How to Decoupage A Birdhouse

I am a big fan of birdhouses.  I think they add so much interest to a garden and the birds seem to really appreciate them.  It's never a long wait to see if a bird moves in shortly after I put out a new birdhouse.  I am always looking for cute birdhouses on clearance or I make my own.  The last time I showed you a handmade birdhouse it was in THIS POST.  My son made the birdhouse in high school.  The one I am showing you today is from Hobby Lobby.

Here is the completed birdhouse.  I know, it's not as nice as my last birdhouse, but it's my first attempt at decoupage so I can't complain.  I'm sure the birds won't mind it either 😁.

Usually I forget to take a "before" picture.  This time I remembered, but only after I started painting 😆.  I started by priming the birdhouse.  This is a crucial step that a lot of people skip, but it's important as it provides a nice white base for the color to adhere to and keeps the color from soaking into the wood. 

I like my birdhouses to be very colorful so I chose bright bold colors and started painting away.  This, later turned out to be a mistake as I was to find out that with decoupage you want a light colored base.  Oh well, live and learn.

I found these adorable Easter napkins at TJ Maxx.  Aren't they pretty?

I read that napkins are the hardest to decoupage because they wrinkle, and there are tips to get around the wrinkles, but I actually love the wrinkles;  it gives it an aged, vintage effect.  Remember when crackle paint was all the rage a few years ago?  Well decoupage napkins look like crackle paint and I love it!

Decoupage is so simple;  you just apply Mod Podge to your object then you lay your napkin or paper on top.  Gently smooth away the wrinkles (misting with a water bottle helps) and tear or cut away the excess.  Finish with a layer of Mod Podge on top once the napkin is dry.

Napkins usually come in two or three plies, so separate the napkin till you have just the part with the design on it.

And here is my completed decoupaged birdhouse.  It turned out nice, but if I had to do it all over again, I would have painted the house part cream or white.

You can decoupage the entire napkin as I did on the house,  or you can cut out a small section and just decoupage that (as I did near the hole of the birdhouse).

I even did the back of the birdhouse, even though it won't even show once it is hung on a pole.

I had a little wooden bird in your stash, so I glued him on the perch.

I had fun doing my very first decoupage birdhouse and can't wait to try again!  Hopefully I will do better next time.  

I also tried decoupaging a few card fronts, since I am a paper crafter.  It is the same technique as I used in the bird house.  I applied Mod Podge to a piece of card stock, laid down the napkin, then Mod Podged over it once it was dry.  I haven't made them card fronts into cards yet, but I will be sure to show them to you when they are completed.

I also had a beautiful hydrangea napkin in my stash that I saved from an event I went to.  Yes, I'm that person 😄.  I love beautiful napkins, so if I see one I love, I save it for some future craft project.

I hope you enjoyed my first attempt at decoupaging a birdhouse.  What about you?  Have you decoupaged anything?  I'd love to hear from you.

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE.

Fore more birdhouse posts, check this out:

I Painted A Birdhouse!