Coaster Creature

This cool puppet doubles as a drink coaster and makes a great party favor! Help celebrate Thanksgiving with your very own Coaster Creature.

5” x 6 1/2” piece of white sheet foam
4” x 4” piece of red sheet foam
colored permanent markers
black permanent marker
scissors
glue
pen

REMEMBER THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS WORK UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION. SOMETIMES WE USE OBJECTS THAT COULD BE HARMFUL, LIKE SCISSORS, SO DON'T EVER ATTEMPT TO MAKE THESE PUPPETS ALONE.

1. On a piece of white sheet foam, trace the face patterns lightly with a pencil: two boxes, one for the face and one for the jaw. On a piece of red sheet foam, trace the circle in a separate area for the mouth.
2. Draw the head and jaw shape of your Coaster Creature, and then the face details. You can draw a pig face or any animal you want.
3. Draw the jaw on the bottom part so the mouth opens and closes. The bottom and top lip should line up.
4. Color the pattern, using permanent markers. If you use markers that aren't permanent, the ink may smear on your hands. Color the black areas (the eyes, eyelashes and nostrils) with a black permanent marker, then use the marker to darken all the lines.
5. Cut out the pieces of the Coaster Creature with scissors. Cut out the red piece for the mouth. You should have three pieces when you finish: the jaw, the face and the mouth.
6. You'll glue the jaw on the mouth first. Make sure you cut out the small notches on the mouth, as this will help you in gluing and folding the mouth. Make a line of glue around the cut edge of the foam mouth where the jaw will attach, using the notches in the pattern to mark where the jaw will go. Let the glue dry for about 15 minutes.
7. Once you finish gluing, attach the jaw carefully to the mouth. You will have to hold it as the glue dries. Next, apply the glue on the other side of the mouth for the face, using the notches in the pattern as a guide. There should be a little space between the corners of the jaw and face, which now surround the foam mouth. Let dry for 15 minutes.
8. Put your hand on the back of the mouth and squeeze to make the puppet's mouth close. Set the creature on its mouth to use it as a coaster.