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Create your own
Wire Bird
If you love Zack McLaughlin’s designs and want to try them yourself, this little bird will keep you busy!
Z
ack’s wire birds are popular at workshops, but if you want to give them a go in the comfort of your own home, we’ve got some easy-to-follow steps for you. The instructions are the same for whichever bird you decide to make, so visit the members area where you’ll find templates for this sweet little wren (pictured) a robin and a sparrow.
Kit List Pliers Coloured craft wire, 0.9mm; 0.5mm
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Choose which bird you would like to make. Cut a piece of 0.9mm wire about the same length as a sheet of A4 paper. Start with the end of the wire at the tip of the beak and use your fingers to bend the wire around the silhouette until you get to the tip of the beak again. (Ignore the legs for now.) Cut 0.5mm wire to about the length of your index finger. Twist one end of the thinner wire onto the forehead of your wire silhouette. Pinch the beak together and continue twisting the wire around the beak. Continue twisting the thinner wire down the neck of the silhouette. Trim any excess wire from the beak and thinner wire. Cut 0.9mm wire to a length and a half of an A4 sheet. Cut a length of 0.5mm wire to the same length as your index finger. Find the centre point of the thicker length of wire and twist one end of the thinner wire onto it at this point so that it sticks straight up. Insert one end of the long length of wire into your wire silhouette. Feed it through until the
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SKILL LEVEL
Child’s Play
“If you want to get kids
involved, use fuzzy wire instead of craft wire“ ZACK MCLAUGHLIN, DESIGNER body, thread the thinner wire around it once and pull tight. Continue doing this on every thick bit of wire until you reach the base of the tail. Wrap round a few times and cut off excess. The legs are made of one length of 0.9mm wire, starting at the end of one back toe and finishing at the other. There is a ‘U’ shape inside the bird, this is what gives the bird stability and what you tie to the bird. Cut 0.9mm wire to a length and a half of an A4 sheet. In the centre of the wire create a ‘U’ same with the second length, length of thinner wire hits the shape; this must be the same width back of the beak. Twist the thinner wrapping it at the same point. as your bird. Bend the wire out from wire around the beak a couple of This ensures your bird's shape is the ‘U’ at right angles away from the secured at the beak and tail. times so the wire is attached to centre. Feed one end of the wire the silhouette (like a moustache) Using the ends of wire through the back of your bird until and continue to twist down the sticking out from the tail the ‘U’ fits inside the back of the opposite side of the ‘moustache’ of your bird, bend them back bird’s body. Once you are happy that to your initial twist. on themselves to create tail feathers. Twist the ends around it fits, cut a length of 0.5mm wire Bend the wire ‘moustache’ to the width of an A4 sheet. Use this the base of the tail again. Trim back down the body of the to twist and tie the ‘U’ to the bird’s the excess wire off. bird, using both sides to create undercarriage, ensuring the whole the contours and depth of Repeat steps 3-6 using this ‘U’ is securely attached. your bird's head and back. Make length of wire to create the Use the two lengths of wire sure to look at your bird from all belly contours of your bird. Trim coming from either side of the angles to ensure you get the right off excess afterwards. shapes, (well fed is better than Next is colouring in your bird. bird to create legs and feet. Bend flat and malnourished!). For this you need a 1m length them downwards, and create the bird’s legs and feet before trimming of 0.5mm wire. Starting at the Once happy with the shape, the wire down. To stabilise, lay your beak of your bird, twist one end take one of the ends of wire of the wire to it, then spiral your finger across both feet on a flat and wrap it around the base of surface, grab the bird's body and your bird's tail (not the tip). Do the way around the head and body wiggle/bend the legs until you find towards the tail. Each time you the centre of gravity in the bird. get to a thick bit of wire on the
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Your Chance to Win!
Have you crafted Zack's wire bird? Send a pic to editor@createandcraft.com 042 Cover Star Project PD.indd 38
22/05/2020 08:55
