Mountain Skiing Penguin

By: Debra Quartermain for Styrofoam Brand Foam

Have this cute little skiing penguin in your home. Use it as a Christmas decoration. You're sure to get complements on it. Using paints, felt and fleece you'll be done in no time.

Materials:

STYROFOAM* Brand Foam:
- Eggs, one each: 2-1/2"; 5-7/8"
Fabrics: blue fleece, 6" x 10"; red plaid flannel, 3" x 22"
Felt: orange, 9" x 12"; white plush, 10" x 12"; black plush, 10" x 12"
Dark blue acrylic paint
Two white plastic snowflakes, 4"
White pom pom, 1-1/2"
Black beads, 8mm, two
Wooden dowel, 1/4" x 12"
Fine-gauge wire, 6" length
Serrated knife
Candle stub or paraffin
Fine-line black permanent marker
Pencil
Ruler
Medium flat paintbrush
Disposable palette
Water basin
Paper towels
Scissors
Extra-long straight pins
Wire cutters
Utility knife
Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
Thick, white craft glue
Cosmetic blush (optional)
Pattern

Instructions:

Wax serrated knife with candle stub or paraffin. Cut foam eggs in half lengthwise.
Place egg halves flat side down on wrong side of felt as follows: two small, orange; one large, white plush; one large, black plush. Trace small eggs onto felt 1" beyond foam edge; trace large eggs 2" beyond foam edge. Trace second pair of small eggs onto orange felt at foam edge (soles). Cut out eggs.
Cut pattern pieces as indicated.
Center each egg half rounded side down on wrong sides of larger felt eggs. Bring felt edges up to flat sides of eggs. Pin at four opposite points. Adjust excess felt between pins; glue to secure. Let dry.
Remove pins. Glue soles to bottom of feet; let dry.
Glue large half eggs together to make penguin body. Measure 1-1/2" down from narrow end of egg at front of body (white side). Use scissors point to poke two small holes in head, 3/8" apart, for eyes. Glue bead eyes into holes. If desired, use finger or brush to apply blush to penguin's cheeks.
Glue beak pieces together along straight edges. Open beak slightly at rounded end. Glue pointed end of beak to face as shown.
Glue feet to bottom of body, one forward and one to back, so body rests level and slightly forward as shown. Glue snowflake "skis" to bottom of feet.
Glue one white and one black wing wrong sides together; repeat for second wing. With black side out, finger pleat top edge of one wing. Measure down 3" from center top of head; glue wing where body halves join. Repeat for second wing.
Glue 6" edges of blue fleece together, creating a 5" x 6" tube; let dry. Tightly gather one open end of tube; wrap with wire to secure. Turn hat right side out. Fold brim up 1/2", then 1". Glue pom pom to top of hat. Glue hat to head.
Fold plaid fabric in half lengthwise and tie around neck. Spot glue to secure.
Use utility knife to cut dowel in half for ski poles. Paint poles blue. Measure 2-1/2" from one end of each pole; glue poles to wings as shown at 2-1/2" point.