v4) and God’s Words (statutes, law, v5), to teach these to their children so that would put their trust in God and keep his commands.

3) Children need to trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour to be saved.
Acts 2:21 or Romans 10:13 tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:9 says that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. This applies to children as we as adults. They need to trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour to be saved from an eternity in hell separated from God.

To parents out there, may you be blessed with godly children and generations to come; and live to enjoy the comfort and joy of having wise children....Proverbs 10:1 This is the most blessed life any parent could ask for.