Birds of a Feather Birdhouse

Hi chippie fans!  Barbara here with another birdhouse project for you.  If you haven't guessed by now, I love birds, and this Birdhouse Mini Display Tray from Gina's Designs Lasercuts started my creative juices flowing.  

Trim chicken wire to fit over one of the birdhouse frames.  Paint chicken wire with Sterling paint, then dab Rusty paint randomly for a weathered look.   Adhere to one of the black painted birdhouse frames.

Measure and mark chickenwire for size

Paint the two frame (open) pieces with black chalk paint.

Select a print clock face, adhere to the remaining frame (open) and trim excess.  Insert a set of tiny clock hands with a tiny brad.  

Select a portion of the print paper, using the open frame piece as a template to see which portion of the paper you want to show through. 

Cut out the paper just inside the pencil marks and adhere to the base (solid piece) of the birdhouse.  Paint the back and sides with black chalk paint just to finish it off nicely.  Color background paper with Rusty Hinge, Stormy Sky, and Peeled Paint distress inks.  Set aside.

These are the three pieces you should have now, and will be adhered together in this order later.

Use a spatula to spread a thick coat of the white crackle paste over the frame with the clock face.  (TIP:  You might want to do this before adding the clock face and hands).

Dab Gathered Twigs and Vintage Photo distress stains over crackled frame to bring out the cracks and to give depth with the different brown colors.  Then dry brush some of the Turquoise paint over the crackles.

Here is a closeup of the color variations from this technique.

 Adhere first frame piece with the chickenwire attached to the solid print covered background piece.

Adhere second frame piece with the clock face over the piece with the chicken wire, sandwiching the chickenwire between the two frames.

Color both the lace border sticks and one corner from the Art Deco Border & Corners Set with Prima Color Bloom spray mists in Soft Teal, Gilded, Cobalt, and Emerald.  Rub Rose Quartz Treasure Gold over the top.  Deepen the color for a better color match by sponging on Peeled Paint distress ink.

Adhere these three pieces to the top of the birdhouse, as shown.

Paint Birds of a Feather with Rusty paint (words), and Turquoise paint on birds and feather.  Add Rose Quartz Treasure Gold, more Turquoise to each section.  Adhere to the bottom section of the birdhouse, as shown.

I thought something was missing, so I used this tiny butterfly from the butterflies and dragonflies shape set, covered with the Rose Quartz Treasure Gold on both sides.  On the front side, I added a bit of blue color with the Prima Cobalt mist, but I used a paintbrush to add it to the wings.  I gently lifted the wings and adhered to the clock, as shown.  

Gina's Designs Supplies Used:

Mini Display Tray - Birdhouse

Butterflies and Dragonflies

Border Sticks Lace

Chicken Wire Large

Birdwatching Shape Set

Art Deco Border & Corners

Other Supplies Used:

Tim Holtz 8x8 Paper Stash - Collage

Dina Wakley Sterling  and Turquoise acrylic paint

Black chalk paint (FolkArt)

Viva Decor Rusty paper paint

Tiny clock hands (Blank Slate-Hobby Lobby)

Prima White Crackle texture paste

Tim Holtz Idealogy:  Mini brads

Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs and Vintage Photo distress stain

Tim Holtz Wild Honey and Peeled Paint distress inks

Prima Color Bloom sprays: Cobalt, Soft Teal, Gilded, Emerald

Treasure Gold Rose Quartz metallic wax

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you are inspired by my project today and will take a moment to hop on over to Gina's Designs Lasercuts to see the wonderful selection of chipboard to help get your creative juices flowing.  And be sure to visit the blog for more fabulous projects from the design team.  

Barbara