Frugal Crafts & Gifts
(featured column by various authors)
Rustic Birdhouse
by Amanda
Formaro
This charming rustic birdhouse is a great
addition to any country decor. A perfect spring project, just don't put it
outside, the birds may move in!
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What you need
1 wooden birdhouse (ours is 6")
acrylic paint in barn red, coffee bean brown, black, and antique white
crackle medium
paint brush
twigs
1 large black button
raffia
scrap of country floral fabric, frayed
1 1/2" woodsie sign
brown craft pen
hot glue gun
What you do
Paint birdhouse completely with antique white and allow to dry. Following the
directions on the crackle medium, apply a coat of crackle medium over the
antique white, and allow to dry according to the manufacturer's directions
(usually 15-45 minutes, or until tacky but not completely dry). Finish with a
coat of barn red on the house, coffee bean on the roof, and black on the base.
Again, follow the directions on the crackle medium! Use single brush strokes, DO
NOT brush over and over, you will lose the crackle effect. Allow to dry
completely. Following the same guidelines, use barn red as the base, then
crackle, and antique white as the top coat for the sign. Allow to dry.
Using hot glue gun, glue the twigs around the base of the birdhouse. Break some
of the twigs into small pieces and glue randomly inside the doorway and window.
Tie scrap of country floral fabric to one of the twigs (see photo).
Thread a piece of raffia through the holes of a large black button, tie into a
bow and hot glue the button to the front of the birdhouse.
Using the brown craft pen, write the phrase "Welcome Friends" on the
sign, draw on a small heart in the corner or use a rub on transfer. Hot glue the
sign to the front of the birdhouse.
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Copyright
© 2003 by Amanda Formaro
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