Make a Bird out of a Plastic Straw

This project is a fun and easy example of plastic straw art. Plastic straw birds are a unique decoration to add to cocktails, cupcakes, or other little delicacies, and are sure to set a lively mood and garner many compliments from your recipients.

Steps

Normal Straw Method

  1. Cut the straw. Observe that the straw is divided into two sections by the "bendy" part. One section is longer than the other. Cut the longer section halfway between the end and the bend.
  2. Cut the short piece open. Cut it lengthwise, keeping your cut as straight as possible. You may want to trace the cut with a marker before cutting.
  3. Flatten the piece. Place the cut piece on a folded towel or hard surface, and flatten it with the edge of a spoon.
  4. Fold the piece in half, hamburger-style. See the photo for more help.
  5. Cut symmetrical wings on both sides of the fold. Make sure they stay connected in the middle.
  6. Cut small slits around the edges of the wings to make the feather tips. Set aside the wings for now.
  7. Flatten the other parts of the straw. As you did with the other piece, use the edge of a spoon to flatten the rest of the straw, except for the bend.
  8. Cut out the tail. Once the straw has been flattened, position your scissors so that they cut through both layers, just slightly inward from one of the edges created by the fold. Cut all the way up to the bend. This will be the "tail" of the bird.
  9. Cut the legs. On the portion of the straw you just cut, position your scissors so that they cut exactly along the other fold, stopping at the bend. You should end up with three pieces on this portion of the straw - two thick "legs" and one slim "tail."
  10. Bend the legs and tail outward. They should resemble the legs of a tripod.
  11. Position the bend in the straw so that it resembles the neck of a bird.
  12. Make two cuts just above the bend of the straw, angled toward the center. You should end up with what looks like the bill of a bird.
  13. Wrap the legs around the tail. Position the straw so that the tail is on top and pointing back toward you. Grab one of the legs, and fold it under the tail. Then, take the end of that leg and pull it over the tail and through the loop you created. Don't pull it tight just yet, though; repeat the same process with the other leg.
  14. Tighten both legs at the same time. Once both of the legs are in position, tighten them slowly and symmetrically so that they make a knot where the tail meets the bend.
  15. Make sure the legs point downward. They should be at a 90-degree angle from the tail.
  16. Push the tail toward the bend to loosen it a bit, and slip the wings through the opening.
  17. Tighten the tail into place again.
  18. Make small feather cuts in the tail. Flatten it with the edge of a spoon for better effect.
  19. Display the bird on a glass by putting the rim between the two legs.

Long Straw Method

This method is the same basic steps as the one above, however the images show what the bird would look like with the use of a long straw.

  1. Cut the straw. Observe that the straw is divided into two sections by the "bendy" part. One section is longer than the other. Cut the longer section halfway between the end and the bend.
  2. Cut the short piece open. Cut it lengthwise, keeping your cut as straight as possible. You may want to trace the cut with a marker before cutting.
  3. Flatten the piece. Place the cut piece on a folded towel or hard surface, and flatten it with the edge of a spoon.
  4. Fold the piece in half, hamburger-style. See the photo for more help.
  5. Cut symmetrical wings on both sides of the fold. Make sure they stay connected in the middle.
  6. Cut small slits around the edges of the wings to make the feather tips. Set aside the wings for now.
  7. Flatten the other parts of the straw. As you did with the other piece, use the edge of a spoon to flatten the rest of the straw, except for the bend.
  8. Cut out the tail. Once the straw has been flattened, position your scissors so that they cut through both layers, just slightly inward from one of the edges created by the fold. Cut all the way up to the bend. This will be the "tail" of the bird.
  9. Cut the legs. On the portion of the straw you just cut, position your scissors so that they cut exactly along the other fold, stopping at the bend. You should end up with three pieces on this portion of the straw - two thick "legs" and one slim "tail."
  10. Bend the legs and tail outward. They should resemble the legs of a tripod.
  11. Position the bend in the straw so that it resembles the neck of a bird.
  12. Make two cuts just above the bend of the straw, angled toward the center. You should end up with what looks like the bill of a bird.
  13. Wrap the legs around the tail. Position the straw so that the tail is on top and pointing back toward you. Grab one of the legs, and fold it under the tail. Then, take the end of that leg and pull it over the tail and through the loop you created. Don't pull it tight just yet, though; repeat the same process with the other leg.
  14. Tighten both legs at the same time. Once both of the legs are in position, tighten them slowly and symmetrically so that they make a knot where the tail meets the bend.
  15. Make sure the legs point downward. They should be at a 90-degree angle from the tail.
  16. Push the tail toward the bend to loosen it a bit, and slip the wings through the opening.
  17. Tighten the tail into place again.
  18. Make small feather cuts in the tail. Flatten it with the edge of a spoon for better effect.
  19. Display the bird on a glass by putting the rim between the two legs.

Tips

  • This is easier than making a straw shrimp. Think of this as being on the "easy" level. When you are ready for something more intermediate, do the straw shrimp.

Tips

  • Try not to cut your fingers.
  • Wash your hands before starting.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 plastic flex straw
  • Pair of scissors
  • Spoon
  • Towel

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