Arin Egoraptor pt 4 - Finishing Touches!
Hey readers,
We are wrapping up my Game Grumps puppet builds. These have been so fun to make! I already have my wheels spinning with my next puppet build, but I am going to try something else before returning to puppets.
Anyway, Arin has been without eyes for far too long! Danny still doesn't have eyes, but that makes sense with his hair. I tested out a few different sizes of my new eyes to get a sense of scale with Arin's smaller head. I was going to use the biggest ones, but these medium sized eyes seemed a much better fit. Try taking a picture of eyes on a puppet before you glue them on sometime, let me tell you it isn't easy. Gravity was about as friendly to me as it was to Sandra Bullock. I am not sure if that even works as a reference since I haven't seen it. Also, that came out in 2013?! I would have guessed maybe a year ago, certainly not five.
Sandra Bullock's career aside (holy shit George Clooney was in this too?), it was time to make some eyeballs. I gave them a coat of white paint to fill in some of the imperfections. I also used a smaller eyeball painted pink as a nose this time. I haven't ever left a nose uncovered in fabric. I might change my mind later and change it, but it looks good so far.
I let them dry for probably not long enough and prepared my fleece. I had some hot pink left over from my three people puppets (see last week - they all have spoon eyes) that I figured would make a good contrast for eyelids. I have seen super detailed processes for making eyelids on YouTube, but I just eyeball it. Pun not intended.
I put some hot glue on the edge of my fleece and fold it over to make a clean edge, then I play with where I want the lid to be a few times until I get it where I want it. I put a small bead of hot glue on the new edge and put it where I have decided to leave my lid. I am sure I will find uses for the really precise method eventually, but freehand works for now.
Once that is done - twice - its time for the eyelashes. I have a sheet of felt with a sticky backing that I have been using for years. I only cut a tiny sliver every time I make eyes, so its been with me a while.
Cut a thin strip and lay it against the lid. Then I cut the excess off the back and run a bead of glue around the outside edge to be sure the lid won't come undone. I really love the way the eyes came out. The silicone mold was definitely worth the money.
Now its time to stick it all to the puppet! This can be tricky. I like to use a little bit of painters tape on the backside to give me some chances to try out a few different placements and angles. Obviously the two sides have to match or it comes out looking really wonky.
What you have now is a White Walker looking Arin puppet with no pupils. Save those pupils for last! Otherwise you will not be able to get the correct focus that you want.
If you stick the pupils on before you put it on your puppet, you risk the perspective changing when its on a rounded head and making your puppet look like he is a chameleon with independently moving eyes.
I still use felt circles for my eyes. I know I should invest in a hole punch and use better materials, but for now this is working fine. I do wish I had black instead of these slightly brown ones, but that's tomorrow's problem. Tonight, I have a puppet to finish.
Once I am happy with the placement I stick them on and we have an Arin puppet!
I considered using spray adhesive in his hair to keep it in place, but I was worried it would make it too firm and wouldn't have any movement. It means his hair needs styling when he starts being operated, but that is a price to pay.
I had originally planned to mail these puppets to the Game Grumps. I still might, but right now I am liking them hanging out in my living room.
I am really happy with the aesthetic of these two puppets. I really love the seams showing, I know that I should be trying to hide that, but it is one of my favorite parts of my puppets. Danny's hair and clothing was definitely the hardest part, but they are really successful. I feel like Arin has less fabricated stuff in his built, but bonus points for having custom run eyes!
Check the boys out, chilling by my haunted dollhouse, ready to play games.
Next week I am starting a Nintendo quilt. Get excited!
Keep making cool stuff!
Until next time,
JoshPrime
We are wrapping up my Game Grumps puppet builds. These have been so fun to make! I already have my wheels spinning with my next puppet build, but I am going to try something else before returning to puppets.
Anyway, Arin has been without eyes for far too long! Danny still doesn't have eyes, but that makes sense with his hair. I tested out a few different sizes of my new eyes to get a sense of scale with Arin's smaller head. I was going to use the biggest ones, but these medium sized eyes seemed a much better fit. Try taking a picture of eyes on a puppet before you glue them on sometime, let me tell you it isn't easy. Gravity was about as friendly to me as it was to Sandra Bullock. I am not sure if that even works as a reference since I haven't seen it. Also, that came out in 2013?! I would have guessed maybe a year ago, certainly not five.Sandra Bullock's career aside (holy shit George Clooney was in this too?), it was time to make some eyeballs. I gave them a coat of white paint to fill in some of the imperfections. I also used a smaller eyeball painted pink as a nose this time. I haven't ever left a nose uncovered in fabric. I might change my mind later and change it, but it looks good so far.
I put some hot glue on the edge of my fleece and fold it over to make a clean edge, then I play with where I want the lid to be a few times until I get it where I want it. I put a small bead of hot glue on the new edge and put it where I have decided to leave my lid. I am sure I will find uses for the really precise method eventually, but freehand works for now.
Once that is done - twice - its time for the eyelashes. I have a sheet of felt with a sticky backing that I have been using for years. I only cut a tiny sliver every time I make eyes, so its been with me a while.
Cut a thin strip and lay it against the lid. Then I cut the excess off the back and run a bead of glue around the outside edge to be sure the lid won't come undone. I really love the way the eyes came out. The silicone mold was definitely worth the money.Now its time to stick it all to the puppet! This can be tricky. I like to use a little bit of painters tape on the backside to give me some chances to try out a few different placements and angles. Obviously the two sides have to match or it comes out looking really wonky.
What you have now is a White Walker looking Arin puppet with no pupils. Save those pupils for last! Otherwise you will not be able to get the correct focus that you want. If you stick the pupils on before you put it on your puppet, you risk the perspective changing when its on a rounded head and making your puppet look like he is a chameleon with independently moving eyes.
I still use felt circles for my eyes. I know I should invest in a hole punch and use better materials, but for now this is working fine. I do wish I had black instead of these slightly brown ones, but that's tomorrow's problem. Tonight, I have a puppet to finish.
Once I am happy with the placement I stick them on and we have an Arin puppet!
I considered using spray adhesive in his hair to keep it in place, but I was worried it would make it too firm and wouldn't have any movement. It means his hair needs styling when he starts being operated, but that is a price to pay.
I had originally planned to mail these puppets to the Game Grumps. I still might, but right now I am liking them hanging out in my living room.
I am really happy with the aesthetic of these two puppets. I really love the seams showing, I know that I should be trying to hide that, but it is one of my favorite parts of my puppets. Danny's hair and clothing was definitely the hardest part, but they are really successful. I feel like Arin has less fabricated stuff in his built, but bonus points for having custom run eyes!
Next week I am starting a Nintendo quilt. Get excited!
Keep making cool stuff!
Until next time,
JoshPrime
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