Homemade Braided Ribbon Birds

Select a wide, flat ribbon of your preferred color.

Braided ribbon birds make attractive decorations and are fun to create. They can be used as Christmas tree ornaments, table decorations and replacements for bows on presents. With a little practice, even children can master the art of braided ribbon birds, which means that making them can become a fun family craft activity. There is room to experiment with different sizes and colors, and you may even discover new shapes that can be made by braiding ribbon. First, however, you have to master the basics.

Things You'll Need

• 20 inches flat, wide ribbon
• Sticky tape
• Scissors
• Ruler

Instructions

The Wings

1. Cut the ribbon in two horizontally so you have two pieces of 10 inch ribbon.

2. Cut each ribbon into four equal vertical strips, stopping around three inches from the end. On one end of each ribbon should be four equally sized, separated strips and on the other end should be a solid section, holding the strips together.

3. Take one of the outer strips of one ribbon and fold it inwards. Pass it over the strip right beside it, then weave it under the next strip and finally over the last strip.

4. Fold the strip next to it inwards and pass it over the strip beside it, then weave it under the last strip.

5. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the second ribbon.

6. 

   Maintain the under-over pattern throughout.

   Position the two ribbons so that one solid end is pointing left and the other one is pointing right. Weave the strips that you started working with together, then weave together the remaining two strips. Maintain the under-over weaving pattern. You should end up with four strips facing forward, coming from the pointy end of the bird, and four strips facing backward.

7. Secure this with a small piece of tape.

The Body

1. Pick two strips laying side-by-side on the front of the bird. Loop them up over your finger. Pick up the opposing two strips and bring them into the loop. Lay the four strips side-by-side, then secure them down with a small piece of tape.

2. Weave the remaining loose strips to these four strips. When you have finished, four strips should face the front, four should hang loose at the back.

3. Tie the front four together neatly. This will form the head of the bird.

4. Snip off any excess ribbon about an inch from the knot. This will form the beak of the bird.

5. Tie the rear strips in a knot and let the excess ribbon hang. If you wish, you can curl them by running the sharp blade of your scissors gently along one side.

Tips & Warnings

• Use two different colored ribbons to make it easier for you keep track of which strip is which.

• Making the body of the bird takes patience and practice, so don't get discouraged if it goes wrong.

• Use temporary pieces of tape to hold areas together while you work on others.

• Experiment with different ribbon widths. The wider the ribbon you choose, the bigger your bird will be.

• Children should be careful with scissors.

References

• "Creative Crafts You Can Do in a Day"; North Light Books; 2006