To make your wings strong enough to hold up, you’ll need to get some wire. Cut a piece of wire (tie wire from the hardware store is cheap and easy to bend) into the shape of the wings’ outline. The wire should be long enough to go all the way around one wing, over the top of the body, and around the other wing. Then, just to make sure, cut another piece of wire long enough to go across the top of one wing, under the body, and across the other wing. I suggest you make the body first, using crumpled paper and masking tape. After the general outline has been attached, bend the wire at the natural joints so the wings will have a believable position.

Once your wire is in place, you can cut a piece of light cardboard, like the type used for cereal boxes, to the shape of each wing. Tape the cardboard to the wire and to the body where the wing is attached. Use lots of tape. If you want the wing feathers to be separated, like a real bird, you will need to have the cardboard feathers extend below the wire. It would probably be easiest to cut the wing feathers out individually and tape them on, overlapping them in a natural fashion. The tail feathers can be done the same way.

OK, next, I would suggest that you completely ignore all the other information on the bunny post on this page, and use the paper mache clay recipe instead. One thin layer of the clay, on each side of each wing feather and over the entire body and wings will make a strong sculpture. It’s much faster and easier (and more fun, in my opinion) than doing it the traditional way with paper strips and paste. Once the first layer is dry, you can go back and add some feather texture with another very thin layer, and give the bird it’s eyes and beak details. Since you’re in a hurry, put the bird in front of a fan to dry.

If you need some ideas on making feet and legs, check out the baby chicken post.

Good luck! Please post a photo of your finished project – we’d all love to see it.