Crafter Kathy Lamancusa and her son, Joe, share a family tradition. When Joe was younger his parents took many business trips, and before they left, they'd tell him to expect a note and a small present carried to him from wherever they were via a magical messenger bird. Joe was always excited to find the note and the present, and he remembers the tradition fondly. As the years passed the Lamancusas discovered that each of them had a different concept of the bird. So they created a tangible version that can make parents' time away seem to pass a little faster. Materials:
Cardboard
Scissors
Loctite® Designer's Choice Glue
Fabrics
Delta® craft paints in squeeze bottles
Plastic eye
String, ribbon or cording
- Cut out several pieces of cardboard in the following shapes and sizes: Kathy and Joe used an oval approximately 7" long by 4" wide for the bird's body. She cut a 3" circle for the head (figure A).
- Three small ovals (in graduated sizes of 4" by 1 1/2", 3" by 1 1/2" and 2" by 1 1/2") were cut for the wing. For easier cutting, measure rectangles in the appropriate sizes, and round off the ends (figure B).
- Cut three leaf shapes, approximately 2" long, for the feathers and one small triangle for the beak (figure C).
- Cut out a piece of fabric about 1/2" to 1" larger in circumference than the oval. Place the oval on the wrong side of the fabric, and spread glue near the edges of the cardboard. Fold the edges of the fabric around the edge of the cardboard and onto the glue (figure D).
- Cut out another piece of fabric slightly smaller than the cardboard oval, and glue it to the bare side of the cardboard to hide the raw edge of the first piece of fabric (figure E).
- Repeat step 2 with the other pieces of cardboard and with any colors and patterns of fabrics desired.
- Cut a piece of fabric the length of the oval and half its width to make a pocket. Use the selvage edge for the top so there's no need to finish it. Glue it to the back of the fabric-covered oval (figure F).
- Glue the rest of the pieces to the front of the larger oval (head, beak, feathers, etc.) as desired (figure G).
- Decorate the bird with Delta craft paints and anything else you like.
- Attach a length of string, ribbon or cording to the bird where desired, and hang it up in a special place.
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