Birdie Calling!

This is a rather old handmade i made for my Grandfather's birthday! This is a ritual for me! I have to make a handmade gift for his birthday otherwise to me (i hope him too) feel "something" missing! 

So, this Birthday, i created him a birdie house... To represent that we are family and we are nurtured to who we are today... with that let me tell you how it all started... 

My colleague from office had a thermocol that came along with her Coffee mug... and as she knew about me... she saved it for me so i can make something out of it! :P See... Happens! 

So, It was lying with me for a long time... then it was Granddad's bday... and all could think was make him a handmade gift and hence, the birdie house! 

Because without parents, we wouldn’t exist as we are! 

I will take you through the process of how I made it, (Please excuse the messy table, I just cannot keep it clean!)

Step 1: This is what it looked like.. you see the depth it has in the mid section..thats where i placed the nest.. but it took me a LOT of thinking to get it started.. 

 Step 2: Covering out the piece to get started..














Step 3: I had a piece of "finished" cello tape so i wanted to place it but wanted to cover the top portion as well.. For this I made strips of papers and pasted it from the inside to the outside.. just sticking in the outside part as there was thermocol on the inner section. So i covered the top portion, placed the cello tape rim (painted) and stuffed with fabric.. so i can create height to continue placing the babie Birdies..

Step 4: To cover off the strips i placed a simple satin, covered it with some perals. I added a few so i can create an edge

Step 4: This took a LONG time, I didnt know how to get with the nest.. I wanted it to be almost "neat". I  tried quilling strips as well but it was not giving the desired look! So i filled it up with more fabric, i chose a simple gold and I wanted eggs to represent "nurturing" so i added a few pearls.. but they were too small that even i couldnt see! :P so i added the bigger pearls that I had, pinned them down with a sewing pin..  

 Step 5: Okay, this was difficult too.. I tried making in yarn and then moved to my favourite.. paper :P so I started looking up for ideas and found this https://www.pinterest.com/pin/333829391100467129/ and then i decided i will make a 3D instead of a paper machie. But something was missing, isn't it? My husband asked me if it was a fish! hehe.. so definitely something was missing "Wings!" Also for the bird, i used tooth picks for the legs.. as these have to be held in fabric.. i simply pierced it through and added glue to the edges..

Step 6: And i added a note for his birthday! I covered it with OHP sheets with card stock edges but it looks good i guess now.. but if not handled well.. it may rip off! I generally frame my handmades because they are precious.. :) 

Tada!!  gave a few retouches here and there.. and it was complete.. I somehow love the birds <3 

I hope this helped you to know where this idea started and how i completed it :) 

Have a lovely day!

For more such ideas, please visit Ladies Fingers

Warm regards, 

Sree