GOLDFINCH BIRDHOUSES...

Today was my Spring into Spring! Class.  These adorable birdhouses have been all the rage for a while now.  I have been making them for months and have been (impatiently) waiting to share them with my customers, friends and all of you.  I just felt like I really needed to wait for my Spring classes for this one - which was difficult given how much I love my own birdhouse garden!  Jennis is already planning a birdhouse garden!

For this set of houses, I used my favorite songbird, the goldfinch, as my inspiration.  I just love the beautiful vibrant colors and when I see them, I know summer is on it's way!

GOLDFINCH BIRDHOUSE (Lavender) SUPPLIES:

• Card stock – Lavender Lace, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Summer Sun, Basic Black Sahara Sand 
• Ink – Lovely Lilac, Going Gray Classic, White Signo Gel Pen
• Watercolor Wonder Crayons – Whisper White (#106746, Neutrals)
• Punches –  Extra Large Two-Step Bird (#117191, $15.95) Circles: 1 1/4" Circle (#104403, $15.95), 1/2” Circle (#104390, $5.95), Crop-A-Dile (#108362, $29.95), Scallop Edge (#112091, $15.95)
• Accessories – Black Brad (Vintage Brads #109109)
• Adhesives – Sticky Strip, 2-Way Glue Stick, Stampin’ Dimensionals
• Tools – Big Shot, Mini Milk Carton Die (#117310, $22.95), Beautiful Wings Embosslit (#118138, $11.95), Sanding Block (#103301), Sponge Daubers (#102892), Cutter/Scorer

DIRECTIONS for BIRDHOUSE:
1. Cut out one milk carton die cut with the Mini Milk Carton Die. Fold all score lines.

2. With 1¼” Circle Punch, punch a hole in the center of the second panel from the right. You will need to fold the flaps up in order to do this and punch through two layers. Don’t worry about the hole in the bottom flap (shown).

3. Apply Sticky Strip to the flaps and tops of the bird house as shown.

4. Remove the strip from the side tab and adhere to form a box shape being sure that the top lines up evenly.

5. Remove the strips from the bottom flaps and fold up in the order shown on the picture above. Use a bone folder to press and seal completely.

6. Apply Sticky Strip to inside of two sides of the top of the box as shown at right. Pinch and adhere tightly.

7. Cut and score four Sahara Sand card stock pieces as follows:

• 2” x 4”, scored @ 2”
• 2” x 3”, scored @ 1½”
• 2” x 2”, scored @ 1”
• 2” x 1”, scored @ ½”

Use the Scallop Edge Punch on two ends of each piece.

8. Fold in half on score line, color distress and adhere one on top of another in descending order as shown to form the roof.

9. Peel the Sticky Strip off each side of the box top and adhere the finished roof to the milk carton. If desired, add a Scallop Edge piece under the roof as “gingerbread trim” as shown.

10. Punch leaves/branches with the Two-Step Bird Punch or with the Little Leaves Sizzlit Die and adhere to the front of the birdhouse. Curl and bend for more realistic look.  Punch your bird as following directions below and adhere to the birdhouse with a Stampin’ Dimensional.

DIRECTIONS for GOLDFINCH:
I found this rendering of a goldfinch online (wbu.com) to use as a guide,  although I used some actual goldfinches in my garden for my own rendering.

1. Punch two birds, one in Summer Sun and one in Basic Black.

2. Cut the tail of the black bird off with scissors as shown. Use the ½” Circle Punch to cut a small portion from the head from just above the beak as shown. Use a sanding block to smooth any rough edges after cutting.

3. Color a small portion under the tail with a White Watercolor Wonder Crayon as shown.

4. Color the beak with Pumpkin Pie marker or paper piece a Pumpkin Pie beak.

5. Using a sponge dauber, lightly distress the edge all the way around the Summer Sun bird with Going Gray for added depth and dimension.

6. Using a 2-way glue pen, glue on the black tail and the black head cap as shown.

7. Punch a wing from Basic Black and one from Summer Sun.  Like the black head cap, use the ½” Circle Punch to cut a small portion from the "ball" of the Summer Sun wing by sticking it on a post-it note and punching.  Glue it on the black wing.  Adhere the wing to the bird with a Stampin’ Dimensional.

8. Using a paper piercer and mat, punch a hole right on the edge of the black cap for eye as in the picture above. Insert a black brad and secure in back.

9. Using your White Signo Gel Pen, draw markings like those in the illustration above.

10. Adhere the bird to the front of the birdhouse with a Stampin’ Dimensional.

Using these same principles and a rendering, you should be able to adapt these towards many other songbirds or other birds. Be careful though – making these can be quite addictive!