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
- Various Bird Houses
- Craft Paint
- Wood Stain
- Wood Glue
- Wood Art Panel
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.
So adorable and unique! I loved it when I first saw it on crafts unleased!
Thank you very much!!
I blog often and I genuinely thank you for your content. This article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to book mark your blog and keep checking for new details about once per week. I opted in for your Feed too.
This is so cute! We have done bird houses individually before but this is much more fun!
Wow this is amazing, Morena!
AMAZING! Love the colors. You did such a great job!
That turned out so good! I like the colours you did them in – they all look great together!
[…] my garden as the earth awakens from its long winter slumber. I’ve always been a big fan of birdhouses, and I feature them often in my outdoor decorating. I’m once again using birdhouses this […]