A Pinterest pin inspired this easy-to-make Easter chicken craft. Instead of individual hens made from wood, I’ve created three paper hens in a wooden crate. Here’s how to make this spring chicken centerpiece.
The crate used in this craft is from Dollar Tree. It measures 5″ x 2-3/8″ x 3-1/4″. The foam is found in the floral department.
Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink was used to distress the edges of the paper cutouts. To make this craft, you can draw your own hens or download the PDF in the supplies list below.
Spring Chicken Centerpiece
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Supplies:
- Decorative cardstock and paper
- Sharp scissors
- Tacky Glue
- Bamboo skewers and 4-inch Picks
- Small wooden crate
- Distress Ink
- Mechanical pencil or pencil
- Googly eyes
- Chicken Template
- Acrylic craft paint
- Foam for Dried Flowers
Directions:
First, download the chicken template, trace each, and cut two of each pattern piece. There are templates for the large and medium-sized hens. To create the smallest hen, print the large hen template using the 5 x 7 inches.
Next, antique the edges of the cutouts with a Distress Ink pad. To add a little visual interest, I used a 1/8 -inch hole punch along the scalloped edge of the head cutouts of the largest hen.
Glue the two tails, combs, wattles, and beaks together, back to back.
Use Tacky Glue to adhere the pieces and googly eyes to the chicken body. The skewers we have on hand are 12 inches long. I cut them 6 inches long. The picks for the other two hens are 4 inches in length. We want them to be at different heights in the crate.
Glue the comb, beak, wattle, tail, and legs to the front side of the chicken. Then, glue the back side to the front.
Decorate
At this point, you can decorate the hens. I used buttons, but you could use other decorative items. Lace, buttons, and beads would look nice.
You can easily thread embroidery floss through the buttonholes to create a little interest. There’s no need to get a needle. Just squeeze a little Tacky Glue onto the end, twirl it between your thumb and forefinger. Then let it dry for a minute. It will be easy to thread it into the holes.
Tie the thread into a knot on the backside. Then, glue the button in place.
Prepare The Crate
Next, paint the outside of the crate with acrylic craft paint. I used white chalk paint. Then cut a decorative paper strip that coordinates with your chickens. Glue it onto the middle slat on the crate, wrapping the ends, and the opposite side of the crate.
Dollar Tree has a package of flower foam with 4 pieces. It is the perfect size for this little crate. I measured, marked, and cut the end off one. The two fit perfectly. You only need one simple cut.
Position the Chickens
Then, add crinkled paper strips! That’s all there is to it!
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