Felt Cardinal Pencil Topper

I think it's so weird that we talk about most animals year-round, while there are others we've assigned to a certain season. It's as if rabbits and chicks only exist in the spring, flamingoes and tropical fish disappear if it isn't summer, bats and owls are only alive in the fall, and penguins and polar bears vanish when winter ends. I get that some of that is based on climate; tropical fish live in warm water and polar bears live in cold water. But they live there year-round! 

Despite existing year-round with quite a large range, cardinals are considered part of the winter animal category. If there is an image of a cardinal on a card, the sentiment probably references Christmas or winter. You don't see cardinals on Easter greetings, even though baby cardinals start hatching then, just like baby chickens. It's weird. 

All this to say that I made a cardinal craft during the summer. And you can too. Affiliate links below. 

Felt Cardinal Pencil Topper

Materials:

• pencil
• plastic leaves on a stem
• floral tape
• felt (red, black, orange)
• scissors
• self-adhesive black enamel dots or Enamel Accents
• tacky felt glue
• Fiber fill

Steps: 

To make the cardinal, you will need two red felt bodies, two red wings, two black faces, and one orange beak. I recommend using scratch paper to make a template for yourself, unless you want to just wing it (pun intended) like I did.

Use floral tape to wrap a stem of leaves to a pencil. I used an artificial rose I had laying around and just pulled the flower off to save for a different use. 

Glue the face and wings to the two body parts.

Add an eye to each face. If you're using self-adhesive enamel dots, proceed. If you're using Enamel Accents, let them dry completely. 

Put a line of glue around the inside of one body piece, leaving the belly area open. Put the beak in place, then add a line of glue onto the part of the beak that will be covered by the second body piece. Set that piece on top of the first, essentially making a beak sandwich. Let the glue dry completely. 

Add as much or as little stuffing as you want, then add a generous amount of glue to the opening. Place it onto the prepared pencil, clamp it closed, and let the glue dry completely.  

Perfect for any time of year! This craft is particularly great if you live in one of the seven states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia) that have named the cardinal as their state bird, or if you're a fan of the any of the Cardinals sports teams!

Candy Cardinals

I had some extra black Candy Melts and black Sugar Pearls sitting out after I finished making the Pretzel Raccoons, so I used them to make Candy Cardinals. Can you tell what I used to make the beaks? Affiliate links below.   

Candy Cardinals

Materials:

• parchment paper
• Wilton Candy Melts (black and red)
• Wilton sugar pearls (black)
• mini M&Ms

Steps:

Melt the red candy according to the instructions on the package. Use a spoon to put a dollop of melted candy onto parchment paper, shaping it into the teardrop that makes the cardinal's head. While the candy sets, use a sharp knife to cut orange M&Ms in half. Press straight down firmly; they'll cut without shattering. 

Melt the black candy, then put a dollop onto the head to make the cardinal's face. Place two black sugar pearls and half an M&M onto the black candy to make the eyes and beak. Let the candy set completely, then peel it up from the parchment paper. 

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Looking for another cardinal project? I love this tissue paper cardinal craft! The cardinal is the state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia, so it's an especially great choice to make if you live in one of those states. 

Tissue Paper Cardinal

Did you know that of the 50 states, seven have named the cardinal as the state bird? Clearly, cardinals are doing something right for seven states to honor them this way! The seven are: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Follow the simple steps to make this cardinal craft with tissue paper and chipboard. Affiliate links below. 

Tissue Paper Cardinal

Materials:

• chipboard
• scissors
• Folk Art paint (red, black, orange)
• tissue paper (red, black, orange)
• craft glue
• black enamel dot

Steps: 

Draw a cardinal shape on chipboard. The easiest way is to draw a semicircle, then add the crest, the tail, and a wing tip. You will also need a jelly-bean shaped piece for the face and a triangle for the beak. Fit the pieces together to make sure they look good and are the right proportion. After I took the step-out photos, I ended up rounding the base of the beak a bit.   

Paint the body of the cardinal red, the face part black, and the beak orange. While you are waiting for the paint to dry, tear about 20 strips of red tissue paper. 

Layer the red tissue paper horizontally on top of the body to mimic feathers, making sure to cover the surface completely. The last piece you place should point at a 45° angle downward like the closest wing would do.

Wrap black tissue paper around the face piece, gluing it in the back. Glue the face to the cardinal's body. Wrap orange tissue paper around the beak. Glue the beak to the face. Add an enamel dot eye. 

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I think cardinals are one of the most beautiful birds. I was thrilled each and every time I saw a cardinal during our December 2019 trip to Louisiana and Mississippi. We don't have cardinals where I live. This is Audobon's map of the cardinal's range. As you can see, cardinals are wide-spread throughout the east (indicated by the dark purple) and are rarely seen in the areas colored with light purple. Southern California has one tiny pocket of light purple, but nothing in northern California. 

At least there's a cardinal on display in the craft room now!