Chicks!

Hey guys! Since Easter is tomorrow, I figured I'd show you a cool craft. You don't have to celebrate Easter to do it, though. It's just a fun spring thing!

We're making puffball critters!

You'll want to have some yarn, probably in yellow for a chick or white for a rabbit–but you can use whatever color you want! Get creative! You'll also need some felt to match, as well as pipe cleaners, seed beads, and a small piece of cardboard, or the plastic pom-pom makers from the American Girl kit. 

If you're using the plastic pieces, you'll want to begin wrapping the yarn around the two pieces. If you're using a piece of cardboard, for a chick, it should be about and inch and a half long, but you can decide how big or small you want it to be. Wrap the yarn around the piece of cardboard.

The more yarn you use and the tighter packed it is, the fluffier your pom pom will be. I always try to get mine to be as tight as possible.

Now, for the plastic bits, slide the two halves together. Cardboard users, you have just a rectangular piece, so you can skip this step.

Plastic people, cut around the edges of the plastic, so you create a bunch of little strands. Cardboard people, cut the top and bottom of the wrapped strands, so you're left with a bunch of cut strands on either side of the board. Put both of these piles together so you have one big pile. Now, take a long piece of yarn, and tie the strands together really tightly in the middle. Like, really tightly. As tight as humanly possible. Knot it multiple times.

If you're using the plastic, gently pull off the plastic pieces. Cardboard users can skip this step.

Now, you have your pom-pom, but it still needs a little work. Both plastic and cardboard users should now trim their puffball and make it a little neater. 

Most of the pieces should be the same length, but it doesn't have to be perfect.

Now it's time to cut the beak and wings! Trace two wing-shapes on the yellow, and a little triangle on the orange. 

You'll need two little seed beads for the eyes. Mine are black, but you can use whatever color you think looks best.

An orange piece of pipe cleaner will work for the legs.

Cut two little pieces. Fold over a small bit of the bottom so the sharp bit isn't sticking out, and fold the rest upward so it looks like a foot and leg.

It's time to plan out where to put everything before you glue it! I think hot glue works the best to stick everything together.

And this is the final product! I didn't get the eyes in exactly the right spot, and the glue made them look kind of messy. I think I might pull them off and try again. It's ok if you don't get it right the first time–it might take a little practice!

I'm so excited about Easter! And spring! I'll probably post tomorrow with my Easter activities. Do you have any plans for tomorrow? Are you glad spring is here? Do you like to craft?
This has been Dani, dabbling in crafting critters. Over and out!