Well, to make your mesh cleaner, select your curves, and go Edit Curves > Rebuild curves > Option box. Go to Edit > Reset Settings. Then make sure the parameter range is set to 0 to # spans. Then click on rebuild. If it screws up, you can skip this stage.

Then when you made you surfaces, go to Modify > Convert > NURBS to Polygons > Option Box. Go to Edit > Reset Settings. Now set the tessilation method to control points. Click convert.

It will look different.

Then just combine the geometry, and merge the edges. If you want a clearer view, view Kurt's Cartoon Dog Tutorial Part 2.

Hope this helps.