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Whimsical Birdy Condos

June 22, 2013 by Patti 28 Comments

 Most of our Spring flowers have faded, which makes me sad, but I’ve found another way to add a little color to our side yard:  
Bird Condos!  
A few months ago, while out shopping, I saw a large bin of (cheap) unfinished birdhouses! They made me think some adorable painted birdhouses I’d seen in one of my free design magazines (okay, they aren’t really magazines, they’re catalogs, but I use them all the time to steal design ideas).
Now, while I love to paint furniture, walls, drop cloths, and my dog’s toenails, I’m not really good at painting details.  Portraits, landscapes, animals . . . my attempts would give you a good laugh!
So let’s just call my birdhouses “primitive” art. That way I can still pretend to be an “real” artist.

I decided to hang my birdhouses on each of the fence support posts going down my side yard.  I began with some scrap wood, cut it to the length I wanted, made decorative cuts on the top of each board (this is as decorative as I get with a power saw), painted the boards with a grey wash . . .
 and drilled holes in the top of each board for attaching to the fence (I also drilled holes through the back of each birdhouse to attach them to the boards).
Now for some close-ups of my “fantastic” artwork!
  A wee bit whimsical, right? Do you think the birds will actually try to use these as houses or do you think they’ll be scared away?  

Since these birdhouses were clearly labeled “Not for outdoor use”, I gave them several coats of a protective finish after painting them with outdoor acrylic paint.
Below is the bird condo I hung last year.  This one was made of reclaimed fence wood. Thus the nice aged (but colorless) appearance.
 These two condos are for birds visiting from Texas . . .
  . . .and, as you can see, they’ve taken up temporary residence, where they’re enjoying the mild temps of our Pacific NW summer.
Thank you so much for stopping by my yard today.
       Blessings to you,
I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

 UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper, IHeartNapTime,  LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SuburbsMama
Monday:
 IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor,  ModVintageLife, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, TheGraphicsFairy, TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns, WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, DIYHomeSweetHome, HuckleberryLove, RainOnATinRoof, AlderberryHill, TwelveOEight,
CarrieThisHome
Tuesday:
HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, PJHDesigns, NaptimeCreations, CedarHillRanch,  BloomingHomestead, FlusterBuster, KatheWithAnE, NotJustAHousewife, 
VMG206, Hickory Trail, BeBetsy, TuesdaysAtOurHome
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, SouthernLovely, VintageOnADime, IvyAndElephants,  DIYByDesign, ViewFromRiverMountain, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove, Timewashed, SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond, FishtailCottage 
Thursday:
NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, TheSabbyCreekCottage, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, BeyondThePicketFence, StoneGable, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife 
Friday:
MyRomanticHome, FrenchCountryCottage, TatertotsAndJello, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays, CraftJunkieToo, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, 504Main
CraftsALaMode
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, ClassyClutter, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands,  
OneSharendipityPlace


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Comments

  1. The Tablescaper says

    June 23, 2013 at 12:54 am

    Love your condos!

    – The Tablescaper

    Reply
  2. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    June 23, 2013 at 2:45 am

    Patti,
    I thought you said that you couldn’t paint…silly you! These condos are all super CUTE!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  3. thepaintedapron.com says

    June 23, 2013 at 11:41 am

    They all look adorable, and I love how you’ve named them bird condos! What a fun an attractive way to jazz up your yard!
    Jenna

    Reply
  4. Manuela@A Cultivated Nest says

    June 23, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    I love these! They are super cute! I have a couple of birdhouses that I’ve painted that need a bit of touching up and you’ve given me some cute ideas.

    I’d love it if you would like this post up to The Creative HomeAcre Blog Hop! We’re live Sunday – Thursday.

    http://acultivatednest.com/2013/06/the-creative-homeacre-blog-hop-6/

    Reply
  5. Doreen says

    June 23, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    Hi Patti
    Visiting from Sundae Scoop–your birdhouse menagerie is beautiful. I really like how you displayed them. I’ve altered a few birdhouses, also, using scrapbook paper and paint. I’ve also altered one of the cute little birdhouse chimes. I’m now following your lovely blog and look forward to snooping around 🙂 Hope you can come over for a visit and a glass of iced tea at Altered Artworks

    Reply
  6. Navy Wifey Peters says

    June 24, 2013 at 2:26 am

    Cute birdhouses! I pinned them!

    Reply
  7. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    June 24, 2013 at 3:30 pm

    How so wonderfully adorable!….You did an incredible job!…they look so beautiful on the fence!

    Reply
  8. Alyssa says

    June 24, 2013 at 4:00 pm

    These birdhouses are adorable! Thanks for sharing! Stopping by from Oh Sew Crafty Life 🙂

    Reply
  9. Emily says

    June 25, 2013 at 1:02 am

    Next time you want to do THIS kind of painting, call me! I’d be over in a heartbeat! 🙂 My favorite is the purple checked one, but I love the little shutters and flowerbox on the blue and yellow one. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Elise@growcreative says

    June 25, 2013 at 1:46 am

    These are cool! I like the the blue chevron one and the heart one! And just curious, why do you paint your dog’s toenails?

    Reply
  11. Anne says

    June 25, 2013 at 12:32 pm

    omigosh I love birdhouses! I would have died finding that bin of birdhouses!!!!

    Love the pretty colours and the one with the fence is adorable.

    Thanks for visiting me – have a great week xox

    Reply
  12. Bev Carter says

    June 25, 2013 at 1:26 pm

    Love your bird houses. They are all so cute – hard to pick just one. Nice way to display them.
    Have a wonderful week,
    Bev
    @ Eclectic Red Barn

    Reply
  13. Jamie Dorobek says

    June 25, 2013 at 2:27 pm

    I LOVE these! I need all of them in my backyard now! And I love that you call them bird condos 🙂 Thanks for lining up to Monday Funday!

    Reply
  14. Home and Lifestyle Design says

    June 25, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    These birdhouses are absolutely adorable!!
    Thanks, Patty
    http://homeandlifestyledesign.blogspot.com

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    June 26, 2013 at 12:10 am

    adorable. all of them!:)

    Reply
  16. Christine Graves says

    June 26, 2013 at 11:25 am

    Don’t ya just love unfinished birdhouses…so many possibilities. Yours are adorable, thanks for sharing it.

    Reply
  17. Kathe says

    June 26, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    Oh I just love this project to pieces Patti! Thanks for sharing your sweet bird condos at the party this week! I am featuring it on my Facebook page and have pinned it to the You’re Gonna Love It Tuesday board on Pinterest 🙂

    Reply
  18. Life With The Crust Cut Off says

    June 26, 2013 at 4:30 pm

    This looks awesome!!! We would love it if you would link up at our linky party:
    http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/two-girls-and-a-party-link-up-22/
    Live every Wednesday to Sunday.
    Hosted by:
    http://www.lifewiththecrustcutoff.com/ Parrish @ Life with the Crust Cut Off
    http://thissillygirlslife.com/ Dana @ This Silly Girl’s Life
    We hope to see you there!

    Reply
  19. Brooke Larsen says

    June 28, 2013 at 5:09 am

    What a Fun Project, my daughter needs a few of these! I would love you to come link up at my Paint Party going on now
    http://startathome.blogspot.com/2013/06/paint-party_26.html
    Hope to see you soon,

    brooke

    Reply
  20. Danice says

    June 28, 2013 at 7:53 am

    oh, i love the birdhouses. very creative and pretty. so glad to have found your blog via ivy and elephants’ blog. now following via bloglovin’ and pinterest.

    Reply
  21. BeBetsy says

    June 30, 2013 at 5:50 am

    You are so creative! It would be so much fun to paint a whole bunch of them-great colors and patterns.

    Thanks for sharing on the BeBetsy BRAG ABOUT IT. We’d love it if you would link back to us! Have a wonderful weekend!

    Sharon and Denise
    BeBetsy

    Follow us:
    Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Bloglovin ~ Pinterest

    Reply
  22. Roeshel says

    June 30, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    ADORABLE!

    Reply
  23. Richella Parham says

    July 2, 2013 at 12:24 am

    Those are darling! I’d say you do quite a good job of painting details. The birds should feel very honored to hang out at your house!

    Reply
  24. Jann Olson says

    July 2, 2013 at 3:46 am

    Fun Patti! What a great way to brighten up the garden. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply
  25. Sherry Thecharmofhome says

    July 2, 2013 at 5:26 pm

    Oh, how very cute! You gave me an idea with these! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

    Reply
  26. Kathy A Delightsome Life says

    July 9, 2013 at 10:57 pm

    I love the fencepost idea – the birdhouses are too cute – and rustic! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

    Reply
  27. Gail Wilson says

    July 11, 2013 at 1:44 am

    The birdhouses are so cute, and I LOVE that you put them on the old fence! thanks for sharing at ccc, catching you!

    Reply
  28. Pam Jackson says

    July 17, 2013 at 4:10 pm

    Those turned out so cute. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Pam Jackson Cancel reply

OldThingsNew

I am Perfectly Imperfect Patti, daughter of the King, wife to the amazing Mr. OTN, mom to two grown daughters, a great son-in-law, and companion to two spoiled dogs. At Old Things New I share DIY’s, budget friendly home transformations, as well as posts about how God transforms our souls. I myself have been made new and I love to share what I’ve learned through WRITING and SPEAKING. To view a short Vimeo of “Our Story” (Mr. OTN and I) please follow the link at the top of the page.

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