How to Create a Decorative Bird

This tutorial will teach you how to create a realistic looking bird decoration in a few simple steps. You will need some foam which can be carved into a form (this is a great project for repurposing Styrofoam packaging) and a carving tool, as well as feathers in several lengths (at least 3) and colors, a pistachio hull, two small black buttons (or black tipped dress maker pins), and paint for the beak.

Start by carving the foam into an egg shape. A portion of one of the long sides should be carved into a straight plane so that the bird will sit flat on a shelf. The thinnest short end will be the back of your bird. Create a ball shape from another piece of foam to make the head and carve a recess on the top of the front end of the egg. Glue it in place.

Once the foam has the size and shape you want and the head is in place, sort your feathers into piles by size. Medium feathers will make up the majority of the bird, with the longest feathers to create the wings and the top of the tail, and the shortest covering the head and underneath the tail. The bird will look best if the colors are similarly divided.

Start by gluing 3 long feathers on each side, quill points forward. They should not line up evenly, but should stagger in length from shortest on top to longest on bottom. Use another 3 feathers to make up the tail, using the longest in the middle and matching lengths for the left and right.

Begin gluing medium feathers in single file, just above the tail. Work in layers moving toward the front of the bird. Each layer should extend underneath each "wing" and between the outside of the wing feathers down to the edge of the flat side, so that all white foam is covered. Attach the smallest feathers in the manner starting at the bottom of the neck and working forward, leaving a small hole for the beak.

Cut the pistachio hull into two pieces and glue together to form the beak. Paint, as desired. Glue on the front of the head, covering the join with additional feathers, if necessary. Affix the eyes on either side of the head.