Feather Tree & Paper Birds

This feather tree with shimmering paper birds was a project originally created last year for my Cindi's Simple Solutions column for the When Creativity Knocks Creative Journal - but I think it would fit right in with the holiday decorating trends I've been spotting this year in the magazines so I'm sharing it again here.

The tree itself came together in less than a half hour.    Based on a decoration my sons made at school several years ago, the simple little birds add a touch of nature along with a bit of sparkle.  

Materials:

Krylon Silver Leafing Pen
Bamboo skewer
Wooden spool
White feathers approximately 4-5” long
The Robin's Nest Calamity Jane patterned paper
Scissors
Glue gun & glue sticks
JudiKins Diamond Glaze and Quicksilver Roxs 
White thread
 

Use the silver leafing pen to color the bamboo skewer and spool.   Hot glue the skewer to center of the spool for base of tree. 




Begin at the bottom of the tree with the largest feathers and hot glue 5 evenly spaced around the bottom of the tree.   Continue upward reducing the size of the feathers slightly by trimming them with scissors.

 








Cut 7 small (approximately 1”) basic side view bird images from patterned paper.    Cut 7 rectangles from patterned paper approximately 1” x 1 1/2”. 

Accordion fold the rectangles at approximately 1/8” intervals.

Cut small slit horizontally in center wing area of each bird.   Slip through folded paper, bend upward and hot glue together to create wings.

Apply Diamond Glaze to back (white) side of birds.  While wet, coat with Quicksilver Roxs.  The chunkier texture of Roxs adds great texture and shine to catch the light on your little birds.

Hot glue white thread loops to back of wings on birds.  Hang from tree.

Cut approximately 5” circle from patterned paper.  Apply thin line of Diamond Glaze around top outside edge and sprinkle with Roxs.  Hot glue spool to center. - Happy Holiday Crafting! - Cindi