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Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey

Racing Beer Can Mascots – Bud Beer Cans on Ice

January 2, 2017Leave a Comment

 

Budweiser Beer Cans on Ice – Beer Can Mascots

Mmmmm- cold beer on ice —even better, Racing Budweiser Beer cans on ice!

We’ve been making the Bud Beer Cans for the Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey Beer Can Race. They race around the ice, while Griff & Finn, the mascots, do everything they can to stop them from getting to the finish line. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC5ZcdJlCng&feature=share

Grand Rapids Griffins -Beer on Ice – AvantGarb mascots

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Tagged With: Beer can mascots, Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey, Halftime beer race, Hockey, Racing beer cans

Griff – The Grand Rapids Griffins Mascot – It Started with the Feet

August 3, 20171 Comment

Griff – Griffins Hockey

The Beginning

Our relationship with the Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey began with the feet. Griff’s mascot feet were old and tired, and the performer wasn’t happy. He got in touch with AvantGarb.

We made the Griff new feet and the performer was very happy with the feet. We gained a wonderful client.

Mascot Feet

At our mascot studio, we have spent hours fine-tuning the inner structure of the mascot foot. Next to sculpting and building the head, making feet/shoe/boots for a mascot is the most complex. There are buckles and straps and foam and leather and soles that have to be cut and there are doohickies and various types of elastic and webbing and something called “cloud”,

Soon we were building the whole Griff mascot from the wispy head feathers to the silver wings and…. the feet!

The Griffin is a mythological character. He is part eagle, part lion. This means we got to make wonderful silver wings put hints of feathers on the Griff’s head and give the guy really furry leg and feet. The Griff is the King of the Beast and the King of the birds, so we muscled him up a bit too.

Professional Mascot Makers

For us, muscles are foam, foam, foam, foam. All of that foam is covered in athletic mesh. We use a foam that is designed to have water flow through it —-so its washable and it is tough.

The Griffins were our first introduction to the world of hockey. We’re big fans.

© Jennifer Smith 2014

 

Tagged With: Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey, Griff, Hockey mascot, mascot feet, silver wings

Choppy – ChopSaver Lip Balm

March 30, 2012Leave a Comment

Choppy CorSaver Lip Balm - For People w/ Lips

A week before Super Bowl 2012 festivities started in Indianapolis, the ChopSaver people- Dan and Noelle Golsling came to visit. They wanted a mascot for their ChopSaver Lip Balm – For People with Lips. If your a small biz w/ a great product, you have to pay attention to the SuperBowl’s outreach possibilities.

ChopSaver Lip Balm - For People with Lips

AvantGarb was swamped. We didn’t have a spare second to make a right-this-very-minute-new mascot. There were 3 Kangaroos, a Horse, a Soybean, a Grizzlie and the Griff waiting to be made. However, ChopSavers came with a referrral from a close friend, Carol Frohlich.

….and Dan & Noelle are ardent entrepreneurs and they have THE MOST LUSCIOUS LOOKING LIPS!

Of course we said yes.

Making  “Choppy”  was like driving the Indy 500. The sewing machines raced and whirred for 3 days.

Choppy ChopSaver Lip Balm Mascot on the treadle machine….and sometimes we used our big, old, powerful cobbler machine. Rather than turn the fabric, foam, patent-leather-vinyl, the walking foot turns to change the stitching direction (sewing machine info for sewing nerds).

Whenever the ChopSaver folks show up, the excitement & entusiasm level rises. Annie & Mike ( a couple of Garb Ganger) finished the last stitches and wriggled the ChopSaver mascot onto the interior structure while with help from the ChopSaver gang.

Choppy-Annie securing interior harness

Everyone in the GarbGang has luscious lips now because we use Chopsaver Lip Balm. Plus, it was a blast working w/ Dan & Noelle.

Choppy w/ Mike, Jennifer & Annie

 

 

 

Tagged With: AvantGarb, Choppy ChopSaver Lip Balm, custom mascot, Dish Network, Garb Gang, Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey, Grizz, Grizzlies, Hopper, Indianapolis, Jennifer Q Smith, NBA mascot, NCAA, queen of fuzz, Super Bowl

Video – Griffin Mascot Waits for the Hockey Season to Begin!

April 1, 2017Leave a Comment


…okay, we love the Griff—the mascot for the Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey.

Isn’t he the handsomest Griffin on skates?

Here’s a very cool video of the Griff waiting for the season to begin

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdUSsnR5Emk

©Jennifer Smith 2009

Tagged With: Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey, Griff, Hockey, Hockey mascot, hockey video, mascot maker

Avant Garb • Indianapolis, Indiana • 317-523-6267 • © 2025

  • Home
  • Mascot Basics
    • How Much Does a Mascot Cost?
    • Mascot Design
    • Ordering Your Custom Mascot Costume
  • Services
    • Mascot Consulting & Presentation
    • Mascot Performer Training
  • Mascot Musings
  • Mascot Archive
  • About Us
  • Connect With Us