A last minute, late night giftwrap started a streak of papercuttings. One of my favorite crafts, I always have an old book ready to cut up. The book was apparently closer than the papercutting scissors. Snip, snip, I cut out the giftwrap tree with the kitchen shears.
And just kept going, threading the cut-outs and suspending them over the table.
I made some floating birds with folded wings on sewing thread hangers.
With two pieces of book paper stacked, I cut out 2 birds at once. I knotted a long length of sewing thread and set it aside. Added a swoop of gluestick along the lower part of the bird from the beak to the beginning of the tail. Not on the wings or the tip of the tail.
I placed the knotted thread on the gluey paper close to the middle.
Layer the second bird on top of the first, pinching it gently right around the thread knot to be sure it's secure. Fold the unglued wings very slightly, adjust the way it hangs and make a hanging loop at the top of the thread. You will have to fiddle with the thread to be sure it hangs correctly. Suspend it over a heat source like a radiator (but not a flame). The rising heat makes it flutter and fly.
You could do the same with an angel cut-out.
And they do look so pretty on a simple brown paper gift.
How pretty!
Posted by: Susan | December 17, 2012 at 09:34 AM
Lovely. I need to go get my paper cutting scissors out.... seems like it could be very theraputic at this time.....
Posted by: Linda Jo | December 17, 2012 at 09:49 AM
Now, does your local librarian know what you are up to!!!??? I just love these paper cut outs. Our library has wonderful book sales several times a month. The next time I go, I am hunting up some books just for the look and size of the pages.
Posted by: karen on bainbridge island | December 17, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Love these Charlotte, so much fun! Time to get out the scissors.
Can't believe it's less than a month to FG already. :)
Merriest of Christmases to you and yours!
Posted by: Sally | December 17, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Nice paper cuts.
Posted by: Carmen | December 17, 2012 at 01:49 PM
Just the sweetest, most enchanting.... happy making goodness! Thanks for sharing Charlotte! :)
Posted by: Tina | December 17, 2012 at 02:36 PM
Just lovely!
Posted by: Lorrie | December 17, 2012 at 04:05 PM
LOVE this, Charlotte! So fun! Great way to make the birds, too. Really sweet project. If I can't sleep tonight I'm grabbing my scissors and an old book.
Posted by: Julie | December 17, 2012 at 06:05 PM
....not to mean it's a project I'd only do if I have insomnia! (I just haven't been able to fall asleep very well lately and this is a lot more fun looking!)
Posted by: Julie | December 17, 2012 at 06:10 PM
Reminds me that I adore brown paper packages....
That is all I used when the children were growing up. Must do this next year....for old times sake.
:)
Posted by: Dawn | December 17, 2012 at 09:50 PM
Simple and very lovely.
Thank you!
Laura
Posted by: Laura | December 18, 2012 at 04:52 PM