There’s no mistaking that bright red: the cardinal is one of the most recognizable birds out there, with its black face mask around the beak and a little pointed crest on top. For this one, I set it on a brown branch, like you’d spot it through the window on a crisp morning. Work through the grid one bead at a time: start with the crest up top, then fill in the round body, and save the black mask and beak for last — that’s what really gives this bird its personality. A quick pass under the iron between two sheets of parchment paper, and your cardinal is ready to perch wherever you like: on a garland, a tiny desktop tree, or right on the fridge.
Little penguin
A penguin dressed all in black and white, with an orange beak, on a square pegboard.
