Make Creepy Crow Faux-Taxidermy
by heather
So after I saw Rachel's Framed Crow project from earlier today, I wondered if you could stretch the foam crow into two wall hangings by cutting the fake birdie in half lengthwise. I know, it's a little gruesome, but we're cheap here, people! I then thought, "oh hey! what if I cut the crow in half, but not lengthwise? it would look like some creepy taxidermy!" Now, granted, in real taxidermy, birds are never mounted this way, but I thought it was an ironic nod to all the taxidermy-inspired decor that has popped up everywhere in the past few years. Plus, it's a perfect creepy-cool accessory for your Halloween decor.
You can buy the fake crow and other materials for this project at the dollar store.
Project Materials:
- Fake crow (made of foam), $1
- Frame, $1 or on hand
- Book page or scrapbooking paper, on hand or $.25
- Black ribbon, $1 or on hand
- Knife or x-acto knife, on hand
- Hot glue gun, on hand
Total: $1 and up
The crow crime scene
CAUTION: Images could be slightly disturbing because I had to harm a fake crow to make this!
Before you begin, prepare your frame any way you like. Paint it and distress it, if necessary. I had already painted mine orange awhile back, and it's just a happy accident that it works with the Halloween theme.
1. Remove a book page from your book (mine is from a Stephen King book that was from Paperback Swap, but came too worn out and icky to actually read) and trim it to fit the glass in your frame. Put a line of hot glue on the top and bottom edges of the glass from your frame and fold paper over to secure. You can also wrap the glass on all four sides if your book page is large enough. Put prepared insert into your frame.
2. Remove feet from crow, then with a knife, cut crow cleanly and levelly in half. I used a serrated knife, but a smooth knife is probably better because of the feathers. Trim any straggly feathers from the bust with scissors, if necessary.
3. Hot glue back of crow and stick to center of paper-covered frame insert. Be careful to get it right in the spot you want before you stick it because you won't be able to reposition it without ruining the insert. (Ask me how I know!)
4. Trim out frame with ribbon if desired. I glued mine on with hot glue and just folded it at each edge. Then I made a bow and glued it on the bottom of the ribbon trim.
Shared at the Craft Critique Halloween Blog Carnival
Oooooh! I love it!! Are you going to frame the other half? Ha ha ha!
This would be supercool to use a print out of the text from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven – maybe tea-stained – as the spooky background!
“Nevermore…”
What a fun project!
[...] at Dollar Store Crafts has constructed this fantastic faux taxidermy crow! And the cost of this unique decoration is firmly placed between about $1 and $3 (depending [...]
This is awesome! I am going to blog this on my site. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Great! I’m going to use Care and Rabbit’s ideas and put half on the inside of my apt. door and half on the outside. Now, which side should my cats get, and which side should my neighbors get?…
@Care, Rabbit & Dawn: I was thinking using the front & back halves would be fun if you made a set of bookends with them.
That is so dang cool! Love!
[...] Quoth the raven: “Head over to Dollar Store Crafts to find out how to make me!” Related Posts:Link Love: Cute Halloween CraftsKids Saturday: [...]
i am soooooo jealous of the amazing dollar store finds you guys get in the states! wreath form at the dollar store?! fake ravens/crows at the dollar store?! no fair!!
i was planning a trip across the border to check out target’s halloween goodies, but i think i need to check out the dollar stores too!
this looks awesome, and i love it. i’d leave it up year round in my bedroom, which already has crows of varying sizes scattered about…
jThis is adorable in a creepy sorta way. Love it and love your caution; I hope I don’t have nightmares about severed fake crows! I am also going to find a use for the backside of my little birdie and am already thinking about maiming othe little fake critters (I need help!). Thanks so much.
[...] votre orignal, par un corbeau empaillé (Dollar store crafts) A creepy [...]
Okay, I bought my ravens last week and they are sitting in a bag. Now I know what I’m doing with them… AWESOME!
Absolutely LOVE this!! Thank you…. I’m off to find a crow! :)
@heather – I love the bookend idea! I have a horrible old set that actually had fake bronze baby shoes attached. The weird stuff you find at Salv’Army, right? I’m going to redo them with the bird.
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