Abstract. We give a simple, combinatorial construction of a unital, spherical, nondegenerate * -planar algebra over the ring Z[q 1/2 , q −1/2 ]. This planar algebra is similar in spirit to the Temperley-Lieb planar algebra, but computations show that they are different. The construction comes from the combinatorics of the decategorifications of the type A and type D structures in the author's previous work on bordered Khovanov homology [10]. In particular, the construction illustrates how gluing of tangles occurs in the bordered Khovanov homology ([9]) and its difference from that in Khovanov's tangle homology, [5], without being encumbered by any extra homological algebra. It also provides a simple framework for showing that these theories are not related through a simple process, thereby confirming recent work of A. Manion, [7]. Furthermore, using Khovanov's conventions and a state sum approach to the Jones polynomial, we obtain new invariant for tangles in Σ × [−1, 1] where Σ is a compact, planar surface with boundary, and the tangle intersects each boundary cylinder in an even number of points. This construction naturally generalizes Khovanov's approach to the Jones polynomial.