A Rainy day Muse

"Look at the birds of the air, they don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them.  And you are far more valuable to Him than they are." ( Jesus)

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It is raining on the coast of western Canada, once again.  Winters can be long and very wet here,  and when it is Not raining, it is thinking about it.  I grew up here, and I should be use to it by now, but truthfully, I'm not.  I long for the spring especially now that we are getting closer to it; only one more month to go!  Just a few days ago, while sitting at my desk, I heard a  funny noise outside my window, and turning to look, there perched at the top of the garden gate, grooming himself, was a ROBIN!  It was a nice plump robin, too, and the very first one that I've seen this year!    Interesting, how the sight of a rather common bird becomes noteworthy and can make the rain feel a little more bearable.  Thank you God for robins!.. 

The sight of this harbinger of Spring, caused me to remember something that I had stashed away a while ago.  I had picked up a package of colorful pencil erasers at a dollar store,( I can't recall which one,now) but the reason that I bought them was because the shapes looked like little birdhouses.  So this past few days has been dedicated to the transformation of erasers into birdhouses and this tutorial is for all of you who long for Spring and the hope for renewal that it brings.  I dedicate this post

 to the birds that inspired it.

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This is the dollar store package of pencil erasers that I thought looked like little birdhouses.

For this project I used the contents of the photo above;  I used the  PIN from the pushpin, and the  FLAT of the earring post.  To remove the pin from the pushpin, hold the plastic end with the metal pin close to a candle flame and pull the pin after the metal gets hot and is easy to extract with some pliers.

The tools that you need are the drill with the bit and a pair of nippers  to remove the earring post.

Of course you will need Quick Grip or your favorite quick grabbing  glue.   This glue is the messiest and hardest to control.  It wants to oooze out all over the place but it DOES get the job DONE!
That is why I use it so much and until I find something better!!.....

Now this is the Best Stuff!  It is a paper adhesive and it is made for paper.  It is also a sealer and this is what I am using it for.  It dries clear and mat and it is smooth not lumpy and it has a little bit of wiggle room so that you can position projects as needed before it sets up.  It can also be mixed with acrylic paint.  It will make the applied paint almost like a softer version of the color without adding white.

Here is one of the erasers that I have coated with the Glue N' Seal.   It is still wet and shiny.

Using a marker, make a dot on the eraser where you want the entry hole.  Try not to mark the hole too high to the roof or too low to the eraser, just above the middle is the best.

the eraser is dry and the hole has been marked and now comes the drill.  This is a hand drill and I recommend a drill because if you just try to push a hole through, the eraser will tear and the hole will be very raggedy around the cut.

I did not drill this on the pencil!  This is just for the photo. 

Say "Ahhhh"
Now here is a tip, after you have drilled the hole just 'saw' around the edges of the hole to clean it up or to enlarge it as needed.  

With the pushpin you will now use the PIN ONLY for the perch just below the hole you just made.
Because the eraser is soft, the pin will go in with just a little pressure, but don't push too hard because you don't want it coming out of the other side!  Below is a view of what it looks like from the inside.
If you find the pin is longer than you want, clip it off with a strong pair of pliers.  The nippers in the picture I showed is not tough enough for this metal pin.  Right tool for the right job, Right?

(You know, I really should take better care of my hands!  My nails are a MESS and I should 'smarten up', after all I am in the beauty business?!!!! sigh, but I would much rather play)
to continue... 
This is where the Quick Grip glue comes in.   I squeezed in a lot!  I did this so that it would stabilize the pin and it gives some weight to the birdhouse.  Add glue to the bottom edge of the eraser, too.

Using the earring post, remove the pin with the nippers.

This is what it looks like with the perch installed and below is what it looks like with the bottom on.

Now the perch has been painted and the house is basically done.  In the photo below, I added an  eye pin to enable this house to be hung up, in a tree or on a bracket, but you don't have to.   

Here are some other options if you don't have earring posts you can use thumbtacks for the bottoms. They will give the bird house just a bit more height and be more noticeable but they can be painted along with the house if they don't match. 

And now the fun begins!  paint and decorate the birdhouse any way you want.  I have used all of the above in different combinations and layered over each other until I was satisfied.

Nail polishes are Great for the roof for the metallic effect.  Just have Fun! 

And here is the finished collection of birdhouses!  I call them the "PINOCCHIOS"
as they remind me of some illustrations from that book I read many years ago  AND,( I cannot tell a lie), the perch looks like a long nose!

I hope all of you have enjoyed your visit.
OH LOOK!..... the rain has stopped

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elizabeth