If you are looking for a last minute Christmas tree decoration or Christmas gift, here are some chic and fun bird ornaments to make using supplies you likely already have in your stash, plus Lumiere paints from Jacquard Products. Created by Mel Designs, these birds were painted with Lumiere (read Jenny’s review of them here) and hand scripted with a Tee Juice Marker.
Starting with 6″ muslin squares, use a paint brush and metallic Lumiere paints in Citrene, Metallic Gold and Metallic Copper. When using darker colors such as the copper, dilute the paint with water in a 1:1 ratio to create a colorwash. For each bird you will need two squares each for the front and back.
Once you have your squares painted, allow them to dry for a couple of hours. For speedier drying time, place them under a ceiling fan.
When the squares are dry, carefully iron them flat using a medium high setting with a iron and pressing surface. Use a Tee Juice Marker to hand script “words” across the entire square. To do this, form a capitol letter and continue to write illegibly so that the writing resembles a foreign language.
Do this for all of your squares. The number depending on how many birds you are planning on making.
Next, die cut a bird shape or use a simple bird pattern that will fit within a 6″ square. Die cut or trace pattern on one right side of square and one wrong side of square for the front and the back of the bird.
For the wing, trace a 3′ teardrop shape on some oatmeal colored wool felt with a fabric marking pen. Make sure the wool felt is doubled over so that you can cut the shapes out with scissors at the same time.
Stamp a holiday sentiment onto some white or natural muslin that has been fused with webbing with pigment or solvent ink. Use the iron to fuse the muslin to one of the wing shapes in the center.
To sew the bird and wing, use a sewing machine and thread to straight stitch the edges of the muslin to the wing. Layer the wing shapes together and sew around the edges leaving a 2″ opening to lightly stuff with polyfil fiber. Stuff and sew the opening closed. Repeat this step for the bird.
For the bird beak, cut a piece of green wool felt into a small triangle and glue to the beak on the bird.
Glue the wing to the bird with fabric glue pressing into place. Embellish your bird as desired with die cut holly and berries, jeweled brads and a pretty sparkly hanger. A small black pebble bead stands in for the bird eye, attached with a strong adhesive.
These birds make unique package toppers too!
Editor’s note: Love it? Of course! Want to win some??
To win a Lumiere Mini Exciter Pack and from Jacquard Products, visit their facebook page, like them and mention you saw them on Craft Test Dummies. This pack includes eight 1/2oz bottles of Lumiere, a lustrous metallic paint that can be used on fabric, leather, paper and wood. Pack includes: Pearl Turquoise, Pearl White, Metallic Bronze, Halo Violet-Gold, Metallic Olive, Halo Pink-Gold, Pewter and Metallic Gold.
We will choose five winners at random by midnight December 30th and announce the winner on the Mel Designs blog. Good luck!
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I love Lumiere paints! So shiny! I liked Jacquard Products on Facebook. Thanks so much!
These are adorable! I am headed over to Facebook to like them and mention you!
O.M.G. These birds are so very clever! Liked on FB, and really want to try the paints! Thanks for the op!
I like those birdies, cute project, i’m looking forward to seeing more projects being done with this product. I clicked like on fb and mentioned you. thanks for the great offer
I’d love to win. Melony you are one of my very favorite creative peeps. 🙂 I already like Lumiere! 🙂
Love the birds!Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for the tutorial on these amazing paints! On my way to their Facebook page to enter to win them!
Hugs!
Carmen L
These birds are adorable- very clever! i would love to try the paints!
Liked Jacquard on FB and mentioned your blog!! Love these paints though–the colors are so bright and well, luminous!! Thanks for the chance to win some!!
liked jacquard products on fb – told them you sent me! 🙂
yes would love to try this stuff…awesome site..glad i found you
mcwooten1999@carolina.rr.com
I saw these the other day; I still think they are so unique! I would love to win some jacquard paints. Thanks for the chance!!
Hugs,
Carmen L
Awesome idea! I have been a fan of Luminiere way before alcohol inks came out. They work great for screen printing too!
Absolutely LOVE these birds – great details. Lumiere paints always add a gorgeous luster to any project – combined with the faux handwriting and other elements – these are just great!
These birds are adorable and the paints look like they are fun to work with. I “liked” Jacquard on facebook and wrote on their wall about Craft Test Dummies. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Love Lumiere paints, already a FB fan! Thanks for the tutorial!
Love their products. I have the pigment powders so the paints would go great together. Liked on fb!!
wow – I never would have thought the fabric was painted! lovely birds and very colorful – have never tried these paints but would love to!thanks for the chance to win some of these paints. would be nice to give them a try!
had to go check them out on facebook and found out that these can be used on polymer clay! I def have to get some of these fabric and PC two of my most used materials!! right along paints
Love these! I do a lot of fabric painting and these would be a beautiful addition!
I love these paints. Went to Lumiere paints and stated you sent me and liked them. Fab giveaway.
What a wonderful giveaway! Thank you for sharing it with us! I’m headed over there now!
LOVE LOVE these painted birds!! I have a Sizzix bird die that would be PERFECT for making these, too! And I have long admired the Lumiere paints, but somehow have never managed to acquire any…I think I need some in my stash! (And I visited and liked their FB page.)