Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A tweet, A Tute & A Giveaway!

It's my 100th post!!!! Wow! I am so excited! So I have been working on something special just for today. I have been working on a project inspired by Denise over at Living life Creativley, she made some of the cutest birds. So I have been working on my own little bird pattern, and sewed at least 10 before I was happy with my little birds.

It is a bit tricky to get the legs to wok just right, so some I glued to twigs to give them a more stable base ( my brilliant hubbies idea!) I also wanted to make some nests for one bird that I made and liked, but he had just a bit too much junk in his tail feathers if you know what I mean, and would not stand for nothing, so he needed a nice place to rest. Here is how I made the nest. I wanted them to look as real as possible, and since I live in northern MN, ans we have lots of snow on the ground, I couldn't exactly go out and get leaves, mud and twigs. So I stared with an old enamel wear cup that was the perfect size for my nests.

I then took a small hand full of spanish moss and molded it to fit in the cup. Leaving the middle open for the bird. Once I had a basic form, i removed it from the pot, and covered it with some super 77 spray adhesive, then used my hands to mold it together and to help it keep its shape.

Once it was dry, I added some dark and light brown spray paint to the inside and outside of the nest to help it look a bit more realistic.
Once the paint was dry I was able to add my final little details, burlap, fabric, and twine. I wanted to wrap something around the outside to give it a little more stability. But still looking very natural. I added a little more spray paint to the outside and it was done! Very natural looking, and you can make them any size you want. I have a feeling I will be making a bunch more! Well on with the giveaway! I am posting these fun little guys to my Etsy store, but I want to give my readers a chance to win one! Here is what you need to do to win! You can earn more than once chance too!

1. Become a follower if you are not already, if you already follow just leave me a comment! If I can reach 300 followers by Sunday, I am going to Giveaway 2 birds!

2. Go to my Etsy store and look at all the birds, then just leave a comment here as to which bird you would choose if you won.

3. Spread the word! Tweet, FB, or Blog about my giveaway!

You have 3 chances to get your name in the drawing! I will draw a winner on Sunday Feb. 21 and post the winner on my blog!

Thank you to all my followers and readers, you make blogging so much fun!
Good luck and thanks for stopping by!


109 comments:

  1. They are adorable. I am also a follower here as well.

    I don't find the birds in your Etsy store. Have you put them there yet?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the birds AND the nest! I am already a follower.

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are adorable. I am a follower too. I can't find the birds either. But I know I love your map birds! I am having a giveaway too--hop on over to join!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh these are so sweet! I tried to make one using Denise's tutorial and well..I am pretty well awful. LOL Tricky is NOT the word I would use to describe the legs!

    ReplyDelete
  5. There's only one bird in your shop right this second so I'll just say he's my fave! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm sorry, but I couldn't find the birdies either. But, I can tell you that I love everyone I have seen on your blog. They are great and the nest is wonderful. Would love to win anyone you have made.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats on your 100th post!!! I love the birds!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the birdies! They are ADORABLE! I think Mr. Green Jeans would work great in my little country home!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mr Green Jeans would look perfect perched in my house! Cute.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Also a follower.
    Congrats on your 100th post.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Holy cow, you ladies are fast! :) Thank you so much for stopping by and looking, all the birds are now loaded in my shop! So feel free to take a look! Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congrats on your 100th post!
    Another fabulous creation from you!!! Love them. Thanks for showing how you made the nest, too cute!
    Already a follower of yours!

    ~Amy

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the birds! Great for spring.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Just found your blog yesterday. You are so creative and I can't wait to copy your stuff :) I don't know how to sew so that limits me quite a bit. I am now a follower so hopefully I can get one of these adorable birds!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. As a long time follower, thanks for posting 100 times! And the birds nest -- gonna try to make one myself. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh, and I will choose 'bird on a wire' when I win (lol)! Would look so springy and cute under a cloche!

    ReplyDelete
  17. These birds are so precious. I'm really into these kind of cute birds. We live on a chicken ranch HAAA so I deal with the real kind all the time! Love how you made the nest. So creative and just warm and lovely. I can't tell you how much I love those little nests. I'm doing a thing on birds and eggs and nests and cloches (sp?) this week so maybe if I can....I will make some of my own nests! I will send people your way with all the credit! Love your blog. I think I am already a follower...of course!
    Blessings
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  18. I went and looked at the whole birdie bunch on your Etsy....I love Tommy the best!!!! I love the fabric you choose for him!!!!! I think he wants to come to my house!!!! I will make a nest just for him!!!! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love how you solved the tipping over problem with the branch underneath idea! I know just what to do to get them to stand, but it seems complicated to everyone else. I think I'll just attach a branch in the future! Very cute take on the bird.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks Denise! Some would stand just fine, and others not at all! I like how they look with the twigs too! Thanks so much for the great inspiration! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. They are all really cute. I love Buddy the Brown Bird though. He would be a great addition to my re-purposed door shelf.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congrats on your 100th post! Love all the birds, but my favorite is the linen with blue! I'm already a follower,

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  24. there is a post ready to show off this cute idea for 5.30am tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  25. i have a bad case of the spring fever and these sweet birds arent helping.
    im a follower...

    ReplyDelete
  26. ooh love love the birds. soo cute. I'm a follower..

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your little birdies are oh so adorable....I am having a giveaway this week too.
    Happy day!
    xojanis

    ReplyDelete
  28. You are too clever and crafty!

    I am totally a follower now! I can't believe I wasn't before. Sorry!

    If I win, I want "Tweety"!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. love love love them! you are too talented! Love the pink and brown one!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Little bird blue is the cutest...ofcourse I am partial to blue.

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is so cute! I am a follower now
    Kaysi
    kaysiscrafts@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. These are so adorable and thank you for showing how you made the nests!! I am loving tweety bird best but they are all so cute!!

    I am a follower too!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I like the "Tweety Bird". These birds are giving me spring fever!!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. So cute! I love those birds and the nest too!

    Kristi
    Punkin Seed Productions

    ReplyDelete
  35. All of your birds are so adorable. I like Tweety the best. I do not have a blog, but I am a daily follower of your blog and a few others. I look each and every one of your posts. I wish I had the artistic ablilities that you have.
    Thanks for your blog.
    Stephanie @
    prada63gus@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Ifff I had to pick my favorite I would choose the little blue bird.

    shaeo3@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. absolutely adorable little birds, love their skinny little legs...I've followed you on my feed reader for a long time but now I "follow" you too.

    ReplyDelete
  38. These birds are so adorable!!! I'm a new follower! Congrats on your 100th post. :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. I think they are all really cute but if I HAD to choose I would pick Mr. Green Jeans or the Bluebird. :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love George the little coo coo. How cute. Great give -away.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I love these!

    Thank you for sharing!

    I'm following from the Creative Blog Hop
    http://www.capricornsoapco.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. You are so talented! I love the birds and the nest. I am no where near that crafty yet. It is hard to chose which one is cuter but your Tweety Bird is adorable. I think that would be my first choice. I am now following your blog and I posted on your contest too! have a great day

    ReplyDelete
  43. I forgot, here is the link to see my post if you would like

    http://thefrugaldollhouseaddict.blogspot.com/2010/02/cute-contest.html

    ReplyDelete
  44. Really cute stuff!! I love Betsy! Thanks for the chance!

    ReplyDelete
  45. These are totoally adorable! I love Tweety and George.. but they are all so cute! : )

    ReplyDelete
  46. How cute! I'd pick the Tweety bird since that what hubby affectionately calls me.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I like little George! :) So cute!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love the little blue bird in the nest. How generous of you to allow one of your birds to fly away to a new home. If you pick me, you can tell your little blue bird to fly over to my house.
    Thanks for offering a chance to win one of your cute babies!
    Pattyjo

    ReplyDelete
  49. I appreciate the second chance at your art. I am a follower of your blog too.
    Pattyjo

    ReplyDelete
  50. Thanks so much for linking up. As I child I used to make bird nests out of mud and grass clippings. this method is much better :)!

    ReplyDelete
  51. I just checked out your etsy shop and I just love tweety bird!! Beautiful work!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I just adore your little birds...thanks for the giveaway!

    Sandy

    http://thewondersofdoing.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  53. I love them all but think Betsy is my favorite! Happy 100th! karen....

    ReplyDelete
  54. I'm a new follower. You could link up to my linky party for more new subscribers. :)

    Your little creations are so cute!

    ~Kim

    ReplyDelete
  55. I like the "Little Blue Bird"... so cute...

    ReplyDelete
  56. Oh so cute!!
    Love the little tan bird, top row., far right.
    And love how you did your nests. Much easier than some of mine.
    Thanks for the lesson on how you did it.

    Thanks for the nice giveaway, Congratulations on 100 posts!

    blessings
    barbara jean
    PS I am a follower.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Marvelle Morgan: I love Mr. Green Jeans

    ReplyDelete
  58. Cute! What talent.. Love how the little nest turned out. Thanks for sharing at POPP.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Friday Follower

    ~Lauri
    http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  60. Love Mr. Green Jeans!

    ~Lauri
    http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  61. Following you from Follow Me Fridays!

    http://stacievaughansblog.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  62. I love those birds, you did a terrific job.
    Found you, followed you, live just a short 2 hours southwest of you, so cool.
    Take care and have a blessed weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  63. I love this! I'm featuring it on my blog tomorrow!

    http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com

    Come grab my featured button!

    Thanks for linking up!

    ReplyDelete
  64. The betsy bird. It matches my daughters fancy bird nursery!

    ReplyDelete
  65. I remember these cute birdies from your feature at FJ. They are so cute, I love the addition of the twigs and nest.

    ReplyDelete
  66. oh, my lordy, i saw you over at blue cricket designs, and i had to come & visit a blog called the little green bean! (it's what my son used to call his 'blankie' as a toddler!) makes my heart melt, the memory!! anyway. just became a follower, love your birdies to pieces!!

    ReplyDelete
  67. I love Tweety Bird!! But they're all so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  68. Just found you through Blue Cricket and I'm a new follower! Love your posts!

    ReplyDelete
  69. I really like all of your birds but I think Mr. Green Jeans may be my fav.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Wow! So glad to have discovered your blog today and can't wait to follow! I am in LOVE with the birds. Going to check out your shop right now!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Definitely "George"! The orange has me hooked! (Plus George is my dad's name, so it's only appropriate!) LOL :)

    ReplyDelete
  72. Just became a follower and Patrick the patchwork birdie has flown into my heart! Would love to have the tutorial ... enjoy sewing and this would make a super gift for an e-friend! Thanks for the opportunity ! CM2

    ReplyDelete
  73. I would pick Patrick - he is adorable. Loving those nests too ~ you have been a busy girl!

    ReplyDelete
  74. Just found you! New follower; I love your little birds!

    SHeilaC

    ReplyDelete
  75. I like Tweety bird... she seems to be smiling :)

    SHeilaC

    ReplyDelete
  76. i love the birds and all your stuff, but most of all i love you!!

    my fav is the little bird on a wire. :)

    ReplyDelete
  77. It is impossible to look at those birds and not go, "AWWWWWWWWWWW!" I really liked Tweety Bird the best.

    ReplyDelete
  78. THOSE birds are darling!!! And I love your tree and nests, too.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Super cute birds and nests...so creative. Just became a follower and can't wait to visit again!

    ReplyDelete
  80. These are really really cute! I just became a follower!

    ReplyDelete
  81. I'm follower 296! 300 is in sight. :) Love those sweet birdies.

    ReplyDelete
  82. I hope I'm not too late. My baby loves to watch the birds from her window and I've been wanting to incorporate a bird theme into her nursery. Your little darlings are just the thing! I love Tweety and Mr Green Jeans. What a cute idea!

    ReplyDelete
  83. Oh, and I just became a follower, too.

    ReplyDelete
  84. I just found you, I love your stuff, I am following you and that was the coolest little boy room make-over ever!

    :))

    ReplyDelete
  85. I think I would choose Tweety Bird.

    ReplyDelete
  86. These are adorable. I am a follower too. I can't find the birds either. But I know I love your map birds! I am having a giveaway too--hop on over to join!

    Work From Home

    ReplyDelete
  87. I am in love with those birds. Could they be any cuter?? NO!!!

    Love it! Thanks so much for linking it up!

    XOXO
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  88. I just love your little birds and the nest is so sweet. You do great work!

    ReplyDelete