There are many ways to make puppet noses. From something as simple as a button to as complex as a realistic human nose carved out of foam. Here are some of my favorite ways.
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Cloth Stuffed Nose
Making a little bag of fleece and stuffing it with batting is a simple and common way of making a puppet nose.
- Cut a round or oblong shape from the nose material.
- Loosely stitch around the outside of your shape.
- Fill your bag with batting
- Draw your stitches tight and sew closed
- Glue or sew to the puppet’s face.
Fold, Pinch & Glue Foam Nose
- Take a square piece of 1/2″ Polyfoam and fold it into a triangular shape.
- Pinch the bottom into nostril shapes.
- Insert hot glue into the folds and clamp with clothespins or hold folds firmly with your fingers until hot glue cools and sets.
- Trim the nose to final shape with scissors.
- Paint or cover with liquid latex or fleece.
Cloth Covered Balls
Styrofoam balls, Ping-Pong balls and Plastic Eggs can be covered with fleece of cloth to make a nose. Wrap the cloth around the ball and glue in the back.
Carved Polyfoam Noses
This is a great way to make a realistic nose for a human puppet.
Using 1″ EVA or closed-cell foam, carve the shape for your nose. EVA can be carved with scissors, razor blades or a Dremel tool. I also use my bench grinder to smooth and shape the nose.
Once the desired shape is carved, I cover the nose with fleece using hot glue. The fleece can be pushed into the glue with scissors or a popsicle stick to retain the shape of nostrils or other features carved into the nose.
Foam Clay Puppet Nose
Foam clay can be sculpted and shaped into human and animal noses. It is rubbery and pliable.
Once you shape the foam clay, you will need to let it sit overnight to harden. After it hardens, foam clay has the properties of EVA or closed-cell foam, it bends and is soft, yet firm.
Your sculpted nose can be painted or covered with fleece or other cloth for a finished nose. You can also sand the finished sculpture for a smooth finish or to further shape it.
It is lightweight and allows for interesting and unique shapes you cannot get with other methods.
I use Foam-Mo foam clay. For the current price on Amazon, click HERE.
Doll Noses For Puppets
Doll noses and teddy bear noses available at craft shops can also be used for puppets.
Buttons, pom-poms and other items can also be used for puppet noses. Drew Allison of Grey Seal Puppets has been known to cut the end off plastic toy bowling pins and use them for noses.
