Rustic Birdhouse

     This little birdhouse has been a real joy to make. It's a 3D Birdhouse Kit by Tando Creative available from J&C Creations. Laser cut chipboard pieces with full pictorial instructions, when finished it measures approx 8.5 inches square by 6 inches tall (without the flowerpot!)
    To start with I painted all the pieces cream, with the exception of the green baseboard, using an acrylic paint I had in my stash. I would suggest painting both sides as you can see in through the holes once the house is built. I then used a crackle stamp and Archival Ink Coffee to age the paintwork as well as a few darkened areas using Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy and blending foam to dab it on with.
    The roof is corrugated cardboard striped down to show the ridges, then coloured with Distress Inks Rusty Hinge and Brushed Corduroy. All roof sections were coloured before assembly but not stuck on to the chipboard until afterwards.

     The ivy is die cut using a Marianne Creatable die LR0206 that also has a small birdhouse and bird in the set. I cut the ivy in dark green card and used a Brilliance Moonlight White inkpad to colour the veins. The tiny flowers on the ground are Flowersoft as is the moss on the roof.
    I had some real decorative moss left over from my flower arranging days which I stuck on to look like bushes. It's a soft Reindeer Moss which doesn't go brittle or smell and sticks really well with PVA glue.
    The whole house has been stuck together with Cosmic Shimmer dries clear PVA glue, as well as all the embellishments.

     The birds are from the same Marianne die as the ivy, cut out in blue card. Cut two birds and glue them together on the body, do not glue the feet, once dry open out the feet and the bird will stand up.
    The Budlea is made with Flowersoft using the paper covered wire. Colour the wire green and put glue on the very last 1/4 inch, cover with purple Flowersoft and leave to dry. If you don't have any Flowersoft you could use flock or tiny bits of tissue. I have also die cut some small leaves in green to add to the bush.

    The kit comes flat packed and undecorated so you can make it as you would want it. You could make an amazing Christmas scene with one of these houses, something very unique. I hope this has given you some ideas, pop over to J&C Creations and see what else they have to offer. Happy Crafting, Rocky.