Materials

• a bird template printed from the Internet or copied from a craft book
• scissors
• patterned wrapping paper

Directions

1. Find a bird template you like online or in a craft book. We used Paper Scissors Glue: 45 fun and creative papercraft projects for kids aged 3-10 by Catherine Woram. This user-friendly book is divided into four chapters: cutting, folding, printing & painting, and modeling. Each chapter is filled with several projects using these techniques. Most of the projects can be completed in just four steps. The instructions are easy to follow and accompanied by vibrant photographs of children completing each craft. Best of all, many of the required supplies are items you likely already have around your house.
2. Place the template on a piece of colored cardstock paper and traced the outline.
3. Using scissors, cut out the bird and insert a slit where the wings would go.
4. To create the wings, choose a square piece of patterned wrapping paper (about 6 x 6 inches) and make concertina-style folds about 1/2-inch wide.
5. To finish your bird, insert the folded paper into the slit and carefully open the pleats in the paper. Add a simple black dot to create an "eye" on both sides of your birdie.