1 sheet kraft paper (brown parcel paper), 20 x 20 cm, 90 gsm
1 sheet black card, A4, 300 gsm (for mounting)
Black washable tempera paint, 1 small jar
Wide flat brush, at least 2 cm wide
Fine round brush, size 1 or 2
Black acrylic paint, 1 small tube (for detail work: slightly thicker than tempera)
White paint pen or fine brush with white paint
Craft glue or glue stick
Damp cloth and dry towel
Step by Step
Coat the sole of one baby foot with black tempera paint, heel to toe. Press the foot onto the kraft paper with the heel toward the top and the toes pointing upward (this is the bird's tail feathers). Hold for five seconds and lift cleanly. Wipe the foot immediately.
Let the footprint dry for at least 40 minutes. The kraft paper absorbs paint a little differently from card, and you will see the print darken slightly as it dries. It is ready when there is no sheen at all.
Using the fine round brush and the slightly thicker black acrylic paint, paint a short straight twig or branch extending horizontally from the lower side of the heel. The heel rests on the branch, so position it just below the heel's base. Add one or two thin lines extending from the heel down to suggest feet gripping the branch.
On the left or right side of the heel, paint a small sharp triangle as the beak, pointing outward. Add a tiny white dot for the eye, just above and behind the beak. One small dot is enough: this is what makes the whole thing read as a bird and not an abstract shape.
Let the detail work dry for 10 minutes. Tear the edges of the kraft paper by hand, tearing inward from each corner to give softly irregular edges. This takes about 30 seconds and makes a large difference to how the finished piece looks.
Apply craft glue to the back of the kraft paper and centre it on the black card. Press firmly and let it dry flat for 5 minutes. Frame it or hang it as is.