"Peace, Unity, Kindness" Cardinal Ornament

Create this rustic, no-sew ornament to decorate your holiday tree, and to serve as a reminder of the importance of those three very powerful words, not just in this time of horrific unrest here in the United States, but every day, and everywhere.  This project is also being featured this week on WhenCreativityKnocks.com 

Materials:

BurlapFabric.com Red Burlap 

Off white muslin fabric 

Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac™ 

DecoArt® Americana® Multi-Surface Satin™ - Black Tie

DecoArt® Americana® Acrylic - Oyster Beige

Red fabric marker 

Alphabet rolling rubber stamp 

Permanent black ink pad 

1/4” green satin ribbon 

Paint brush

Fiber fill

Scissors 

Printed cardinal pattern (optional)

Instructions:

I began by sketching the cardinal shape I wanted, and allowing a 1/4” edge around the desired finished size.   If you prefer, there are numerous free bird patterns online you can print in any size. 

Use pattern as a template and cut out two birds from red burlap fabric. 

Apply Fabri-Tac™ adhesive around edges, about 1/4” from edge, and leaving end of tail without adhesive. 

Add loop of green ribbon at top behind head, and then mount two birds together and let dry. 

Carefully remove some threads from around edge to create frayed effect. 

Spell out Peace, Unity, and Kindness with rolling alphabet stamp (I was able to spell out Peace and Unity and stamp at one time, then went back and stamped kindness).  Ink with permanent black ink and stamp onto muslin fabric. 

Cut out two wings for bird. 

Use red fabric marker to add faux stitching around wings. 

Apply Fabri-Tac to bakc of wings and mount on either side of cardinal. 

Use Black Multi-Surface Satin paint to paint face on both sides of cardinal.  Let dry. 

Use end of paintbrush handle to add a small dot of Oyster Beige paint for eye on each side of face. 

Gently stuff cardinal with fiber fill.  Use Fabri-Tac to seal end of tail when finished stuffing. 

Add green ribbon bow to base of hanging loop.