DIY Network

Fun and Funky Birdhouses From "DIY Crafts" episode DIC-108

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An eye-catching mix of colors and motifs gives this elaborately designed birdhouse a striking look. Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D Figure E Figure F

Taj Mahal Birdhouse

Expert painter Priscilla Hauser of Plaid Enterprises shows how to decorate an unusual birdhouse that she calls the Taj Mahal. The house was constructed from a variety of wood pieces and painted with several different designs, including a checkerboard pattern.

Note:

• Detailed instructions and illustrations for painting the birdhouse can be found in The Carol Duvall Show Resource Guide for episode 446. To obtain a copy, send $5 to The Carol Duvall Show Resource Guide, P.O. Box 50970, Knoxville, TN 37950. Be sure to indicate that you want the guide for episode 446.

  Materials:
  
  The following FolkArtB. Colors:
  #604 Plantation Green
  #725 Tartan Green
  #629 Red Orange
  #750 Spice Pink
  #901 Wicker White
  #938 Licorice
  #902 Taffy
  #619 Poetry Green
  #745 Huckleberry
  #905 Buttercup
  FolkArt Pure Pigment Color #569 Raw Sienna
  FolkArt Metallic Acrylic Color #660 Pure Gold
  Birdhouse made of various pieces of wood
  White GessoB.
  Sandpaper
  Tack cloth
  Painting palette
  Water-based varnish
  Paintbrushes
  
  Begin by applying a base coat of White Gesso to the entire house. Let dry, then sand and wipe with a tack cloth.

  The Roof

  1. Paint the roof with Plantation Green. Be loose and sloppy so some of the White Gesso shows through.
  2. Using an old brush, stoke some Pure Gold over the Plantation Green in a haphazard way.
• Walls and Side Rails
  1. Paint the walls and side rails with Taffy. Let some of the White Gesso show through.
  2. On the walls, draw stripes 1" wide. Make a wash by adding a little Raw Sienna to water. Paint the stripes and side rails with Raw Sienna wash.
  3. Outline stripes on the walls with thin lines of Raw Sienna.
  4. Paint horizontal stripes of Raw Sienna on the side rails.
  5. Double-load a brush with Raw Sienna and a little bit of water to make a wash. Blend on palette. Shade stripes on walls (figure A) (figure B).
  6. Paint a border of S-strokes around the side rails, using a liner brush with Tartan Green. Add dots of Huckleberry.
• Entrance-Hole Medallions
  1. Paint medallions with Tartan Green.
  2. Highlight with Poetry Green.
  3. Paint dots with Red Orange. Shade with Huckleberry. Highlight with Buttercup.
  4. Paint perches with Tartan Green and Licorice (figure C).

  Corner Towers

  All four corner towers are painted the same way.

  1. Paint the base with Wicker White. Paint the top of the base with a wash of Spice Pink.
  2. Paint the next section with Pure Gold. Paint the stripe above it with Huckleberry.
  3. Paint the next section with Taffy. Paint stripes with a wash of Spice Pink. Outline stripes with Huckleberry (figure D).
  4. Paint the next section with Plantation Green. Paint stripes above and below it with Huckleberry.
  5. Paint the next section with Poetry Green.
  6. Paint the next section with Plantation Green. Paint stripes above and below it with Huckleberry.
  7. Paint the round area on top with Taffy. Paint stripes with a wash of Red Orange. Outline with Red Orange.
  8. Paint the top cap with Pure Gold.
  9. Draw a checkerboard with 3/8" checks on the outer sides of the bases. Paint checks with Licorice (figure E).

  Base

  Paint the base with Tartan Green.

  Roof Trim

  1. Paint wooden cut-outs on the roof with Wicker White plus a touch of Spice Pink. Let dry.
  2. Apply a wash of thinned Red Orange.
  3. Add comma strokes of Red Orange.
  4. Paint fine lines with thinned Tartan Green.
  5. Paint ball trim with Pure Gold.

  Center Tower

  1. Paint the base with Taffy.
  2. Add stripes with a wash of Raw Sienna.
  3. Paint the next section with Poetry Green.
  4. Paint the next section with Plantation Green.
  5. Paint the round area on top with Taffy. Wash with Red Orange.
  6. Paint the top cap with Pure Gold. Let dry.

  Finishing

  Apply two to three coats of water-based varnish to protect your finished Taj Mahal birdhouse (figure F).

RESOURCES :
Bird Places
Priscilla's Seminar Headquarters
Tulsa, OK 74152-1013
Phone: 918-743-6072
Fax: 918-743-5075
Email: website@priscillahauser.com
Website: www.priscillahauser.com

The Carol Duvall Show Resource Guide
The Carol Duvall Show Resource Guide
Knoxville, TN 37950

FolkArt Artist Pigment Colors
Plaid Enterprises Inc.
Website: www.plaidonline.com