Winged Things That Cling

Category: Toys | 22 June 2008, 15:04 | admin

These are great - things with wings, that cling! Anywhere!

You will need:

* Cereal box card
* Pen
* Scissors
* Modelling clay or sticky tack
* Pencil
* Tissue paper
* Newspaper
* PVA glue
* Paintbrush
* Drinking straws
* Bulldog clip
Start by drawing a simple butterfly onto some cereal box or coloured card.

Then draw a second line about 1/2cm inside the wing shapes, like this.

The idea is to do a sort of tear shape, in each of the four corners.
Next, cut the whole butterfly out.
Now you need to cut out the four tear shaped sections.

An easy way of getting started with these is to place a ball of modelling clay or sticky tack under the card, and make a hole by pushing a sharp pencil through the card.

The hole allows you to get the scissors in, to make the cutting out easier.

You should now have something that looks like this!
Now you need to build up some body detail, to make it look more 3D and life-like.
To start, cut two small lengths of drinking straw and stick on tiny newspaper balls at one end.
Tape these to the winged thing’s head, for antennae.
Next, pad out the head with a newspaper ball…
…and shape more newspaper into a sausage shape for the body.

Tape them all into position.

You can make your winged thing cling by using a bulldog clip like these.

You can get them from most newsagents and stationers quite cheaply.

If you like, you can use an old clothes peg - but a small bulldog clip is absolutely perfect.
To make the butterfly cling, turn it over and tape one arm of the bulldog clip onto the back, like this.
Then, turn it back over again and bend the wings up slowly.
Next you need to add strength to the clip - so paste a layer of PVA glue mixture over the tape, and lay on strips of tissue paper or kitchen roll…
…like this.

This will make sure that the clip is attached firmly.

Then go over all the body - front and back - in the same way, but be careful to avoid the wings.
When it’s dry, the clip will be secure and firmly in place.

The body will have a good texture to it, too.

Next - the wings!

To get this lovely translucent effect, a good thing to use is tissue paper.

To do each wing, draw around the outside edge of the wing onto your chosen tissue paper.

It’s just a guide, so you don’t need to be too neat.

Cut the shapes out.
Do the same with the bottom part of the wings, onto a different coloured tissue paper.
Now, the idea is to paste PVA glue around the card edge.
Then carefully place the tissue paper shape on top, stretching it over the wing.
When you’ve done all four wings, you’ll have something that looks like this.
When it’s dry, you can decorate it which ever way you like.

How about painting it? This one also has circles of tissue paper stuck on the wings, too.

Sequins and glitter look great, too, like this one.
And that’s it - try it yourself!

Speak up!