A while ago I found a handmade paper birdcage on a design blog. I saved the instructions but not the name of the blog so unfortunately I can't give credit where it's due. I immediately thought the cage would be a great place to house the bird from Stampin' Up's Extra-Large Two Step Bird Punch. And what is the birdcage lined with? Newsprint Designer Series Paper of course! Isn't that clever?
The bottom of the birdcage is actually the top of an ice cream carton. We have Smart 'n Final in CA where they sell empty white non-printed ice cream cartons. If you can't find them, you can use any carton top or lid as long as it has a 1/2" lip.
Start by cutting four 1/2 x 12" strips, one 1 x 12" strip of patterned paper and a circle large enough to line your cage bottom. In the picture below, I originally cut two strips of patterned paper but only used one. If you opt not to put the placard on your cage, you may need two strips. It all depends on how big your birdcage bottom is.