Rachel's Steam Punk Birdies

Not too long ago, my crafty friend Rachel turned 21. Not really knowing what to give to the girl who could turn a table cloth into a couture gown with more magic than Mary Poppins, I crafted her gift, knowing that even if it didn't turn out all that well, that she'd at least appreciate the effort.

Rachel's 21st was steampunk themed (which I might very well post about as well, if I can find some photos of the evening) so I decided to make some Steam Punk Birdies for her house.

Rachel's Steam Punk Birdies

HOW TO MAKE BIRDIES FOR YOUR PERFECT FRIEND
**now with helpful step-by-step photos :-) 

Things You'll Need

 

1. Material in all sorts of colours and patterns
2. Stuffing
3. Potpourri (optional)
4. Bits and bobs (buttons, ribbons, household items, etc)
5. Sewing machine
6. Glue gun
7. Scissors
8. Your think-outside-the-box hat

How It's Done  

1. Find everything in your craft room that's brown/green/vintage coloured. Set it all out and feel pleased with yourself that you own so much prettiness!

2. Cut some birdy shaped bits of material, two mirrored pieces for each bird you make. Make them fat or you will end up with emaciated birdies. Icky!

3. Cut some wingalings for your birdies, four pieces for each bird. Match them together with some birdy bodies. Get creative! Put spots with flowers, checks with stripes, shiny with furry (actually, I'm not sure about a furry bird, but if that's what floats your boat, GO FOR IT!)

4. Sew your birdy body together, wrong sides up. Leave a little gap on the birdy's shoulder, the same size as the flat edge of your wingalings. You will sew it up later.

5. Sew your wingaling pieces together, wrong sides up. (Don't sew all four together goosies, make sure you have two wingalings!) Leave a gap on the not-pointy end.

6. Stuff your birdy's body and wingalings so that you have a nice, pudgy friend! Or if you're feeling aromatically-inclined, you can add some smellies. Remember My Potpourri Adipose? Cross your crafty missions and cut up some potpourri to add to the stuffing!

Cutting up potpourri feels like cutting up other plant-life. Yeah, craft just got hard-core!

7. Pin your newly-fat wingalings to your newly fat bird. Pin so that the wings sit inside that gap you left in your birdy's shoulder. Don't forget to fold the shoulder bits under so that you don't have a raw edge. Sew the little guy up! (if you don't have thread the same colour, never fear! Neither did I! Crafty solution incoming!)

 

8. Gather all your vintagey bits and bobs. Look for things that can make eyes, monocles, ties, cravats, clocks etc. Use your imagination! I for one, took apart my broken DVD player! Find the bits you want to use and experiment with your glue gun! (or your supreme hand-sewing skillz)

See the flowery ribbon thing on Birdy's shoulder? Hides that little stitching line quite nicely! ;)

 9. Line up all your Birdies and applaud yourself on your creativity!

I only have photos of two of my birdies apparently, but that's ok. Black and White Birdy has feathers for wingalings instead of material, a button for an eye and a piece of ribbon and a zipper for a tie. Brown and Flowery Birdy has some kind of booble for an monocle eye glass and a little chain attached to the eye and his shoulder. Another of my birdies had a button pocket-watch, one had an earring for a monocle and screws for eyes. You can use anything at all!!!

So that's how to make birdies :-) I believe these little guys now live in Rachel's living room. Happy Birthday Rachel!