Bright Flight {A Tutorial}

I'm quite pleased to be posting another tutorial here at A Field Journal. It's the second in what I do hope will be a series of sweet and simple papery projects. This one invokes the pastels of spring, the glint of sunlight and a startling assemblage of bold letters in black on white. Gather some crafting supplies and settle in for a spell of paper, paste, ribbon and glitter. Indeed, this avian ornament is quite fit to be crafted on a late April's afternoon.
{Part One Supplies}

Cardboard bird silhouette
Cut any shape you wish out of a piece of moderately sturdy cardboard, the one shown here is a bird silhouette
Page of Letters
You may make your own on any word processing program, or download the one used here. Print out the sheet on a laser printer or make a photocopy.
Paintbrush
Scissors
Glue


{Part One Instructions}

1. Cut out individual letters from the laser printed or photocopied sheet.
2. Using an old paintbrush, apply glue to the surface of the bird silhouette and adhere a letter cutout.
3. Repeat step two until the entire surface of the cardboard shape is generously covered. Allow excess paper to hang over the sides.
4. Let dry completely.
5. Trim the excess paper from around the cardboard shape.












{Part Two Supplies}

Watercolor paints
Watered down acrylic paint will work just as well here.
Embellishments
Additional embellishments are optional.
Paintbrush
Iridescent glitter
Brad
A tiny button or other small round craft supply can be substituted.
Glue




{Part Two Instructions}

1. Apply a light watercolor wash over the decoupaged bird shape. Layers of blue, pink and light brown were used to color the example shown.

2. Allow paint to dry completely.

3. Brush on a light layer of glue and sprinkle glitter over the front surface of the bird. Allow to dry.

4. Add a small brad to serve as an eye.

5. Add additional embellishments if so desired.

{Part Three Supplies}

Decorative paper
Heavier papers will work best; standard cardstock scrapbook paper is used here.
Pencil
Ribbon
The ribbon used in this example is 1" wide, sheer organza ribbon. You will need a piece of ribbon approximately four inches in length.
Sewing needle
Thread
Glue

{Part Three Instructions}

1. To finish off the reverse side of the bird silhouette, trace the outline of the shape onto a sheet of card stock. Cut out the shape.

2. Loosely baste together the ends of a short length of ribbon, forming a loop.

3. Apply glue to back of bird silhouette and sandwich the ribbon between the bird shape and the card stock backing.

4. Allow to dry completely & enjoy!