Painting a Birdhouse!

Hi Friends! I hope you had a nice weekend and Happy Mother’s Day to all of you moms too! Today I’m sharing a non-stamping project with you and instead I’ve got something a little different for you.

Years ago, and I mean YEARS, I used to paint a lot of birdhouses. I had taken a tole painting class and just LOVED it! I find painting so relaxing and, like stamping, I’d get in the ‘zone’ and hours would pass in the blink of an eye. Here are a few photos of my birdhouse from that first paint class (in 1996):

I used to love painting these (Russian?) flowers. Unfortunately, I no longer have the pattern for these flowers and while I am pretty sure I can still paint them, I decided to not attempt it on the birdhouse I painted this weekend. If I mucked up, I wouldn’t have time to fix it and have the birdhouse ready to give on Mother’s Day. I must say, I am just kicking myself for not keeping my painting books and patterns! I actually got pretty darn good at painting and I was VERY addicted to it. Along with the birdhouses, I painted everything from mailboxes with country farm scenes, bar stools with orcas and sailboats on the sea, you name it! 

Eventually, my painting slipped to the sidelines and I haven’t picked up a paintbrush in about 15 (maybe 20?) years. However, I knew I wanted to paint a birdhouse for my BF’s mom for Mother’s Day. So my honey built a birdhouse, using the one I still had, as a template (from my first tole painting class all those years ago). I must say, for his first birdhouse, he did a fabulous job! This past weekend I pulled out my brushes and paints and went to work. I no longer had any of my painting books or patterns for reference, but somehow, I managed to pull it off! 

I had so much FUN painting this birdhouse! As always, I did lose track of time, but I knew I had to take a break at 10pm on Saturday when I accidentally drank from the mug with the paint water, instead of my cup of tea! Too tired! So I toddled of to bed and finished painting the birdhouse yesterday, got it varnished and wrapped up to deliver late in the afternoon. To say it was well-received is an understatement! YAY!

Here are some photos of my finished birdhouse. Remember, I’ve not painted for YEARS so it’s not perfect by any means, but perfection is over-rated, right? LOL It was a real pleasure to paint it this weekend and I may have to pick up my paintbrushes a bit more, just for fun. 

 I’m so happy that my BF’s mom loved her birdhouse and we’re going to attach it to a post in her beautiful garden (photo below). Hopefully, a little family of chickadees will move in!

Tomorrow I’ll be sharing a bit about Stampin’ Up!’s COVID-19 Giveback promotion and on Wednesday it’s another round of our “Around the World” Blog Hop with lots of amazing inspiration from demonstrations in EVERY time zone! 

• All online orders will receive a hand stamped card in the mail (as long as I have your address!) and 12 step-by-step stamping tutorials will be emailed to you as token of my appreciation for your online order!

• At the end of each month everyone who ordered with me has their name put in a draw for a gift of Stampin’ Up! product (winner is chosen via random.org). 

Simply enter this month’s special host code 

prior to submitting your order through my website.

  

If your order is $200 or more DO NOT enter the Host Code 

so that you will also receive your stamping rewards 

(I will still send you the PDF tutorials). 

Enjoy the day, stay safe & HAPPY STAMPING!

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