This is adorable birdhouse craft is easy to make and perfect
for a child's room, a covered porch, as a gift for seniors
and teachers. It's also a great companion activity with lessons
on backyard birds or nature. Start saving those frosting containers!
You'll need for each birdhouse:
An empty washed and dried plastic frosting container with lid
raffia
Spanish moss or sheet moss
A skinny twig-about 3 inches long
acrylic paint-earth colors such as browns and greens
white primer
pine cones, acorns, silk leaves, leftover potpourri or other natural
materials
scissors
foam paintbrush and small sponge
low temp glue gun or craft glue
Approx. 8" piece of craft wire-stiff but bendable
Cut a hole about an inch round (quarter size) in the front of the container.
Carefully punch a small hole underneath it (not too close) for the twig.
(don't
insert it now-just make the hole). You'll also need to make two tiny holes
on each side of the container if you want to attach wire for hanging. Use
a ruler and measure to space them evenly. You can even use the edge of
the wire you will be using to poke the holes.
Apply primer to the outside
of the container and allow it to dry completely. Apply the brown paint to
container with the foam brush and allow to dry.. Dab your sponge into the
green paint and then dab it on a paper towel. Now with quick movements
sponge on the paint to the entire outside of the container. Allow this to
dry
also.
When the step above is completed and dry, take your length of wire and
place each end through the holes you made. I use a craft wire I wrap it
around a pencil to "curl the wire" for a decorative look before putting the
ends in the holes. You will need to bend a little section back up and
wrap it around the wire again to hold it in place on both end.
Fill inside of the birdhouse with the moss. Place the lid on the container
after applying a good amount of glue to the inside rim beforehand. Using
the glue again, smear quite a bit over the top of the lid (after you've
glued
it in place) and press moss in place. The birdhouse is now ready to
decorate! You can use pinecones and leaves, a little artificial bird,
flowers,
or use all natural items such as acorns and other little things. Potpourri
works nice for this too. Tie on a raffia bow around the top of the container
and insert your twig into the hole you made earlier.
EXTRA NOTES: You can change the look of this by using pastel colors
and silk flowers in spring colors, rather than the natural earthy look. Also
you can skip the wire and hang it with jute or twine instead. You can
spend extra time and materials when making this as a gift or gather
together scraps and a lot of fun items to let the kids go crazy! For a
classroom or group of kids, cut the plastic ahead and apply the primer
to save time.
About the Author:
Brenda Hyde is Mom to three little ones, a freelance writer
and editor/owner of OldFashionedLiving.
Bird Watching Resources
Backyard Bird Tidbits!
-Backyard Bird Supplies
-Birdbath Cleaner
-The Bird Shed
-Books on
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