Curious Kitty Puzzle Coasters That Double Up as a Platter

I’m trying to loosen up my drawing style. And it’s not easy. I tend to try and draw things as true to life as possible. Unless I’m drawing “bum creatures” 😀 Sadly that “little Ms. Perfect” inside my head always seems to get the upper hand. But no more. This time I may have put her in her place!!! And it happened while making these “Curious Kitty” puzzle coasters that double up as a platter or placemat.

 

There’s nothing true to life about these. But if you’re a doodler you’re going to love making a few for yourself and your friends.

 

And if you’re not a doodler or think you suffer from “little Ms. Perfect” syndrome too then that’s okay. Coz I’ve totally got you covered. You can download the free printable of all the curious kitties and just mod podge them on.

 

So in this tutorial I’ll show you how to paint and make your own curious kitty coasters erhmmmm I mean platter, no wait it’s a placemat or maybe they’re coasters.  Who cares, they’re fun to do and puzzles make great gifts for big people and little people too.

 

Okay, before I get to the tutorial, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!

What you need

The kitty coasters (aka puzzle platter) are made from wood that’s at least 16″ x 16″ and anything between 3/8” to 3/4” thick. If you’re not comfortable working with wood, you can use thick cardboard instead. They may not be as sturdy but the kids will still love playing with them.

• Gesso. You can make your own or buy some at your local craft store
• Bright happy colorful craft paints. I used my favorite Unicorn SPIT, but any craft paint will work
• Paintbrush and fine black permanent marker
• Polyurethane gloss sealer
• Scroll saw or jigsaw (scissors if you’re making yours from cardboard)
• Sandpaper
• Curious Kitty printables (optional)
• Puzzle template and pencil

 

How to Make Curious Kitty Puzzle Coasters

Measure and cut your piece of wood. The standard coaster size is normally between 3.5” (9cm) and 4” (10 cm) and since this craft idea can be used as a platter or 4 separate coasters you need a piece of wood that’s at least 16” x 16”. If you want bigger coasters just adapt the measurements and resize the puzzle template.

 

Transfer the puzzle template onto the cut piece of wood. Using a jigsaw or scroll saw cut along the marks. My hubby bought me a Dremel MotoSaw and I love how easy it is to use and the blades are super thin, so it’s ideal for something like this. If you’re using cardboard, you can jut the piece using a craft knife or sharp scissors.

The easiest way to cut the puzzle platter is all the way across, and then with the pieces still joined, cut across the other way.

 

Sand any rough edges and paint the puzzle pieces and apply a layer of gesso. While you wait for the gesso to dry, sketch a few mockups of how you want to place your curious kitties and the colors you’d like to use. I chose to use all the bright happy Unicorn SPiT colors I had 😉 If you’re not going to be painting your own version, you can download the free curious kitty printable and get ready to mod podge them onto your puzzle pieces.

 

To create harmony between all the kitties I tried to use analogous colors. That’s the big word for groups of three colors that are next to each other on the color wheel 😉

 

Aren’t those Unicorn SPiT color names the best? You can use any kind of craft paint for your platter placemat coaster puzzle, I just really love how vibrant the Unicorn SPiT colors are.

How to Paint the Curious Kitties

Choose one of your analogous colors, and paint rough circular blobs for the head. Add two pointy things on top for the ears.

 

While the paint is still wet, use a paintbrush to zig-zag-ify (that’s a word, right?!!) the edges of the blobs and add one or two of the analogous colors to create depth and contrast.

 

Use a paper towel to blend the colors into each other and apply more color until you’re happy.

 

Once you’ve got the basic shapes defined and you’re happy with the color combos, paint two white blobs for the eyes.

 

Wait for the paint to dry completely and then use a fine permanent marker to outline the kitties and draw in nose, pupils and whiskers.

 

Experiment with different shapes and doodles to make each kitty unique. Some of my curious kitties have straight eyelashes, while the others have dots and even curly-wurly things coming out of their head. There’s no right or wrong way, just have fun.

 

Sealing the Curious Kitty Puzzle Coasters

Spray the curious kitty puzzle coasters with 2 to 3 coats of polyurethane to seal them and protect them against party spills.  

 

I prefer using a water-based polyurethane or polyacrylic sealer. It gives the coasters a hard, durable finish that won’t yellow over time like most oil-based sealers.

 

And if you need a platter or large coaster, then you can quickly build the puzzle, and voila …..

 

If you like the idea of making curious kitty puzzle coasters that double up as a platter, don’t forget to pin it for later.

 

Sharing is caring 😉

 

Oh and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you. 

And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, then maybe these beauties will appeal.

And as always, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with lots of love. Thank you for popping in for a visit.