Thread: Ideas please regarding pvc forms

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I have built 5 life size pvc forms for various figures ... I have the head, wigs, masks, clothes for each character but need your creativity on how to "stuff" them ... there are too many to use plastic grocery bags, don't have enough towels to use and I'm concerned with the weight so they aren't top heavy ... any ideas on what would be best to use? I just know your creative minds will help with my dilemma. Thank you in advance.

i've never done this, but how about using balloons to stuff with?

stick a balloon in the clothing & blow it up? the long ones might work for arms? i have no idea, lol

probably won't work everywhere, and will deflate overtime, but should last a couple days at least

amk

I've used crumpled newspaper or craftpaper then taped on with clear packing tape on some of my older props. Still going strong after 4 years.

It will get wet when it rains....but it will dry out when it's not!

I use chicken wire available at all Lowes or HDepots. It is relatively cheap & does a great job.

For legs and arms, I've had success with bubble wrap and packing tape. Easily adjusted, light, and weather proof more or less.

Pool noodles or foam pipe insulation for me. They can give you form without the overstuffed look. The other benefit is that they're both waterproof and light. Sometimes you can find the pool noodles cheap this time of year at a Walmart or pool supply store.

I also use crumpled news paper to do my stuffing, when I don't make the props out of chicken wire to begin with. If you are worried about moisture, you could stuff plastic bags with crumpled news paper and then shape the bag with tape so it stays in the right form while it's inside the prop. If you seal the bag before stuffing it inside, you shouldn't have to worry much about dampness ruining things.

Also, if you have a problem with keeping the stuffing where you want it in the prop, you can use tape to stick the bags together inside, which is much easier than trying to tape crumpled paper balls in place! LOL

That is the cheapest solution, but if by any chance you have any bubble wrap laying around, that also makes an excellent stuffer. We were really lucky when a few years ago, my hubby's company moved offices and they packed everything in bubble wrap for the move and when they got to the new place and unwrapped everything they gave us the old bubble wrap. hehe We've got this HUGE bag of bubble wrap now, and I use it all the time in our props.

I have also have used great stuff.

Jack Skellington is correct use pool noodles and a wood grater to shape them into arms and legs. See Wood rasp also to shape foam.

Thank you for all your viable suggestions ... so far I've used a little of each of the suggestions except for the pool noodles and chicken wire. Bought a roll of bubble wrap, stuffed plastic bags with newspaper and added whatever craft paper I could salvage ... only problem is keeping it all in place ... I couldn't tape the stuffing to the pvc and then fit the clothes on so I dressed them and then stuffed ... it's sort of working out so far ... will post pics when I get them just right ... again, thanks everyone for your input and innovative ideas.