Avian Toothpick Holder

Few toothpick holders create as much twittering as a bird toothpick holder. These whimsical toothpick holders can serve as cute functional ornaments for the kitchen or dining table and they are sophisticated looking than keeping those toothpicks in its store-bought packaging. After all, no one wants to see a ho-hum cardboard box lying around right?

Bird toothpick holders come in an assortment of styles. They may even be composed of different types of materials. An owl toothpick holder, for instance, can be made of wood, cast iron steel, or synthetic plastic in a variety of different sizes and fashions.

Some are cute-looking, such as those made from animated characters from children’s TV shows. Others are more realistic-looking, as if coming straight from the wild. The holders can even feature an entire family or species of birds from owls, canaries, hornbills, etc. Some toothpick holders, on the other hand, just have bird-related decor and accessories such as feathers around their bases.

While most toothpick holders simply function as pots or containers to store toothpicks, sometimes a bird toothpick holder can serve as a dispenser as well. In these novel holders, you can tap the bird's head and it will automatically pick up a toothpick for you.

Making a Bird Toothpick Holder at Home

If you are interested in making a bird themed toothpick holder at home, you can buy a mould from a specialty craft store that will contain everything you need. An owl mould for instance, usually comes with plaster of Paris, clay, and paper Mache to sculpt the owl according to the pattern. After the holder is prepared and dried, you can decorate as you please –you can paint them, stick feathers and sticks on them, attach beads, or otherwise get creative. The holder usually needs to 2-3 inches high in order to make the toothpicks more visible.

If you are creative, you can make your own holder at home without even purchasing a kit. Simply purchase an appropriately shaped latex mould of the bird of your choice from a craft store. You'll need to make your own plaster of Paris and paper Mache to create the holder, and then put it into the mould and allow it to dry.

To use plaster of Paris you will need a spoon or spatula, mixing bowl, plaster of Paris kid, water, and of course the latex mould of a bird to put the plaster into. Mix the plaster of Paris with the water according to package instructions. Typically, you should have a creamy consistency. Pour the white mixture into your bird mould. Avoid any lumps or air bubbles. Tap the mould to minimize bubbles.

The plaster will set in about 20 minutes depending on the size of the mould. You can slowly and gently remove the mould when it is completely dry. After peeling off the mould, let the product dry for about a week.

If a whole week is too long, you can put it in your microwave and on defrost setting or any low temperature, heat your product for 10-15 minutes. Use gloves when removing your product from the microwave. Once cooled down, you can start decorating away! You can use acrylic paint but avoid watercolors since plaster of Paris can be quite porous.

If you prefer, you can also use paper Mache to make your bird. You'll still need a mould, but this time you'll simply be using a different substance to create it. To make paper Mache, First, tear or shred newspaper sheets into strips. Dip each strip into store-bought paper Mache paste (you may also mix glue with a little bit of water). Next, hold the paper strip against a plate or tray to remove excess paste. Stick the paper over the mould and smoothen with a brush or your fingers. Cover the mould until you complete a layer of overlapping strips of paper. Allow the layer to dry overnight. Add additional layers until you achieve the look you want. Once completely dry, you may paint and decorate it.

Compared to paper Mache, plaster of Paris can be quicker and easier to use. In addition, it can produce better results since details are more defined and it replicates the bird mould very well, it can be sanded after to correct imperfections, and it will give your toothpick holder a more elegant look.

If you prefer to buy one, here are some websites where you can purchase some:

• You can find toothpick holders and dispensers at Amazon.com.
• Ebay is also a great place to shop for bird themed toothpick holders in different styles and sizes.
• This website sells bird toothpick dispensers.
• Porcelain bird themed toothpick holders are available on this website.
• A great website to shop for glass toothpick holders.