Wings …"How To"
I digress. This project was a take on many different
purchase options of expensive wood and stain, while beautiful and amazing,
would not easily find a way into my home.
I am happy to have this opportunity to share how I created something for so little from free, low cost and recycled materials, while it was not the goal, made them that much more innovative to create.
The Supply List:
1.
Time
2.
Patience
3.
Large sturdy
cardboard…(appliance box)
4.
Lots and Lots of
extra or cut down cardboard boxes
(a lot of people give away extra moving
boxes on line)
5.
A good pair of
scissors
6.
Tape
(masking/painters/please don’t use your washi you won’t see it when you are
done)
7.
Newspaper
8.
Flour and Water
(a pan to heat it in)
9.
Primer spray
paint
10.
Finishing spray
paint ( I used an antique/oil rubbed bronze)
It is a metallic color and has a shimmery
effect/not glittery
11.
Small bottle of
black paint and a copper that you like
SO Here is the “How I did it”
CARDBOARD AND CUTTING
From the large sturdy
cardboard, draw a wing shape the size that you want the total project to
be. Make sure you cut out the entire
shape to accommodate the top short feathers and the long bottom tip feathers.
Just an outline. Mine are approximately
4 ½’ tall and 2 ‘wide.
Then bring your time and
patience. Each wing has approximately 70
individual cut top feathers. I cut one and then just traced and cut..(yes your
hands will get sore from cutting.)
You will also cut 10 long
feathers for the bottoms of each wing. (You will cut as many as you need to fit
your wing)
 |
| Start at right side point and work your way to the top |
I started layering from the
top to get the edge I wanted. This is not a precise, but what looks good to
you.
(TIP: If you over lap
feathers a certain way on your first wing… Make sure you use the same technique
on the other wing so they fall the way they would on a birds wing. If they all are overlapped in the same
direction when you hang your wings, it will look pretty strange.)
Once you have your large
templates, start at the top inside laying your feathers. I taped them to the
top edge and to each other. They will move, but do your best to keep them where
you want them. I taped each individual feather at its top like a flap. Start on
the inside top and work your way out to the top arch. Once you have one layer
of feathers, start on the next layer underneath.
Once you have all the small
feathers taped down, lay out the long feathers overlapping each one in the same
direction.
PAPER MACHE
I used a ½ cup flour to 1 cup water ratio. I also heat it on the stove in a span because it gets it smooth and it dries a more clear consistency so no bumps.
Lay the paper mache strips
long ways making sure to fold the strip as you lay it into all the edges and
nooks. You can do as many layer as you think will make a smooth finish. I think
I did at least 2, probably 3.
You will need to lay strips
over the edges all the way around to have a smooth finished look.
Sometimes the points on the
feather will rip the paper. That’s ok,
just smooth it down to make sure you get a nice point on each feather and use
another piece. You will you small pieces to fill in awkward spaces. Make sure
you have little to no cracks. When you lay strips on the long feathers, make
sure they are going in the direction of the feathers. If you lay then side to
side instead of up and down, you will probably end up seeing the seam in the
end.
Make sure all the this is dry
before you paint.
PAINTING
Spray your entire finished
paper mache’d wings with a white primer for white wings, or dark primer for the
colors I used.
Make sure it is dry before
you proceed.
Spray paint the oil rubbed
bronze color (Krylon brand..I think, I got it at Fred Meyer). Do as many coats as you need to cover the
entire front and sides thoroughly. I set them up on blocks of wood in a
cardboard box to paint so I could get to all sides without holding…and as
always spray paint in the direction WITH the wind, not against….unless you
really like that color and want to wear it for a few days…(Just a cautionary
not, I did NOT paint myself J)
Once the antique bronze paint
is dry use the black paint to dry brush the edges to have a shadowed finish.
Also get up into the feathers to add texture and shadowing.
Add shading up in these
crevices for detail.
Once the black paint is dry,
use the copper color to dry brush over the black. Not entirely, the goal is to
add color and dimension, not completely paint over.
Once you have all the paint
on and it is dry, use picture hanging clips to use picture hang on the way with
a monkey hook.
I hope you love them as much
as I do!
Happy Creating!
~Kim
