Today’s I Love to Create post is an ode to the official (well, in my book, anyway) mascot of the crafter: the owl. I’m pretty much obsessed with them and like everything else, the kitschier the better! While thrifting for wall art the other day, Dave and I came across this little plastic, 1970’s number. We thought he might be the perfect candidate to wisely look over our baby-to-be’s room. I tend to not like wildlife decor if it looks at all realistic though, opting instead for whimsical, graphic or cartoon versions. This owl teeters (or make that, tweeters) on the border between the two looks, so we snagged it with the plan to get creative. I gave him a simple, crafty makeover taking this plastic pal from out-of-date to adorable! Here’s how:
Step 1: Pick Your Plastic
Scour flea markets and thrift stores for molded plastic animals. They’re fairly easy to find (in addition to this owl, we came across a lion, puppy and siamese cat all in the same store!), and cost under $20.
Step 2: Prime Time
Cover the entire piece with your primer of choice. This step’s important! Without it, the paint will peel right off.
Step 3: Color Me Happy
Use Tulip’s Soft Fabric Paint (I went with the color “Azalea”, to match the chandelier I painted a few weeks ago) and a sponge brush to give the owl a little color. You’ll need a couple of coats for complete coverage. Let dry.
Step 3: Sticky Situation
Take a small paint brush and add some Glitter Bond to the areas of the piece that you’d like to add a little razzle-dazzle to. In this case, I outlined the feathers on the owl’s chest and wings.
Step 4: Glitterati
Sprinkle Crafty Chica’s Chunky Glitter (I chose the color, “Frida’s Fuchsia”) over the Glitter Bond. Let dry. Shake excess glitter off, using a dry paint brush if necessary.
That’s all there is to it–now you’ve got yourself one, beautiful bird!
If painting’s not your gig (or if like me, you need even more of an owl fix), check out these other crafty treasures that fit the bird bill (or beak, as it were):
When I came across this Knitting Needle Patent greeting card by @patentpress , I couldn’t resist selecting it as one of the items for the YarnYAY! September box! (Link in @vickiehowell bio or got to YarnYAY.com)
What looks like part circular knitting needle, part Tunisian crochet hook is illustrated as the patent drawing for flexible knitting needles. This greeting card memorializes the creation of tools that we stitchers can now, not do without!...
The sample yarn for both palettes of this year’s 12 Days of YAY! Advent Box have arrived. I cannot wait for stitchers to open up a new color everyday!
I don’t want to spoil the shade surprises, but I can share just how much yarn we’re sending you this year — FIFTEEN mini hanks of beautifully hand dyed yarn, by two rad boss-lady dyers.
Historically, we have sold out of these so I’d you’re prone to FOMO, be sure to pre-order tour 12 Days of YAY!
Nineteen years into this knitting career, it’s crazy-pants that I’ve never had Learn to Knit or Learn to Crochet kits before. So, I finally made it happen. If you know someone, or ARE someone that wants to learn — while also making something wearable— check out our new hats and scarves kits in the YarnYAY! Shop!
