How to Make Bird Ornaments
Bird lovers appreciate handmade ornaments shaped like birds. Soft felt ornaments are colorful additions to a Christmas tree, wreath or seasonal displays. Dove ornaments add a romantic touch to a bridal showers or wedding gifts. Adjust the pattern to make the birds in the size needed for any project. Detailed painting adds texture for a more realistic bird. Colored embroidery floss and felts are used for a more whimsical version of a bird ornament. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Line drawing
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Cardboard (optional)
- Colored felt pieces
- Felt tip marker
- Acrylic paint
- No.1, 2, and 3 paint brushes
- Fiberfill stuffing
- Embroidery floss
- Needle and thread
Instructions
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1
Choose a line drawing or colored picture of the type of bird needed for the ornament. Make a photocopy of the picture, reducing or increasing the size if necessary. Cut out the picture and trace its shape onto a piece of cardboard if you're planning to make several ornaments.
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2
The cardinal base color is red. Study the colors of the bird. Choose felt that matches the main color of the bird's body. Select bright colors such as lavender, sky blue or pink for a whimsical or fantasy bird project.
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3
Using a felt tip marker, trace the pattern onto the piece of felt, adding a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn the pattern over and trace it again to create the other side of the ornament.
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4
Cut out the pieces and pin them together, wrong side out.
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5
Sew the two pieces together, wrong sides out. Using matching thread colors, hand-sew the pieces together 1/4 inch from the edges. Use a sewing machine to make a bird that is more than 5 inches long when there is a need to complete the project more quickly. As an alternative, you can hand-sew the ornament pieces together with the right sides out using the blanket stitch.
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Turn the ornament right side out. Insert a wooden skewer or knitting needle into the opening you left in your stitching and gently push the cloth into shape.
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Pull off small pieces of fiberfill stuffing and push them into the opening. Poke the filling into the smallest places in the tail and beak with the skewer or knitting needle. Hand-sew the opening closed, using tiny stitches.
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Paint features on the bird ornament with acrylic paint. Use a color picture of the bird as a guide for shading and markings. You may embroider details on the tail and face.
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Thread a large-eye needle with embroidery floss. Insert the needle in the back of the neck or mid-back area of the bird ornament. Pull the thread through and tie a knot to create a hanging loop.
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Tips & Warnings
A skilled artist may choose to paint the bird pieces before sewing them together. Pearl beads, lace and sequins will dress up wedding bird ornaments.
Do not stuff the bird with large pieces of filler. Use small pieces for a well-shaped project.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit tropical bird image by hannahfelicity from Fotolia.com male cardinal image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
