This project is relatively simple and requires only a few supplies:<\/strong><\/p>\n Oh, and the recycle bin, of course! I gathered various cardboard boxes from my recycle bin to be recycled into our birds. Step 1: Drawing the Birds Cut out the drawing. This will serve as the template to trace for all of our parts.<\/p>\n Step 2: Tracing the Template A few notes as you plan \u2013 the material and complexity of the pattern is up to you, but keep in mind:<\/p>\n I chose the cereal boxes for their ease of cutting and used thicker scrap pieces of corrugated cardboard to create depth to each layer as you will see in future steps. The photo above shows the one template I made \u00a0as well as two right and two left side bird bodies.<\/p>\n Step 3: Create Stackable Parts In the below photo, you can see all of the parts that I cut from cardboard laid out together. In the lower right on the black paper, I laid out the parts from the original drawing that was cut apart to create all the pieces necessary to reassemble as the bird. It\u2019s like a puzzle. The larger pieces are on the bottom and you stack and glue the smaller parts on top as you go. Detailed Notes About Step 3:<\/strong><\/p>\n Step 4: Planning, Constructing, and Gluing Now it\u2019s time for adding the corrugated scraps I mentioned earlier. For each piece of your sculpture, add smaller scraps of thicker corrugated cardboard to the back. This will create more volume to the sculpture with each level you create.<\/p>\n In the below photo, you will see the corrugated scraps added between the layers as the assembly begins. You will see the cross section of the bird’s body where the mirror images are now glued back to back. With the bits of scrap in between the layers, It\u2019s like a sandwich of cardboard. Here, you can see the standing body of the bird and the remaining sections. Step 5: Think Ahead Sometimes, the structure may need to be reinforced to balance and stand up the bird. The easiest fix for a tipsy bird is to give it better feet to stand on. In these photos, the feet of the bird were enhanced with additional pieces of cardboard and hot glue. You may need to paint some pieces before gluing them together if another layer is going to be placed on top of it. This will also create depth. Here, the pieces of the body details were painted BEFORE gluing. Step 6: Finessing the Details This photo shows the completed project from a bird\u2019s eye view (pun intended). You can add some thin cardboard and cardstock strips to the exterior edge to cover some the sandwiching elements that are a bit distracting. This is an optional step. Finally, add any final painted details, and enjoy your finished feathered friend! Be Brave. Be Bold. Be Amazing!<\/p>\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.1-300x265.png\")
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\n<\/strong>Create a simple drawing of the subject in profile (the side view).
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.2-300x265.png\")
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\nHere are two examples of bird drawings, but your favorite bird photo can also be a great resource.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Take the simple profile you just created, and trace it on a piece of cardboard.<\/p>\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.3-300x265.png\")
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\nI cut two birds for each side of the sculpture. From here on, as you trace the one side, flip It over and trace its mirrored image.\u00a0 <\/strong>You will be creating two opposite sides of the same relief sculpture that are connected back-to-back.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>In this photo, note how the top section of the bird is cut out of the drawing. This was used to trace and cut the next two symmetrical parts of the bird body.
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.4-300x265.png\")
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\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.5-300x265.png\")
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\nAs you think about this step, remember that you will cut the body apart using the largest sections first and work your way to the smallest.<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Once you have all the pieces laid out, plan the construction. Start with the largest parts again. Keep in mind you are creating two mirror images of your original drawing \u2013 the front and the back.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.6-300x265.png\")
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\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.7-222x300.png\")
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\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.8-300x265.png\")
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\n<\/strong>So now the main body is assembled, consider these steps before you proceed:<\/p>\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.9.10.11-300x265.png\")
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\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.12.13.14-300x265.png\")
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\n<\/strong>This last step is to complete the gluing and add any additional details and textures to the painting.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.15-300x265.png\")
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\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewestmoreland.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3.16-300x265.png\")
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