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Feathered Friends

Create these fun feathered handprint birds. Your flock doesn't need to be of the same feather- create variety with some owls, ducks, chickens, turkeys, flamingos or ostriches!

Materials Needed

Construction paper
Poster paint
Paint brushes
Pencil
Crayons
Scissors
Feathers
White glue or liquid glue
Wiggle eyes or beads
Scotch tape
Colored drinking straws

Safety Guidelines

Always let your child use child-safe scissors.
Wash your hands after finger painting.

Recommended Books

Amazon.com Widgets

Steps

	1.	Decide on what kind and what color of bird you'd like to make. Paint your palm with the corresponding color of poster paint.
	2.	Press your painted palm onto a sheet of construction paper, keeping your thumb at right angles with the rest of your fingers.
	3.	Remove your hand to reveal a colored handprint.
	4.	While the paint's drying, cut a pair of drinking straws to make the bird's legs. Estimate the length of the legs based on the size of your handprint.
	5.	Cut 3 to 4 fringes on one end of both straw pieces. Fold out each fringe.
	6.	Once your handprint's dry, you can add in the details. Visualize how you can turn the handprint into a bird. The thumb can be the bird's neck, the palm and the four remaining fingers can be the bird's body. Draw a circle on top of the thumb to make a head and draw a beak on the head as well.
	7.	Trace an outline around your handprint to emphasize the bird's form and so that you'll have a guide when you cut.
	8.	Cut along the outline.
	9.	Tape the drinking straw legs at the back of the bird.
	10.	Glue on an eye from any of these materials: Wiggle eye Bead Button Cut out a circle from paper or craft foam
	11.	Finish up by gluing feathers on the bird.

More Ideas

		Think of other birds to make. A feathered handprint turkey is a perfect craft for Thanksgiving!
		Note that if you use the scrunchy portion of a drinking straw, your bird can have bendable legs.
		An owl would be a cute craft for Halloween. Notice that the handprint is facing down instead of sideways.
		Create tall birds such as these flamingo and ostrich. Extend the thumb to an extra long neck for the flamingo. For the two-toned ostrich, ask an adult to help you make three big handprints for the bird's body. Draw the ostrich's neck and head on pink construction paper, cut and then tape it behind the body.

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