Graphic 45 By the Sea Bird House

A few weeks ago for Mother's Day I made a Treasure Box for my Mom using Grapic 45 By the Sea paper collection. I wanted to make a companion piece for my Dad for Father's Day. That was my whole plan which wasn't much. Since I was winging it, I didn't take pictures. So sorry no step by step tutorial.

I went to Jo-Ann's and bought a birdhouse that kind of had a light house look to it and flat sides to decorate. First I painted two coats of Folk Art Chalky paint in Antique Mustard. Next I Mod Podged paper on the sides. Adding the paper on the front of the bird house was a little tricky to work out. With the hole and the peg it was difficult to line up the paper right. I fooled around with a few pieces of plain scrap paper but couldn't get it just right. I tried using hole punches but nothing would line up right. I was getting really frustrated. Finally one night in bed (I usually do my best thinking when I'm suppose to be sleeping) I realized if I cut the paper in half vertically I could line up everything better. Phew! It still took a few tries but eventually I got it all lined up, mostly.

Look close, you can't tell that the paper was cut in half. I save every scrap of this paper. It's so beautiful I don't want to waste any plus you just never know what you may be inspired to use. Using scraps from the side pieces I cut angle pieces and used the reverse side around the base of the house. Some jute twine around the peg hides the fact that I didn't cut the circle exact. I hot glued a few shells from a walk on the beach last summer.

At first I had painted the entire house yellow but decided to change the roof to Americana Williamsburg Blue that almost matches the paper. I hated to cut a whole sheet for the roof but really liked the little anchors. Some jute twine wrapped around the top along with a few sea shells.

Here are both pieces together. I love how they complement each other and my parents home.