Christmas: Rod and Reel Rodent

Want to make a great holiday puppet to entertain your family? You'll have fun for hours with this Rod and Reel Rodent puppet!

small rod and reel fishing pole
large plastic egg or plastic bottle
short shag black fur
tan sheet foam
three big black buttons
fishing line
scissors
glue
grey fake fur
chip clips or clothes pins
black marker

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

1. Cut the egg in half lengthwise using scissors.
2. Place fur over one of the egg halves. Glue the fur on top first, then spread glue on the back of the egg. Flatten the fur over the back of the egg and pinch the sides to make hips. Pinch the excess fur in front of the egg to make a nose, then apply glue to the front of the egg. Let dry for about a half hour.
3. Make sure the fur on the edge of the egg is firmly attached with glue, then trim the excess fur away from the bottom of the egg. Leave the end for the tail, nose and hips.
4. Fold the pinched fabric forward on the sides, where the rodent's hips would be. Glue the fold in place. Let dry for about 15 minutes.
5. Using scissors, cut out two rodent ears from tan sheet foam and two ears from the fur.
6. Cut the tail and two rodent eyelids from tan sheet foam.
7. Assemble the face.
8. Fold the tail in half lengthwise and glue the edges together.
9. Glue the tan sheet foam eyes around the edges of the two remaining black buttons to create eyes. Glue a black button nose at the tip of the bunched fabric at the front of the egg. Glue the tan sheet foam ears inside the fur ears, then glue the ears on either side of the body in the middle of the egg. Add the tail.
10. Add some fake black fur behind his ears for extra hair.
11. Tie the fishing line from the rod and reel to the rodent’s nose. Make a little hole at his nose using scissors and attach your reel.