a spring bird

Today I revisited a project that I made over a year ago for Family Fun Magazine for their April issue called "We Love Baby Animals".  I actually made quite a few of these birds and they live in our Christmas ornament box until it's time to adorn the tree.  Today's birdy went home with our friend Birdy (I couldn't resist, and she was so gracious and fun to give it to).   Here she is in her lavender fluffiness:

This project is super easy and satisfying.  I developed it to be made with styrofoam balls, and that is what I did today, but I would like to change that to something less creepy to work with and that won't stick around forever in a landfill (if the bird doesn't get handed down through the generations, that is).  A friend suggested paper mache balls, which are available ready-made at the craft store, so I think I'll give them a try.  The nice thing about styrofoam is that the yarn grabs at the roughness and makes the wrapping easy.  The only nice thing about styrofoam.

I hope the following tutorial is clear and everyone makes lots of spring birds.  I do love that image.

These spring babies are a quick and satisfying project to do with your kids.  You’ll want to make a whole flock.

 

Materials:

-        2 styrofoam balls of differing sizes.  This babe was made with 2.5” and 1.5” balls.

-        fuzzy yarn

-        craft feathers

-        felt for the beak

-        2 black beads for the eyes

-        a pipe cleaner

-        tacky glue

-        a branch

 Directions:

1)     Coat half of the bigger ball in tacky glue.  At one end, begin spiraling the yarn around and around in a circle until you reach the equator of the ball (It is tricky to wrap the ball with yarn as the diameter is decreasing, as the yarn slips).  Cut yarn and repeat process on the other side.

2)     Repeat with smaller ball then attach the 2 balls together by inserting the toothpick into one and sliding the other on top.

 

3)     Cut the felt into a diamond shape, fold it in half so it is beaky, and glue in place along the crease.  Glue on bead eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

  4) To make the feet, cut pipe cleaner in half and bend one end into 3 toes.  Cut the leg to desired length and insert into bottom of bird body.  You may need to poke a pilot hole with a skewer first.  Secure with glue if desired. 

 

5) Put a few drops of glue on one end of the stick and begin wrapping with yarn.  Wrap the whole branch and secure other end with a dot of glue.  Glue birdy to the branch a prop to dry. 

Oh, here is another one I have in a shadow box in my kitchen with an abandoned nest on top.

Tweeeeeeet!