Adding Roof and Perch to the Birdhouse

I hope you didn't think I'd leave you hanging. I have the tutorial for the decorative birdhouse I auctioned off for our preschool's silent auction (just in case you want to make your own birdhouse for Christmas!)

By the way, the winning bidder paid $25 for the birdhouse. Not bad considering the house only cost me $3.

First you should know that I sawed off the perch that came with the birdhouse. And filled the hole with wood putty. Then after a light sanding and a coat of primer, I painted the whole birdhouse.

Here is what the house looked like after painting:

I used a pair of needle-nosed pliers to carefully de-scale several pinecones.

Hopefully you don't need a bandaid like I did. Ouch, those scales are sharp!

If you have ever watched a roof being tiled, they always start from the bottom and overlap shingles as they go up. This little birdie abode is no different. I started by running a line of E-6000 (super strong glue) on the bottom of the roof. Then laid the first row of scales.

Once the first row was complete, I overlapped a second row on top of the first. Here is a peek at the roof after three rows had been laid.

Once I reached the top, I moved to the other side. I did go back and adjust any scales that moved slightly during the roofing process. And this is what the house looked like when I was done with the roof.

As the roof dried, I searched my yard for a stick to use as a perch. It took a while, but I found one that had a "T" shape so I could insert one end into the house.

I chose a drill bit that was the same size as my stick and then drilled a hole into the front of my birdhouse.

I used some more E-6000 to line the hole, then slid the stick into the house. I also put a small dollop of glue behind where the stick touched the house near the top left of the stick just to hold it secure.

I needed to add a screw eye to allow someone to hang the birdhouse if they wanted to. I simply measuring the center of the roof and then I used a drill bit slightly smaller than the screw eye to drill the pilot hole. Screw eyes can pretty much be twisted in by hand, or you can use your pliers if you need a better grip.

Now it is time to give the birdhouse some snow! First I taped off the painted sides of the birdhouse to protect them from the spray.

I admit it, I'm cheap. I didn't feel like buying some fake snow, so I chose to use white spray paint and glitter spray instead.

I pulled the can pretty far away, and actually the white paint was near empty so it spattered out. Which ended up being one of those happy accidents because I liked the splotchiness. I also gave the house a light dusting of glitter spray. To protect the house, I coated it with 3 coats of clear spray.

And here she is in her snow dappled glory!

I'm curious, how much would you have bid up to on this cute little one-of-a-kind bird house?

Also sharing this birdhouse at these Link Parties:

DIY Showoff  Project Parade

Skip to My Lou - Made by You Mondays

Between Naps on the Porch - Metamorphosis Mondays

Mad in Crafts - Mad Skills Party

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tues.

All Thingz Related- anything related Tuesdays

Creating a House of Grace- Twice owned Tuesdays

I'm Topsy Turvy - Topsy Turvy Tues.

Blue Cricket Design - Show and Tell Wednesday

Domestically Speaking - Power of Paint
The Tshirt Diaries - Upcycled Wednesday

Fine Craft Guild - Tutorial Link Party
Somewhat Simple.com - Strut Your Stuff
Shabby Chic Cottage - Transformation Thursdays
The Virginia House - We Can Do It Cheaper
Fireflies and Jellybeans - Show Off Your Stuff

Birdhouses with Style

Our preschool silent auction is today. Every year I donate a one-of-a-kind birdhouse to be auctioned off. I never spend more than $3 on the birdhouse and usually buy the unpainted versions at Michael's or ACMoore. Then I get creative by hand-painting a scene and add unexpected touches to the house.

2008 - Jardin da Girasoli de Vendere "Vendor of Sunflowers"

Painting sunny sunflowers and some green grass gave this birdhouse a sunny garden look. I added a gold spigot for the new perch. Using a spade bit in my drill, I cut a hole slightly smaller than the spigot, then simply screwed the spigot in place. For added stength I coated the threads with some E-6000. Can anyone guess what the roof tiles are made from? They are canvas shims! Those are the freebie scraps if wood that come with a painter's canvas! Painting them bright red took the little birdhouse from cute to bidding war worthy!

2009 - Red & White Bird Silhouette Round House

I apologize right now for the condition of this picture! Obviously this is the only picture I took of this cute little abode. The birdhouse was a $2 find at my local Goodwill. The roof was detaching and it was painted an ugly 90's hunter green and burgundy. I gave the house a good cleaning, then glued and nailed the roof back on. After a fresh coat of primer and white paint, I hand-painted the bird motif and the roof and base. The perch is a curtain rod screw (that holds the rod in the curtain rod bracket). Then she received a little green ribbon and a silver bell on the top. So simple, but one of my favorites!

2010 - Christmas Time, Snow and a Pinecone Roof

Another unpainted house picked up at Michael's. This house got some serious head turning attention with a pinecone plank roof, white snow, glitter, and a stick for a perch. The tutorial to make this birdhouse can be found here.

The back has a large Christmas tree decorated for the holidays. I hope the birds appreciate it.

To protect all my birdhouses from the elements (should they really be "for the birds"), I coated them with a few coats of polyurethane.

I know that some of you might be thinking you can't do this, but let me float some ideas for you. Instead of decorative painting try:

• Mod Podge Wallpaper on the sides
• Mod Podge Fabric to the sides
• Use a stencil
• Search the web for picture inspiration and trace it onto your birdhouse.
• Use painters tape to create stripes
  
• Let your little ones decorate the house with paint

So, how much do you think my pinecone roof birdhouse will fetch today? I hope more than $3!