As Milton’s kids excitedly ripped through their holiday presents this past Christmas, 12-year-old Cole Magallanes took his time, savoring the experience of unwrapping gifts with a patient, methodical approach.

In Cole’s household, the packaging often holds as much fascination as the gift itself – especially when it comes to his creative projects.

“Boxes don’t get thrown out around here,” jokes Cole’s dad, Jason, as his son proudly shows off a container filled with materials for his next puppet creation.

In the corner of Cole’s basement workshop, a picture of Geppetto with his masterpiece, Pinocchio, hangs on the wall – an inspiration for the young inventor. This homage to a beloved classic serves as the spark for Cole’s latest venture: puppet making.

“My interest started when I saw how these characters moved and how someone created them,” says Cole, reflecting on the how-to videos he found online, which led him to begin crafting puppets last summer.

His first creation? Crusty the Cat from Chuck E. Cheese. Since then, Cole has brought nearly two dozen characters to life, including some from the Country Bear Jamboree.

“The most fun part is shaping the puppet to make it look just like the character,” he shares, while carefully maneuvering rods and strings to make his creations come to life.

Now sharing his process on his Blue Face Productions YouTube channel, Cole has begun incorporating animatronics into his work—a natural progression for someone eager to learn and push his limits.

“This is all him,” Jason says proudly. “I have a background in electronics, but he’s discovering everything on his own.”

Cole spends much of his free time in his workshop, where his puppet making is just the latest chapter in his ongoing creative journey. It all began three years ago when he started crafting custom plushies—roughly 200 of them now fill a couch in their home, many indistinguishable from store-bought designs.

Says Jason, “He’s always had a really creative mind. This isn’t surprising—it’s more of a question of ‘What’s he going to do next?’”