Stamped Birdhouse by Katy Leitch


Hi everyone, Katy here with my very first post for the Rubber Dance DT.
My project today is a pretty altered birdhouse using the stunning A Little Birdie set as my main focal stamp. I have a real thing about birds and these ones are just adorable!



Rubber Dance stamps used: B3-M A Little Birdie, NP5-M Weed Love


I bought the wooden birdhouse at Michael's (USA), and have also found a quite similar one online at Calico Grafts (UK). 


Step by step instructions:




1) Paint the birdhouse all over with acrylic paint (I used a pale green – my paint was opaque but if yours isn’t undercoat with gesso).






2) Tear pieces of vintage music sheet and adhere the music sheet to the birdhouse.











3) Knock the black of the music paper back with watered down acrylic paint (the 
same colour as used in step 1).









4) Stamp the Weed Love images all over the birdhouses in Leaf Green and Olive Archival Inks – it’s easier to do this on the sides without an acrylic block. If you have a very awkward shape, consider stamping onto tissue paper instead and adhering the tissue with decoupage medium. Stamp the words from A Little Birdie also.





5) Ink all around the edges with Watering Can Archival to give some definition. Add some twine to give texture.












6) Stamp the bird three times – colour the legs on one, the body on another and the wing only on the third. Cut out as shown. 








7) Die cut a branch and add it with flowers and Idea-ology Foliage (Tim Holtz), placing the bird legs on top.










8) Shape the body of the bird, and the wing, and adhere in place using silicone glue.

Finish with more Idea-ology and twine to the roof.







Top tips!

• Permanent ink is best to stamp over paint – my favourite is Archival but you could also use StazOn.

• To hide the cut white edges on the fussy cut bird use Archival Ink applied right around the edge with a Cut-N-Dry Nib – the nib allows really precise application.

• If the silhouette birds don’t stamp perfectly simply use a permanent black pen to fill any small gaps.


Here are two more views of the birdhouse – it’s decorated on all sides:







Supply list:

All the stamps used for this project are from Rubber Dance and can be found on these pages:
Animals (B3-M - A Little Birdie)
Nature  (NP5-M - Weed Love)


Other products:

Wooden birdhouse (available from Calico Crafts)
Old music paper
Acrylic paint
Permanent black ink
Permanent inks in green and grey (I used Archival Leaf Green, Olive & Watering Can)
Coloured pencils or other colouring medium of your choice
Metal charms
Paper flowers
Twine


If you can’t find a little birdhouse to decorate, why not make your own version from chipboard? I cut mine from chipboard using Tim Holtz’s Artful Dwellings die but you could just hand cut a shape.



I really hoped you enjoyed my project as much as I enjoyed making it. 
See you next month.

Katy x
My blog: http://postcardsfromtheattic.blogspot.co.uk



To find the stamps used for these projects, and many more, visit the Rubber Dance website at www.rubberdance.com. You can meet us on Facebook come on over and say hi!

Click here to read about Katy and the other DT members.

Comments

Cataleya said…
OMG!!! Dear Katy, it's AMAZING!!! I love your sweet projects in every detail!!! I love how you used stamps! Just perfect!!! :) I can't find any words... just love it!!! :) xoxo
~Olga Kovalchuk
Majo said…
So beautiful, Katy :)
Unknown said…
Love them Katy! Two fab projects. I am in love with your birdhouse tag!!!! I am glad to see you got home in one piece after your bus ride ;-) I have posted a link on my blog to come over and check out your debut!!! Hugs Helen x
Anonymous said…
Katy, I love your birdhouses! They would make wonderful presents! Very good use of the stamps!
Hugs
Gabriele
Bibi Lindahl said…
BEAUTIFUL, Katy! I'm so grateful to have you on my DT and your first DT project for us is aaawesome!! :-))) Thank you so much for using the birdies and weeds in such a beautiful way.
xxx
TwinkleToes2day said…
Excellent tutorial. Very clear. Perfect for ALL levels with great tips. The full birdhouse is super pretty and the tag style one is really sweet. I love the pink on it. Thank you :D
Anonymous said…
What a wonderful project!! I love both of the birdhouses. Great first project for the Rubber Dance DT. I have those wonderful weed stamps and the birds are on my wish list.
judi k said…
Great project, Katy, and really good instructions and photos, too!
Irit Shalom said…
It's so cute! Love your birdhouse a lot!
Unknown said…
Thank you so much Judi :). I am very glad my tutorial was useful too.
Unknown said…
Thank you my love :)
Unknown said…
Thank you Boo - you SO need those bird stamps - gorgeous! I think Weed Love might end up being my favourite - it looks simple but it is so useful both for single images and for backgrounds.
Unknown said…
Thanks so much TwinkleToes2day (loving your name BTW) - I had lots of fun with this and am so glad my tips are handy :)
Unknown said…
You are sooooooooooooooooooooooo sweet Olga xxxx
Unknown said…
Thanks babe and big thanks for the link xxx
Unknown said…
Thank you my friend :)
Unknown said…
Glad to be of service great leader ;)

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