Quilled Bluebird of Happiness - De-File Your Taxes

I often listen to the radio show Studio 360 so was interested to learn via Helen Hiebert's Sunday Paper newsletter about a contest the show was sponsoring that invited creatives to make something - anything - from a U.S. 1040 tax form. Entries will be judged in time for Tax Day, April 15 (well, it's the 18th this year, don't panic) by Kai Ryssdal, host of Marketplace.


Called De-File Your Taxes, the contest description was accompanied by the upbeat catch phrase Tax Time Doesn't Have to Be a Nightmare. Thus I was prompted to hand cut 1/8-inch strips from a 1040 form and shape them into a filigree bird necklace as my entry.


Not that anyone is ever happy about paying taxes, but hey, if it means we get to live in a democracy and there's a chance that a refund will wing its way to my mailbox, sign me up.


My paper bird pales in comparison to the vivid feathered version, but the form did indeed print out with (light) blue and white stripes, thus its Bluebird moniker. If you would like to make one of your own, here is my Quilled Bird Necklace tutorial.

And have a gander (haha, birds are on my mind) at the results and listen to a little interview with contest winner Erin Farley about the making of her stylish tax form dress. People are so creative!