Hands On Crafts for Kids

Painting Project – Fancy Birdhouse
Designed by Doxie Keller
Presented by Prudy Vannier
Copyright 2007
1101-2

When you see the “helping hand” symbol on a project, it means you may need adult supervision to do the project. Always cover your work surface with a mat or some type of protective covering like wax paper or plastic. Always use care when using tools or a heat source. Be careful and safe!

As we build houses, stores and roads, natural habitats for animals and birds are rapidly declining. A birdhouse project is an environmentally sound project. Different birds require different styles of houses so it is wise to study up prior to making a house. This one is made of cedar scraps for weather resistance, and a tin can. The perch is a few inches of dowel.

It’s fun experimenting with different brushes to see what effect they create. In this project, a liner, a flat, and a “checkerboard brush” are used to make the patterns that enhance the colorful basecoats.

Main supplies:

Paint: turquoise, pink, orange, lavender, light green, black, white
Brushes: ¾” flat, #8 flat, liner brush, checkerboard brush

Basic Supplies:

Wood, hammer and nails
8” light weight chain and screw eyes for hanging
8” ¼” dowel
Tin can 4.25” tall

Instructions:

Birdhouse detail:
2 roof pieces – Using 1” lumber, cut 2 roof pieces – 6.75” X 3” and 6.75” X 3.75”. Cut the front and back 5.5” tall at the peak, 3.75” wide, and 3.5” to the roof slope. The front needs a 1” hole and below it, a 3/8” hole. The back needs only the 3/8” hole. See photo for placement. The ¼” diameter dowel needs to be 7.75” long. The tin can is a regular 13 to 14 oz vegetable can.

Painting directions:

Basecoat:

Roof – light green
Front & back – lavender
Roof edges – orange
Inside walls and edges, can – turquoise
Dowel – pink

Paint dots on the roof with the #10 flat brush using pink.
Use the liner brush with black to paint a wavy line on the roof edges. Embellish with brush tip dots in lavender.
Use the checkerboard brush to paint stripes across the back and checks on the front with white. Line them with double rows of black.

Sponsored by Society of Decorative Painters www.decorativepainters.org