I love lots of color and whimsy in my backyard, and I’m (very) slowly putting together a garden area that’s inspired by the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Alice in Wonderland.  When I saw this garden sculpture at Anthropologie, I knew it would fit in with my “fantastical” garden.  The price tag ($498!!!) was wayyy out of my budget, so I made my own.  Here’s how I did it.

(This post first appeared at Crafts Unleashed, where I am on the design team. 

Supplies

Step one:  Paint the bird houses.  I used blues and greens to mimic the Anthropologie piece.  Paint the board and small wood pieces (from this kit), as well.
Step two:  Brush a dark stain on the bird houses and wipe the stain back.  I mixed Americana Stain Antiquing Medium with chocolate brown paint to make my own stain.
Step three:  Place the birdhouses on the wood board to make an arrangement that you like.  I tried several different options and took pictures to decide which one I liked best.  To stack the houses, I used some of the small wood pieces to prop them up or to fill in empty spaces.
Step four:  Once you’ve found an arrangement you like, use the wood glue to adhere the bird houses to the board.  I started with the pieces that were glued directly to the board.  With some, I had to add wood shims to the back to keep them level.  Then I glued the birdhouses that “pop” out on top.  Let the glue dry for 24 hours.
Add a photo hanger to the back of the wood panel, and find a place outside to show off your garden art!  My piece will be in a covered courtyard, protected from the elements, so I didn’t seal it.  It’s a fun, unexpected piece that’s sure to generate lots of conversation!
Looking for more of my fun garden crafting projects?  Click HERE.

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