4th of July Birdhouse

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Recently, I was talking to a friend who had a great upcycling idea – bread ties as shingles!  Now I am not a hoarder of recycled materials by any means, but my stash is 4 plastic bin fulls (and growing)!  I just can’t throw something away if I think I can recreate it into something super crafty – and plastic bread ties are on that list!  So, I got my craft on and created this patriotic birdhouse, star spangled and everything!

Materials:

KOOL TAK™ PREMIUM EXTREME Double-Sided Tape – 1/2″ by 27 yards

KOOL TAK™ Shiny Transfer Foil Sheets – Holiday Colors

KOOL TAK™ Sparkles Bonus Pack – Silver

KOOL TAK™ 3D PVA Glue for embossing effect

Plastic Bread Ties – 24 – Recycled

Americana Paints by DecoArt – Sapphire, Titanium White and Country Red

Krylon ColorMaster™ Primer – All Purpose White

Unfinshed Wooden Birdhouse – 6″ tall with finial

Mushroom Bird

Small, Star Accent Sticker

Red White & Blue Checkered scrapbook paper

Tim Holtz Alterations Memo Pin

Tools:  1/2″ flat paint brush, paint palette (I use a mail order catalogs), water basin, paper towels, newspaper, pencil, ruler scissors, plastic push pin and plain sheet of paper (to catch glitter).

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Layout newspaper and bread ties outside and then spray the primer on one side of the bread ties.  Let dry.  Flip the ties over and then spray primer on the other side. Let dry.
NOTE: We are applying the primer because we will be painting the sides of the bread ties later on, as we complete the project. The tape will stick just as well to the primer as it would to the plastic.
Apply KOOL TAK™ Premium Extreme to one side of each bread tie, trim any excess by ripping or with scissors.

 

2.   Peel back release paper and apply KOOL TAK™ Shiny Transfer Foil Sheets in royal blue.  Make sure the color side is up and silver side down on the bread tie.  Rub the foil with the pad of your finger or thumb to gently burnish.  Peel the foil sheet backing from the edge of the bead tags.  Repeat on each bread tie.

 

3.  Paint the birdhouse with sapphire, titanium white and country red paints using a flat brush.  Let dry.

 

 

 

4.  Apply KOOL TAK™ Premium Extreme tape to the roof of the birdhouse.  Trim the excess tape by ripping or with scissors.  Starting at bottom edge, adhere row of “shingles”.  Apply additional KOOL TAK™ Premium Extreme over top edge of the bread ties.  Cut one bread tie in half vertically and then stagger the second row of “shingles” over the first.  Repeat with third row.

 

 

 

5.  For the fourth row, cut the tops from the bread ties and apply the ties to top edge of birdhouse with KOOL TAK™ Premium Extreme tape.

 

6.  Insert a push pin in bottom of the mushroom bird to use as a handle.  Apply KOOL TAK™ 3D PVA Glue to colored areas of mushroom bird.  Sprinkle with KOOL TAK™ Sparkles Bonus Pack – Silver Glitter.  Tap off excess glitter onto plain paper, fold the paper in half and slide the extra glitter back into tube. Set the bird aside to dry.

 

7.  Paint the front and back edge of shingles with sapphire paint to cover the white plastic.  Measure and cut the checkered paper to measure 1/2″ by 12″.  Apply KOOL TAK™ Premium Extreme tape to the back of the paper, peel back the release paper and then adhere the paper to bottom of edge of birdhouse.  Trim the excess with the scissors.  Layer the star and rosette with KOOL TAK™ Premium Extreme tape.  Insert the Memo pin and place in top of birdhouse. Attach the bird to the perch with KOOL TAK™ Premium Extreme tape.

Use several birdhouses in different shapes and sizes to create a centerpiece for your holiday buffet table OR create your own color story to coordinate with your home decor or party theme.

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth