I took a 2-day staycation a few months ago and finally got started on a couple of birdhouse projects I’d been planning to make as gifts for my Aunt and Grandmother. Both ladies love it when birds visit their gardens. I bought the unfinished wood birdhouses at Joann and used just a few simple supplies to turn them into bold, colorful garden pieces. The Paper Crafter’s Color Companion always comes in handy for me when I need to come up with a color scheme. If any birdhouses can bring a bit of cheeriness to a couple of gardens in cold England, then these can!

Easy Birdhouses Project

MATERIALS:

• 2 unfinished birdhouses in various shapes
• Paper Crafter’s Color Companion
• Liquitex Soft Body Artists Colors in a variety of colors, according to your chosen color scheme
• 1 sheet of 300 grit sand paper
• 1 sheet of 1500 grit sand paper
• a few Quilter’s Freezer Paper sheets, for lining your workspace and drying area (optional)
• paint brushes
• paint pallet or mixing tray
• PLAID FolkArt Outdoor Gloss Sealer

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Choose color scheme with the Paper Crafter’s Color Companion.
2. Sand all surfaces and edges of birdhouse with 300 grit sand paper until smooth
3. Dust off with a cloth
4. Mix paint to achieve desired colors
5. Paint surfaces of birdhouse, one color at a time, and leave out to dry on Freezer Paper Sheets (so the paint doesn’t stick to anything)
6. Once dry, sand painted surfaces with 1500 grit sand sand paper
7. add an additional coat of paint, and once dry, sand until smooth with 1500 grit sand paper
8. Dust off with a cloth
9. Apply first coat of PLAID Outdoor Gloss Sealer and let dry for 30 minutes
10. Apply final coat of gloss sealer and wait a few hours for it to dry completely
11. Pack birdhouse into box and ship it off to the English countryside where your Gran will happily receive it
12. Hope your chosen colors aren’t too bright in that they scare the birds away

Check out Danielle Dews’ blog at DanielleDews.com