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I'm currently learning (and loving) the Loomis cups and balls routine, and, what with Hallowe'en approaching I've been toying with the idea of making little skulls out of Fimo or something similar so I can use them in the act (with three shrunken heads for my final load).

The only trouble I foresee (and one I need to get a handle on before shelling out on any materials) is that the skulls will talk during the routine. Does anyone have any advice about modelling materials that are crochet-ball quiet?

I thought about maybe going with Fimo and then simply painting the skulls with latex, which would probably make them easier to control too, but thought I'd see if any TMites had anything to say on the matter.

Thanks in advance,

Si.

My advice would be to get them sewn, rather like little softballs. I don't think a latex coating would help, unless it was a really, really thick coating! Something like leatherette might make robust, but soft skulls.

Maybe some shops are stocking squishy toy skulls for Hallowe'en?

http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/880/mia/ ... id/5725225

They might be a bit big, but along the right lines.

Failing that, you could have 'actual' shrunken heads sewn. The mouths and eyes on genuine ones are usually sewn shut, I think. I must admit my expertise on the subject is a little rusty...

EDIT: Another thing worth looking for is erasers that are shaped like skulls. These ones are flat, sadly, but a hunt around your local shops might produce something a bit more like a ball:

http://www.jellyandicecreamparties.com/ ... raser.html

You could buy a few of those rubber glow-in-the-dark skeletons and use the skulls from them. You'd probably need to pad them out in some way.

Thanks. Premade skulls will probably be favourite as I'm not sure I'll be able to produce a number of skulls that are identical.

I'm okay, I think, for the shrunken heads. I'm carving and drying out apples for them (and, yes, "stitching" the eyes and mouths), and as they're the final load, shouldn't be any more talkative than tennis balls.

There's a really easy solution which I've used on poker chips for the same reasons.

And oddly, I think it would work well on teh skulls too!

Anyhow... just paint the skulls with several layers of copydex.

It will build up and give them a rubberised coating. It dries almost transparent—fine for skulls.

Like I said, this worked well with poker chips (I only did the edges).

Thanks Seige! That'll save me learning to crochet!

Tsk, tsk... maybe you need to ask this gent how he does it...

(DAMNIT forgot we can't insert videos here...) try this link... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0cGxqYZp6M

Doesn't look so hard.

Great routine, but of course rather than not making the steel balls talk, he uses the talking as part of the illusion. Very clever indeed.

I also went on to watch the clear cups and balls routine. Very impressive too, although in a different way.

Was going to suggest that Fimo stuff, but you already tried it?

I've made the prototype skull from Fimo and am going to cast it in hard plaster from latex moulds. This is, of course, an elaborate way of avoiding practicing the actual routine. Quite by accident I managed to buy some luminous Fimo, so it glows, too!



Note the fluff...