Sunday, May 1, 2011

make a momma bird card (or two)




I designed these two Momma Bird cards and the downloadable template is available for you to make your own. Perhaps your Momma Bird needs a handmade thank you from her little chick this week?

Here's how to put them together:
  1. Download the PDF template and print it on heavy paper. Cut out the shapes. These will be your re-usable pattern pieces.
  2. Cut a letter size piece of white card stock in half to make two 5.5 x 8.5 inch pieces. Fold them each in half to create two blank cards.
  3. Cut two 5.25 x 4 inch colored pieces of cardstock for the card backgrounds and glue one each to the fronts of the blank cards, centered within the white margin.
  4. Trace the bird shapes lightly on colored card stock and cut them out (using small, sharp scissors or a craft knife will help). I like to reverse the pattern pieces and trace them on the back of the paper, so you don't need to erase pesky pencil lines.
  5. Follow the build diagrams below to put them together. Use 1/16 inch thick pop dots to give each layer added dimension. For the smaller pieces, I put a blob of gel glue on a scrap piece of paper and use a toothpick to apply. The legs are tiny strips of white card stock.

To make the faces:
  1. Use a small circle punch to cut a hole in black card stock. Then shift the punch over a bit to cut a slim crescent shape from the side of the hole you made to make the eyes for both birds. I used a 1/2 inch and a 1/4 inch punch. 
  2. For the owl beaks, punch one 1/4 inch circle and one 1/2 inch circle. Trim off two edges of each circle to form a point.
Options to simplify for paper savvy kids:

  1. Skip the colored background.
  2. Don't use pop dots. Just glue everything.
  3. Cut small triangles for the owl beaks.
  4. Draw in the eyes and legs using gel pens instead.
Now send it to your Momma Bird with love. Perhaps along with an espresso machine.

48 comments:

  1. These are so absolutely adorable. Thank you so much for the template... I hope I can get a chance to make one for my mom this week!
    ~natalie

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  2. Aw I totally love this! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  3. These are so beautiful! I am going to share a link on my blog tomorrow!

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  4. These are cute! Thank you for the pdf. file pattern. It saves time! Thanks again...

    Happy Mother's Day!

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  5. these are adorable! Good job! Of course we love anything with wings!
    gonna share you on our facebook page!
    -Jill
    http://facebook.com/thingswithwings
    http://thingswithwingsartjournal.blogspot.com

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  6. you are SO clever and very generous with your talents! Love the cards!

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  7. Those are soooo sweet! Love 'em!

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  8. these will make some very lovable greeting cards.

    I linked to your pattern on my blog - thanks for sharing!

    best wishes, doro K.

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  9. These are so cute! And my Mom appreciates a handmade card, so I know she will like one :-) Thank you for sharing them with us!

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  10. Love these. I was just thinking I should make a handmade card to avoid a trip out (I'll do pretty much anything to avoid a card shopping trip with my kids). If only I had your paper supply at my fingertips and didn't have to make a trip to the craft store...

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  11. Charming. My mother will get one for sure.

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  12. Oh, thank you for making these and sharing! I have loved the birthday present card as a go-to, and I'm always looking to make a card for my Mom. Thank you!

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  13. Thank you so much !! I can't wait to give it to my mum! ^__^

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  14. These are absolutely precious! As a mom, I would be delighted to get one of these. Thank you for sharing the templates! :)

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  15. I love making cards, so I appreciate this template- thank you so much- from a follower down under!

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  16. Everybody, you are so welcome! Have fun. Thanks for the linkage! Bob, wish I could share the stash for your card making.

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  17. I absolutely love hand-made cards! your birds are lovely!

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  18. BTW, I love the colors in your banner.

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  19. These are adorable!! Thanks for sharing!! Making them tonight!! :D

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  20. Oh my... these are so, so darling! I love your cards so much. Thank you so much for sharing these. I'll be spreading the word.

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  21. Very cute cards, thanks for sharing! :)

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  22. Oh, my daughter loves and collects owls, so this is another great treat for her! Thank you very much!

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  23. I have tried downloading the templates for these but Adobe reader says Bad encrypted dictionary. Do you know any way I can get these ? Thanks in advance.
    Laurene

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  24. hurstoldsman1983, first thing I'd try is to update your Adobe Reader to the latest.

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  25. Thank you so much for the template! I just love your cards and strong sense of color...because of your influence I no longer focus on the pretty patterned paper at the scrapbook store...I shop more in the solids section...

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  26. So darling! And I think perfect for a baby shower I'm going to this weekend. :) Thanks.

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  27. Wow! I just loved these and am so glad I saved this idea on pinterest! Thanks for the free template and great instructions.

    We found an opportunity to make these as a family last night. Yours are gorgeous... I gave my kids creative license with paper choice... they came out cute, although a bit more wild than yours ; ) I linked up to your post here-

    http://simplycottagelove.blogspot.com/2011/08/made-some-momma-birds.html

    Thanks!

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  28. These are such cute cards. I hope you don't mind me putting a link to your tutorial on my blog using your image.

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  29. Thank you for the idea! I'm going to do these for my babies! You see, I am a nurse in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and on holidays - especially Mother's Day - we like to make a card for the mother "from" their hospitalized baby. These are perfect!

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  30. Dear Unknown, you just made my night. That's a wonderful use for the pattern! God bless you.

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  31. Thank you - these are beautiful.

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  32. I just found this through Craft Magazine. I love this card so much!!! thank you for the great templates!! I am going to make this for my next card swap, it will be my first paper card, i usually do fabric. :)

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  33. Aw, thanks for sharing! These are beautiful.

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  34. LOVE these! Thank you for the template. Can't wait to make my own sweet birds :)

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  35. Thanks for these adorable designs. I linked to them today.

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  36. I found you through http://www.allthingspaper.net/ just now! How wonderful your work is! I just HAD to pin this hugging card project and would love to work on some of your other fun ideas with my friends on our next crafting day! I love card making and easy paper crafts!

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  37. Thank you, everybody! I'm so glad you are enjoying the templates.

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  38. these cards are very beautiful.thank you for sharing !!!

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  39. j'aime beaucoup. Merci pour le tuto

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  40. I've come over from FaveCrafts to visit your blog. Love the birds. Absolutely adorable.

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  41. Thankyou! These are SO cute!
    I made some for my Mum for mothers day and even did a blog post about them on http://ittybittypolkadot.blogspot.com.au :)

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  42. These are really cute :) My mom will love this card! Thank you so much for sharing your talent.

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  43. I helped my daughter in making an Owl card. She was really excited to make it and Mom was happy to get it. Thanks a lot. Great work keep it up!!

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  44. what a creative person you are and generous in tutorials too ! I like to read the verse you post like Valita's fresh-fold! thanks God bless you & yours
    Ranjani Varadpande India

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  45. Thank you so much for this! As a family with two birds this was perfect for my mom and dad!

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