Paper Mache and Paper Clay Tweety Bird
Using recyclables, a little paper mache, and a can do spirit you can make just about anything imaginable. Our tweety bird video from the studio will show you how.
Tweety bird is a wonderful addition to any family with his bright and cheerful color.
The Stuff List
Cardboard box
Recycled Newspaper
Paper Mache Paste
Masking Tape
Paints and Paint Brushes
Glue Gun (optional)
H20 and Rags
Music (optional)
1 Creating Your Tweety bird Armature
An armature is the basic structure of your sculpture, the more time you spend preparing the better it looks, in my opinion.
1. Feet and legs: Cut his feet from cardboard, place into a plastic bag, and build up into the size you want using waded up newspaper. Using tape give your feet the proper shape.
Roll up empty tp rolls into thin tubes and place onto his feet, poke a hole in the feet bags and insert the legs, using the newspaper stuffing to steady the leg, give it squirt of hot glue. Insert long coat hanger wires into the legs to place the body onto and reinforcement.
2. Head: Use a balloon or wad up newspaper into the shape of Tweety birds head. I use a balloon to create tweety's head but it is easier to use waded up newspaper stuffed into a plastic bag. The balloon will deflate on you or could even pop, I took a chance.
Cheeks: Wad up newspaper and stuff into a plastic bag. Place your bag on top of his head with tape, leaving room for his beck between.
Beck: Using cardboard cut a triangle shaped beck for tweety. Wad newspaper into the general shape of his beck and place underneath the cardboard to fill it out.
3. Body: Roll newspaper into a tear drop shape, slide into a plastic bag and tape into shape. Remember to give him a little butt to rest his tail upon.
Stick a long coat hanger wire into his neck and body to anchor the head upon. I had to use more than one to hold the large head up. The larger your armature the more reinforcement (coat hanger wire) you will need.
Arms: You can make your body full enough to build arms on his side or follow along in the video to create attachable arms.
Assemble the Tweety Armature
Place your body onto the feet, the head on the body and so on. When all your pieces are assembled then your armature is ready to cover with paper mache paste and newspaper strips.
2 Paper Mache Strips and Paste
Cover the tweety bird armature with 3 layers of newspaper soaked in paper mache paste. Work out the air bubbles and lay flat onto your armature. You will need to turn him so the top and the bottom can dry. (Yes, you can skip this step and jump right into the paper clay. I used a balloon and could not skip this step.)
Your tweety bird must be completely dried before adding more wet paper mache strips (see note) or paper clay, which ever you wish to use.
Use Paper mache or paper clay to finish covering your armature. The clay is a time saver but both are fantastic Art mediums to use for your tweety bird. Both recipes are on the channel; feel free to check them out.
Paper Mache Finish If you are NOT going to cover with paper clay you can cover your armature with more paper mache strips. Start by applying 3 to 4 layers of paper mache strips and let it completely dry before adding more strips.
After these strips have dried continue using paper mache strips and paste to cover your tweety bird with at least 8 more layers. If you feel he is not sturdy enough add more paper mache and dry time.
All 8 layers does not have to be done in one setting but once you stop for the day the giant tweety bird must be allowed to completely dry before starting a new paper mache stripping session. Below you will find the recipes and steps.
Quick Link to Paper Mache Paste Recipe http://goo.gl/BH5lgM
Paper Clay Finish: Cover the entire tweety bird with 1/4 inch layer of paper clay working out all the air bubbles and smoothing onto your armature. You will set it aside for 3 or 4 days making sure that it is completely dry before painting. Links to the clay recipe: https://goo.gl/8igowH
If you need once the tweety bird has dried you can lightly sand with sandpaper and wipe off.
3. Paint Your Tweety and Varnish (seal, protect)
Paint a white coat of paint on your tweety bird to give you a white canvas for painting onto. I used white interior flat paint as my base coat, 2 coats.
Once the base coat as dried paint with acrylics anyway you like. Let this completely dry.
You must seal your paper mache sculpture with Polycrylic or varnish for protection. Varnish comes in a spray can (gloss or satin), spray on 3 to 4 coats (not all at once) and let it dry. Read your varnish or Polycrylic for directions.
This is just one way to make a fabulous Tweety Bird, I hope you are inspired to create your own Tweety and PLEASE we would love to see photos, which you can paste to our Facebook studio with a few simple clicks.
Also share everywhere you can to help support our FREE how to videos, made with you in mind. Have a great week and your welcome at the studio anytime.
Connect with us:
YOUTUBE
© whimsypapermache.com 2015
