Make Your Own Pterodactyl Ornament for a Dino-Filled Holiday

Making Your Own Pterodactyl Ornament for the Holidays

The holidays are a great time to get creative with your decorations. And what's more fun than dinosaurs? This year, try making your own pterodactyl ornament to hang on your Christmas tree or display around your home.

Gather Your Materials

Making a felt pterodactyl ornament is easy and only requires a few supplies:

• Felt sheets in green, red, yellow, and brown
• Scissors
• Glue gun
• Embellishments like googly eyes or glitter
• Ribbon

Cut Out the Pieces from Felt

Start by tracing basic pterodactyl shapes onto the felt with a pencil and cutting them out, including:

• A long triangle for the body
• An upside down triangle for the head
• A diamond for the back
• Small and large triangles for the wings

Make sure to cut out all the pieces in coordinating colors. For example, the body could be brown while the wings are red or green.

Assemble the Ornament

Once your pieces are cut out, it's time to assemble them. Start by gluing the body triangle and then attaching the wings and back diamond. Next, add the head and let the glue dry completely.

Get creative with extra details! Add spiky felt along the wings and back plates or colorful patterns along the pterodactyl's body. Googly eyes and glitter make great finishing embellishments.

Add the Hanger

To finish off your pterodactyl ornament, you need to attach a hanger so it can adorn your holiday tree. Take a 8-10 inch piece of ribbon and glue a section at the top of the back diamond. Once the glue sets, your ornament will be ready to hang.

Pterodactyl Ornament Inspiration and Ideas

Looking for some inspiration for your own pterodactyl ornament project? Here are some amazing ideas and examples:

Make a Flocking

Felt isn't your only option when making a pterodactyl ornament. Try using flocked ornaments - the soft, fuzzy Christmas balls that resemble snowballs. Simply glue on shaped felt pieces to transform plain flocked ornaments into decorative pterodactyls.

Use Natural Materials

For an earthy, organic look, cover your ornament with natural materials like feathers or leaves. Feathers make great movable wings and foliage can emulate scales. Twigs and bark become perfect feet and beaks. Let your creativity run wild!

Incorporate Modeling Clay

Take your design to the next level by integrating air dry clay. Sculpt detailed teeth, horns or claws out of clay and glue them onto your base ornament shape made out of felt or foam. This adds fun dimension and realism to your prehistoric Christmas decoration.

Make Them Kid-Friendly

Pterodactyl ornaments make for a fun craft to do with kids over the holidays. Use thick, durable felt and non-toxic glue so the little ones can help cut out and assemble pieces. Decorate with pom poms, wiggly eyes and yarn for maximum sillyness.

Create Whole Flocks

Why stop at just one pterodactyl? Follow the same instructions but cut out multiples in an array of colors, textures and designs. Soon you'll have a whole flock of dino ornaments ready to take flight across your Christmas tree!

Hanging Your Pterodactyl Ornaments

Once your custom pterodactyl ornaments are finished, it's time to display them proudly! Here are some ways to show off your prehistoric creations:

The Christmas Tree

The most classic place to hang ornament is on the Christmas tree itself. Hang your pterodactyl flock among the pine branches, lights and other decorations. They'll look right at home!

Windows and Mirrors

Use ribbon, string or garland to suspend pterodactyl ornaments in front of windows and mirrors. The transparent and reflective surfaces make for amazing backdrops as your ornaments take flight.

Bookshelves and Cabinets

Perch your dino ornament flock on bookshelves, curio cabinets or kitchen shelving. This allows you to display them at eye level and accent your existing holiday decor.

The Halls

Hang strings with multiple pterodactyl ornaments across door frames or line stair railings with the prehistoric flock. This really makes them the stars of the show for anyone entering a room!

However you choose to show off your homemade pterodactyl ornaments, they are sure to add a fun and festive touch to your holiday decor. Let your creativity soar by making your own dinosaur flock this Christmas!

FAQs

What supplies do I need to make a pterodactyl ornament?

The basic supplies you'll need include: felt sheets, scissors, glue gun, embellishments like googly eyes, and ribbon for hanging.

What's the best glue to use when making ornaments?

A hot glue gun works best for ornament assembly. The glue dries quickly and makes a strong bond with most materials used for ornaments like felt, foam, feathers, and more.

How can I make my pterodactyl ornament more durable?

If you want a sturdy pterodactyl ornament that will last for years, choose rigid materials like wood or plastic for the base shape. You can still decorate with softer materials like felt and fabric.

Can kids help make pterodactyl ornaments?

Absolutely! Pterodactyl ornaments make for fun holiday crafts that kids will love helping with. Supervise use of scissors and glue gun, provide kid-friendly materials, and let their creativity shine!