It’s a small, small world

8 years ago

Hello! I am incredibly excited but also deeply humbled at being asked to be a guest designer on the Frilly & Funkie blog! If you are arriving to my blog post from the Frilly & Funkie Blog – thank you and welcome!

For this current challenge, It’s a small, small world, I had to create something small. It still really is a small world after all! For some reason I thought of making a bird house. So, off to my craft room… I literally started with a piece of chipboard and an idea. I settled on a set of Blue Fern Studio papers that I stumbled across while looking for woodgrain type papers for another project. Of course, the prototype was a teensy bit over 4 inches so back to the drawing board. The finished project (the second version….) is just under 4 inches high and 4 inches wide. It’s a really small birdhouse!

CAUTION!!! This a a seriously photo heavy post because it involves a “how to” set of photos. It would be easier if I had video capability but since I don’t have video – you will have a lot of photos. For all of the photos of the “how-to” I re-created the birdhouse and used only kraft paper. I didn’t think of taking photos as I went the first and second time so I made the bird house a third time just to get some photos for you! I hope that the photos are of some help to you.

The first part of this was to cut my chipboard pieces for the birdhouse. I decided to cut them out on my Cricut so that I had a good rectangle (and one with the circle cut) and each was the same size. Same with the hexagon and triangles. Once I had the pieces for the walls, I wrapped those with the Blue Fern Paper. On the bottom of the paper mark a straight line across an inch from the side edge and the bottom edge. This creates a set of lines for you to use to make sure everything is straight. I used the Tim Holtz ruler to make sure I had 1/8 of an inch between each piece (the thick edge of the ruler helps with setting up the edges and gives you a great 1/8 gap). On the prototype I wrapped them in Kraft paper and then the Blue Fern Studios paper. Since the Blue Fern Studios paper is so thick it added too much and the sizing was off so there is no need to wrap with Kraft paper first. You the “outside” of the birdhouse will be wrapped with your patterned paper but the “inside” will be a strip of kraft paper or other cardstock. You will also add a piece of patterned paper to the inside wall that is opposite of the hole. I also cut the pieces for the roof but I did wrap this in Kraft paper first because I would have to layer the roof top pieces later. I also wrapped the hexagon as well. The hexagon and the roof pieces are cut in generally the same way so there are only photos of the roof. If you want to put brads or something to create height for the hexagon base put these in before you wrap it in paper. DO NOT ATTACH YOUR ROOF YET. You can tape the two edges but until you have marked the lines while it is flat you don’t want to attach it yet. Here is what it looks like: 

After wrapping the pieces in their respective papers, I made sure that the on the opposite side of the hole in the birdhouse was the same paper so that it wasn’t just kraft paper showing. I cut three small pieces of chipboard, put tape on them and used them as braces (½ on the wall and the other ½ on the “floor”). With the supports, I also added multi-medium matte to hold down the bottom so there wasn’t a visible gap. I edged the circle “door” with a Distress Marker (Tea Dye) to color the chipboard. I also cut out a circle in one of the “roof” papers to edge the circle (another Cricut cut) so that the birdhouse “door” could be seen.

I pulled out the Tim Holtz Village Rooftops die and cut multiple pieces of the shake shingle piece. I chose several different papers for this because I wanted the contrast. I drew lines on the roof at 1/8 of an inch all the way around so that I could like up the roof pieces. Each edge of the roof piece I put 1/8 inch Sookwang tape and put down the roof. I went row by row sideways (i.e. a full circle before moving up to the next line). At the roof line I would trim the shingles. Save the pieces because you can use them for the smaller sections further up the roof. I lined them almost to the top. I then cut the flowers from the Prima Magnolia Trim and glued them to the top. When they were set and dry I pierced a hole based on where the center of the flower was and put in the brad. Once that was complete, I attached the roof to the walls with multi-medium matte. Here are some photos to help:

Finally, I gabbed some flowers and greenery and glued them to the birdhouse.  I specifically chose flowers that you can find at the Funkie Junkie Boutique. I the art stones with multi-medium matte.  I kept them natural because of the color combination I had with the papers.  And, lastly, I added a perch.  I really should have added this before the flowers – that’s why mine is a bit off center.

I hope my “small” project gives you some inspiration. If you have questions, please let me know.

Thank you for the Frilly & Funkie team for their kind comments over the last 18 months!  A huge thank you goes to Linda at the Funkie Junkie not only for sponsoring the challenge blog but for her support, guidance, and kindness beginning from my very first order.  And thank you to my beloved who encourages me, supports me, and loves me no matter if I have texture paste in my hair or not!

In closing, here is my little birdhouse…

I hope you like it. Best wishes to all of you and happy crafting!

Inkysplatters

Items used for this project:

• Embellishments:  Prima Trims (Magnolia);  Little Birdie (Carla Victorian Rose;  Printed Vienna Petals Grey);  Prima Flowers (Cameo Roses Mandarin);  Wild Orchid Crafts (Mixed Purple/Lilac and White Sweetheart Blossoms);  Twine;   Prima Finnabair Art Ingredients (Art Stones);  Tim Holtz Ideology (Hitch Fasteners);  Recollections (Brads);
• Die Cuts:  Sizzix Tim Holtz Bigz (Village Rooftops);  Cricut cuts (rectangle, circle, and hexagon);
• Birdhouse:  Graphix Lightweight Card Stock;
• Adhesives:  Multi-Medium Matte and Sookwang Tape
• Paper:  Blue Fern Studios Tranquility (Blissful, Jubilation, Calm, Serenity)