Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 01:17:25 -0400
Subject: Re: PUPT: Mascots


If you want a more sculpted look, you can create a basic form out of chicken wire (smaller mesh) and paper mache/tissue mache.  There is a special mesh that is tighter knit, lighter and more flexable in art stores or craft stores.  I highly recommend that over chicken wire but it will cost you more.  The base that you can work around can be a stiff hat - baseball, wicker or hard hat.  I tend to to prefer the more sculpted style over the soft sculpture, but they both have the draw backs & pluses.  Sculpted/papermache would be more durable & you can have more interesting detail. The soft sculpture, however, would be faster & lighter.  I would include the hat form in either design.  See if you can make it stiff enough so it doesn't get too close to child's face & provide air holes & way for the child to have visability.  With the paper mache, I would include felt or foam on the inside so it's soft & kid can't hurt her/himself.  With the foam, see if you can stiffen it (sculptorcoat?)  I found having my visability around the creature's mouth to be a good proportion to work with.

The other option is to create a fun fur hood with ears & nose, but have eyes & mouth visable.  It's be easier for the child to put on & faster to create, but the child will be less disguised.(although face paint can help that.  Ben Nye is by far the best, but expensive.  It lasts a long time esp. with a little baby powder.  You'll need face cream to help clean it off).  I would recommend sewing over hot glueing if at all possible.  Everytime I helped a kid hot glue a project or bought dolls, etc that used hot glue, a piece would pop off, esp. if used!
You'll need at least a couple weeks to develop the mascot in paper mache if you (or the kids) don't want to do a sloppy job. With any of these projects though, I hope it's not assumed that you'll have it completed by the end of this school year.  Make it clear that if they want something elaborate that won't fall apart, you'll need more time.
That being said, I somehow completed several simple sheep costumes (with similiar hoods I mentioned above) for this play within less than 2 weeks several years back. 

Wayong


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