Paper Mache Birds

I guess I have a bird theme going here.


These are some cute paper mache birds we made recently.

They have wire feet which allow you to clamp them on an edge like a flowerpot or piece of driftwood or have them free standing.










MATERIALS REQUIRED:
- newspaper
- tape
- paper towel
-  reg. white school and tacky glue
- water and recycled container
- thin cardboard from a cereal box
- wax paper
- acrylic or tempera paint
- fine markers
- sealer like Mod Podge (optional)
- med. gauge wire
- embroidery thread or yarn

Take a quarter sheet of newspaper and crush into a pear shape.

Tape into place.  You can twist out a beak shape, click on this photo to enlarge to see this.

Cut some paper towel into strips about 1/2 an inch wide or so.  Pour some white school glue into a recycled container and add water in a 1 to 1 ratio. Mix well. Dip the strips into the glue mixture and start covering your bird.

With paper mache you want to overlap your strips for strength and smooth them down as you go.  Use a few dry strips to soak up excess glue.  That way your bird will take less time to dry you just want it moist not sopping.

Leave to dry in a warm place overnight...turn once to ensure even drying.


Out of thin cardboard from a cereal or cracker box cut out a wing shape...I used a teardrop shape.  Cut out a tail shape as well.

Take the cardboard shapes and cover in a coat of paper mache.

Once they are covered attach to the bird with overlapping strips.  While the shapes are moist you can curl your wings if you wish.

Leave to dry.

Paint with acrylic or tempera.









We used a basecoat first and then added additional color on top.

For the feather and eye detail you can either paint it in with a fine paintbrush or use fine sharpies after the paint has dried.

Younger kids to better with the markers.

If you want a shiny coat you can add a coat of mod podge but you might want to wait until after you add the legs.  This way it can stand up while drying.

To make the feet take piece of wire about 16 inches or so.  I don't what gauge this wire is as the label was missing but it's soft enough to bend with your fingers but firm enough to hold the shape without collapsing.

Make a foot shape with 4 toes and then twist the 2 ends of the wire together to form the leg.

Trim them down and bend in the knees.  Remember a bird's knee bends backwards.

I like the look of the silver foot but I wanted to add some color to the legs so we wrapped them with embroidery thread.  You could also use yarn.  Take the end of the thread and loosely wrap from the top of the leg down, double back and wrap tightly now.

When you reach the top knot off.

Using an awl or a knitting needle punch holes for the legs.

Put some tacky glue on them.

Push the leg thru the glue into the hole (remember the knees are backwards).

Add some more glue if needed.

Let dry. 

Here is the one my 7yr old made.

That's it.They look pretty realistic once the legs are on.

For those of you wondering where all the links went from my sidebar I finally had time to compile some pages and they are available at the top under my banner.

I now see all the gaps I need to fill so I hope to add many more lessons/projects.

Easier Bird Puppet

Well here is another bird puppet but an simpler version your kids can easily make with just a bit of help from Mom or Dad.


With a pull of the string it flaps its wings. Kids seem to really love these projects.

Materials Required:

-white posterboard or manila tag, you could also use a paper plate for the wing sections

-2 brass paper fasteners

-string

-paint

-paintbrush,water

-potato

-bead

-straw (optional)

- pencil and/or marker

To start you need to draw out your body and wings. Now you can make this bird any size you wish. You need to place to marks for holes in the body and then in the corresponding wings.

You can check out the template here (flying bird) but you will find it on the small size so you might want to enlarge it.

Paint in your bird using whatever color you desire....we are using tempura.

When you are finished painting let dry.

I wanted some extra details for this bird so I cut up some potato stamps...what kid doesn't love to use potato stamps.

Using liquid tempura or acrylic craft paint stamp on your details....I use foam plates to hold the paint but in the interest of the environment I use these over and over...you can wash them after using water based paint or with acrylics I just let them dry and put more paint on over top (even different colors for once acrylic is dry...its dry and won't mix with any new paint)

You can use other materials for stamping on details...here I'm using a straw to get some nice circles.

Let your bird dry and then cut out.

Punch your holes...for the big holes I use a hole punch and for the little holes I use an awl but you can use a heavy needle, a bent paper clip or even a sharp pencil.
Attach your paper fasteners going from the front of the bird..thru the wing and then loosely bending back....if they are too tight the wings will have difficultly moving.

Fully extend the wings and then attach a string from one small hole in the wing to the other..knot tightly.

Now take a long piece of string...depending on the size of your bird you want it to be long enough to be doubled and still hang a good 3 inches from the bottom of the bird.

Loop it over the middle of your string that is between the wings...you want to get it as close as you can to the middle so the movement of the wings is balanced.

Knot into place.

Attach a bead at the bottom so you have something to pull on to make the puppet work.

Make a loop with some extra string and tape to the back of the head for hanging.

That's it another bird puppet. Using this same method for the mechanism you can make a variety of puppets.

Give it a try and I'll see you next time.

gail

Articulated Bird Puppet

Here is a bird I've been meaning to make for some time. In fact I plan on making a few...all different types of birds from a small sparrow up to an owl but this is the prototype.

I am a big bird fan...we have two birds in our household. A budgie named Patrick and a cockatiel named Tika who loves to perch on the laptop while I'm writing these posts.

I'm also a fan of these puppets and designing the mechanism to get the right movement....

So if you are interested I'll walk you thru the process. I also plan on posting a simpler design later this week but these are really not that hard.

Materials Required:

- template

- thin cardboard like from a cereal box or shirt box

- paint, I used acrylic craft paint

- scissors

- string

- bead

- mod podge (optional)

- awl

Print off template. Trace onto light cardboard...I used the back end of a paper pad.

Cut out....lightly mark in feathers and details if you want to help during the painting but keep in mind acrylic paint will cover these marks.

Punch out holes....use a very small punch or just use a large tapestry needle or awl.

Paint as desired. Let dry.

I added 2 coats of Mod Podge to give it a shiny finish and make it a bit more substanial.

Take some string about 10 inches...I start with more than I need and then cut down as I go....better to have too much than it being too short and you have to start over.

From the back of the bird pull string thru on of the holes in the main body....knot several times and then trim end.

Thread string thru the corresponding wing using the upper hole.

Now you could use paper fasteners but I found they overwhelmed the bird...in the easier version to come we'll use fasteners.

Thread thru other wing.

Insert string thru other hole in main body from the back and knot off...you want the wings to be fully extended when you do this so you;ll have enough slack to make the mechanism work.

I painted my knots the same color as the body to make them less noticeable.

Now take another string...again start with 10 inches. Thread thru the bottom hole in the wing..come around the side and knot to the original string end.

Take the long end of the string and repeat on other side...remember to keep the wings fully extended when you do this. Trim ends.

Take another length of string...this time around 24 inches...loop over the middle of the string at the bottom of the wings...you really want this to be in the middle to get an even movement.

Tie into a knot leaving you two loose ends at the bottom of your string.

Now you could just tie a loop at the bottom for pulling but I prefer to use a bead.

Make a little hanger out of wire and either glue or tape into place at the back of the head.

That's it and you'll have an articulated bird puppet you can hang up anywhere. My kids love these as well.

Give it a try and I'll have an easier version next as well as some more of these engaging birds....the cockatiel started huffing at this one so it must be at least somewhat realistic.

gail