Sparrows DIY Fun Felt Craft

Did you know that there are nearly 300 verses in the Bible that mention birds? The imagery of birds is prevalent throughout the Bible (more often in the Old Testament than the New).

Quite often the scripture verses show that even though birds are small and seemingly insignificant, they are still seen and cared for by God.

Sparrows are not only tiny, but the common variety is also clothed in dull brown feathers. By outward appearance they are truly nothing to take notice of, and yet God does. What a powerful message for you and me.

I, for one, often felt invisible and not worthy of His notice. There was even a time in my teen years that I dressed in dull browns and other muted colors. I didn’t want anyone to look at me or to see how unworthy of love I thought I was. I wish I had known sooner that that wasn’t the way God saw me. He saw my colors. He saw the intricate pattern of my unique personality and most importantly, He loved me just the way I was.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

What if we saw life through God’s eyes? What if we looked at a sparrow and instead of a dull brown bird, we saw a magnificent creation?

This craft is an opportunity for you to create birds that represent How God sees us. We are all bright and beautiful in His eyes.

What you’ll need:

Colored felt (Craft stores have luscious colors to choose from, either craft or wool felt works fine).
Scissors
A needle and embroidery floss
Cotton batting (stuffing)
A jar lid, glass, or cookie cutter
Pipe cleaners and craft feathers
Optional: paint and a brush, fabric scraps, craft glue

Instructions:

• Find anything circular in your house (I used jar lids and a mug). Draw around it and cut out a circle.

PC: Ann Kirsten

• Cut 2 small triangles or wing shapes for the wings. This should be done on another color of felt or fabric scraps. Cut one orange triangle for a beak. Cut two small circles for eyes.

PC: Ann Kirsten

• Fold your felt circle in half to see where the wings, beak and eyes belong. Open the circle back up and put a dot of glue underneath your pieces to hold them in place. Glue a craft feather or two where the tail belongs.

• Your bird will look a little lop-sided and silly at this point.

PC: Ann Kirsten

• If, like me, you love to embroider, this is the time to add stitches. Stitch the wings and eyes on. Add decorative stitching wherever you want to. Then, fold the circle in half again and pin it together.

PC: Ann Kirsten

• Starting above the beak, bring your needle and thread up from the inside to hide the knot. Keep sewing simple stitches along the circular edge. When you are halfway done, stuff the head and tuck in pipe cleaner legs. Keep sewing, stuffing as you go, until you have reached the tail end. Knot your thread off and take one last stitch into the felt. Cut the thread off short and you won’t have a long string showing. Stitch a loop to the top if desired.

Notes: These birds can be modified for different age groups. If you need to make it toddler-friendly, skip any sewing and glue the pieces together. Even easier: Cut everything out of construction paper instead and glue the bird together.

I found it easier to paint eyes on rather than fussing with tiny felt circles. I dipped a pencil eraser into white paint and printed it on the felt and then a matchstick into black paint for the pupil.

Want to make your bird fancier? Cut a tail shape from felt and embroider it instead of using feathers.

PC: Ann Kirsten

As you sew these birds, remember how very much God loves and cares for you.

Psalm 84:3
“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.”