Graphic 45 Spring Birdhouse with Children's Hour

Hello everyone! It's a new week and I'm ready for a beautiful Florida Spring, which seems to be here already. It's gorgeous out!

First, I thought I'd mention that in my last post I linked to the Graphic 45 blog for my Cityscapes pocket page layout, but due to an error it was not there as promised. Instead, you'll find it on the Graphic 45 blog this Friday, so be sure to hop over there and check it out at the end of this week.

My Friday Follies group (which meets once a month here in my home) requested a Spring time birdhouse. We have been making themed birdhouses throughout the seasons and we hadn't yet made one for Spring.

I had created this one a few years ago when I auditioned for my second term on the Graphic 45 Design Team using Sweet Sentiments.

For the group, I designed this one using the new Children's Hour collection with a few small pieces from Sweet Sentiments that I had left over. I'm the lucky one, because now I have two coordinating birdhouses to display in my foyer!

I'll share a bunch of step-out photos so you can see how the process came together...

I purchased all of these at my local Hobby Lobby. Two coats of white acrylic paint have been applied to each piece. 

I created templates for each piece, then traced and cut out each. (I save the template pieces in a baggie in case I want to make another house. But one thing to note: the paper mache houses are not always the same, and can vary quite a bit.)

Ribbon trims.

Shabby Chic metal staples from Graphic 45.

I tilted the house on its back to adhere the metal pieces.

These leaves are pieces cut from a larger die-cut leafy branch.

I punched out little flowers with purple cardstock, then filled the "window box."

I added a little awning over the door.

I cut apart another leafy branch in two pieces and adhered them under the side window. I did this again under the left window with another leafy branch.

I colored two strands of seam binding with Distress Stains, then tied them to the stand.