A cage went in search of a bird

That's a quote from Franz Kafka.  But it's OK, this cage is a paper one, and couldn't hold a bird if it didn't want to stay!

At the Ashtead Craft Club's monthly workshop on Wednesday, I will be showing how to create a birdcage.

This is a good project for upcycling stuff - for the base I'm using  a cheese triangle box, such as Laughing Cow or Dairylea, or those Camembert ones would be good too. I'm also using some strong acetate from packaging, together with bits of card from my off-cuts box.

Using patterned paper, draw around the box base twice, cut out, and stick to the inside of the box and underneath.  At the same time, cut 2cm strips from the same patterned paper - enough to go round the box sides (but don't stick that on yet).

Cut 4 x 1cm strips from white card, using the whole length of an A4 sheet.  Mark the centre of each strip, make a hole, and fix all the strips together with a brad.  Space the strips evenly.

Lay the evenly spaced strips on top of the box base and make a pencil mark on the box side where each bar will be glued.  Do not glue yet!

If a hanger is required, do this now, before the bars are glued into place. Take a 1cm x 8cm strip of white card, fold in half, then make a small fold inwards on each end.  Glue to the uppermost cage bar, tucking the small folded ends under the brad.








Before the bars are secured, create what will be inside the cage.  I've used a bird, but anything is possible! Flowers, hearts, animals, butterflies - whatever takes your fancy!

Use  strips of strong acetate (the kind you get in packaging) to create invisible anchors for the cage contents.

Fix inside the cage base.  If any part of it is going to stick out through the bars you have the pencil marks to show where the bars will be.








Now you can glue the bars onto the base, using the pencil marks as a guide; the brad will allow any adjustments to be made.

Next, fix the strips of patterned paper around the base sides.

Embellish to your heart's content!

This was fun to make, and would make a perfect alternative to a birthday card if a greeting was included, either inside or outside the cage.

I hope you have noted - no paint or ink was involved in the making of this project, and come to think of it - no blue either!