Spring Wood Mama and Baby Bird

Disclaimer: I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Plaid Crafts, Michaels, and Blueprint Social. The opinions in this post are my own.

In December, I was given the opportunity, along with 30+ other bloggers, to participate in a Michaels Spring Wood Run Challenge. Each blogger was given a surprise box filled with various Plaid craft supplies and spring wood surfaces. The challenge…transform the spring wood surfaces into our own creation using some or all of the contents of the box, along with some of our own Plaid Crafts supplies.

I can’t tell you how happy I was to receive this box. I got wooden birds! How fun is that?! I knew I wanted to create a fun vignette with the pieces in my box, but there was a dilemma! I absolutely LOVE the sparkly red glitter paper on my mantel from Christmas. I really didn’t want to remove it because I wanted to stare at this beautiful paper for another month. I mean, who doesn’t like sparkly things?

There were so many different ideas running through my head, but I really wanted to create something that I could use for Valentine’s Day and then transition into the spring season. Luckily for me, I found the perfect floral patterned paper in the scrapbooking section of Michaels for 25¢! Don’t you just love it when you find a deal? Anyway, it had spring colors and just enough red and pink for Valentine’s Day for a cute spring wood mama and baby bird vignette.

Large wooden bird

Supplies:

• wooden bird
• foam brush
• Mod Podge – matte
• Mod Podge – sparkle (optional)
• tape
• scissors
• 3 coordinating scrapbook papers
• 1 coordinating paint (paint color will depend on your paper choices. I used Folk Art 633 Baby Pink)
• pencil
• plain paper
• glue
• flat bottom

To create the mini vignette, I first needed to dress up the large wooden bird with some pretty scrapbook paper.

1. To prevent paint from getting on the legs, wrap tape around it (I forgot to do this). Paint the bird and let dry.

2. Using the bird as a template, place it on the backside of the scrapbook paper. Trace out both sides of the bird and cut out.

3. Make two more templates on plain paper and set aside for later.

4. Brush a thin coat of Mod Podge onto the bird and place the cut-outs on it. Smooth out any bubbles and let dry completely.

5. Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge over the paper and let dry.

6. Sand down the edges of the bird with a fine grit sandpaper. I sanded the paper edges just enough to give it a slightly worn look. The more you sand, the more worn the edges will look.

7. Using the plain paper bird template, draw out the chest and the wing on the template. You can draw the shapes to your liking.

8. Cut out the chest and wing template. Place these on your scrapbook paper, trace, and cut out.

9. Apply Mod Podge to the areas where the chest and wings will be placed. Position the pieces on the bird and smooth out any bubbles. Let dry.

10.  Optional – Take the fine grit sandpaper and lightly sand the edges of the wings and chest to give it a worn look. Apply another coat of Mod Podge over the entire piece. Let dry.

11. Apply another coat of Mod Podge over the entire piece. Let dry.

12. Next, to give my bird some much-needed bling, I carefully applied Mod Podge sparkle only to the floral paper. Let dry.

13. Apply a small dab of glue to the gemstone and apply as the eye of the bird.

14. Paint the laser cut wood decoration and let dry. Apply the piece to the bird wings with glue.

Before we go any further, I have to say that I am in L.O.V.E. with Mod Podge glitter! It adds such a pretty shimmer and I had to refrain myself from slapping it on everything. I will be buying a large bottle of this stuff. Okay. On with the show.

The next embellishments are optional and jazz up Mama bird for Valentine’s Day. These can be removed once Valentine’s Day is over and Mama bird is now ready for spring!

Supplies:

• self-stick red glitter foam
• embroidery thread (pink or red)
• tape

1. Trace three small hearts onto self-stick red glitter foam. Cut out and set aside.

2. Cut out a 2 inch piece of embroidery thread or baker’s twine. Set aside.

3. Peel backing from 2 hearts and stick together only to the middle of each heart. Place the embroidery thread in the center and stick on the last heart.

4. Attach the thread to the back side of the bird with tape. Small Wood Baby Bird

Supplies: 

• 2 colors of paint
• paint brush
• 2 flat back gemstones
• glue

I kept the baby bird super simple for this vignette because I have other plans for it after Valentine’s Day.

1. Twist off the eye hook and twine from the back of the bird (we won’t need that).

2. Paint the entire bird in a single color. Let dry.

3. Paint the wing and neck indentations with another paint color.

4. Glue the gemstone eye onto the bird.

Now, just sit baby bird in a cozy nest. That’s it!

To finish out my vignette, I also created a bird house and used one laser cut wood decoration on the front with hanging 3D hearts. Once Valentine’s Day is over, I’ll cut the hearts off and place some paper flowers on the front for spring! 

Thank you Michaels and Plaid for the fun Spring Wood Run Challenge! What will you be making for spring?

Plaid Michaels Spring Wood Run Blogger Challenge Crafts

---