Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2002 14:03:17 +1000
Subject: PUPT: Papier Mache Pulp


>This is for a workshop for 8-11 year-olds. We'll be making 
>some small rod > puppets with springs for the arms and 
>legs, and papier mache pulp, or clay, > for the head, 
>body, hands and feet.  

I run workshops with this age group all the time making 
rod puppets. 

Use a polystyrene core. (I like using shapes I have cut 
myself with a hit wire or knife heated over a gas flame. 
You can also use fruit box sides and trim profiles ).

Use bamboo skewers to hold each head upright while the 
kids work on the features(and to later support the head, 
supply the neck and central rod) Dip the sharp end of the 
bamboo skewers in white/pva/craft glue to secure them to 
the head. Later add more skewers and insert them into the 
head such that you create a bundle that an then be 
wrapped in masking tape. Bingo! Instant, cheap central 
rod. Also use the skewers for the rod arms. Extend the 
rods by taping two end overlaps together..

If you want a neck cut a small piece of pvc irrigation tubing 
and insert that into the head over and around the skewers.

To model the head, build the shape by nailing small pieces 
of polystyrene to the core with toothpicks -- birchwood 
tooth picks sharpened at both ends are best. Shorten 
these first by breaking them in half.  Dip the ends in glue 
before nailing the two pieces of Polystyrene together. Build 
up your head like Mr Potato Head --nose, chin, eyebrows, 
cheks, ears, etc. 

DON"T TELL THE CHILDREN ABOUT THE PULP factor. 
as yet. Get them to do the bulk of their construction with 
polystyrene. 

WARNING: If the polystyrene head is built up such that 
toothpick ends are sticking out of the foam either push 
them in level with the  contour OR cut them off. But don't 
trim these ends off unless you wear glasses and there are 
no kids around. The cut ends of wood fly all over. 

Now you can present the children with pulp. I use soaked 
toilet paper -- quality does matter. Blend this with a clay 
slip (or a paperclay slip preferably) -- a clay gone into a 
thick gravy solution -- so that the the fibres in the paper mix 
with the clay. Squeeze out the moisture by wringing the 
mix in a towell. Paper clay to pulp mix of 1:1 or 1:2 or 1:3 
depending on tissue quality.

The caly/pulp mix will adhere to the Polystyrene, won't 
stick to the childrens' fingers, and once consolidated on 
the surface can be smoothed andsculpted at will by adding 
a tiny bit of paperclay.

Coat the whole lot in glue (all joins, right down to the rod 
so that the glue smothers all shapes, nooks and cranies -- 
I colour the glue with acrylic to get my base coat.) Put 
aside to dry by inserting the skewers into the botom of an 
upturned polystyrene box (easy carriage, easy storage, 
clear drying) As soon as the outer crust dries you can paint 
your puppet's deatails. I have had no splitting problems 
using this layering technique and the glue coat..

For the limbs (and hands/fingers) -- break bamboo 
skewers to the desired length. Use toothpicks for fingers. 
Clump up one, two or three skewer sections to give bulk 
and strength then wrap up the lot with masking tape. To 
add musculature, pull off and scrunch up (dry)toilet tissue 
to create bulk then hold in shape with maskingtape. For 
joins (elbow, wrist, shoulder) wrap each end with p[vc 
electrical tape and lock it into place with masking tape. 
You can hot glue it but its not really necessary as even 
with hot glue you will still need to tape. If you want a 
stronger join --use leather thonging -- but masking tape will 
hold it in place just the same. (you can also insert it into 
each butting limb end). Coat with PVA glue. When dry 
sand if you want to.  

For hands lay a piece of masking tape on the table and 
shape your fingers & thumb by laying toothpicks or skewer 
sections to create theshape you want. Secure by folding 
over the tape, break/bend each toothpick/skewer  to 
shape, tape over the split and attach the hand to the arm. 

For attaching rods to hands (and also sometimes  for 
some joins such as those at the elbow) I use hat elastic.  It 
is a strong link that also stretches which can be very 
effective in some performance situations. 

This can be a  two hour puppet with allsupllies availble at 
most supermarkets including the polystyrene.



 Dave Riley


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