This craft was shared with me by my daughter's former preschool teacher, Ms. Jane. This project uses a plastic coffee can, but any tall plastic container with a lid will work. A hint as you work on this project-- mixing a little bit of school glue with the craft paint helps the color adhere to the plastic container.
Materials needed:
- plastic coffee can or similar container with plastic lid
- acrylic paints (colors depend on your design)
- paintbrushes
- razor knife and/or scissors
- awl or something to poke holes
- glue
- piece of dowel or sturdy twig
- googly eyes (optional)
- pipe cleaners
- plastic embroidery canvas
- Mod Podge or spray acrylic
Instructions:
I used empty tin coffee cans to make the birdhouses for decorative purposes only. If you want to use the houses outdoors, use plastic cans, as tin or metal would get too hot for the birds.
- Decide what you want to make. I made a ladybug, butterfly, cricket, and bumblebee. You can really make anything you can imagine.
- Paint the cans with acrylic paints. Apply several coats and allow to dry between each.
- Cut an opening in the lid for the mouth and make a hole for the perch to fit your dowel or stick.
- Paint on eyes, or glue on googly eyes, if you prefer.
- Poke two holes in the can, weave a pipe cleaner through and shape for antennas.
- Cut plastic embroidery canvas to the desired shape for wings and paint with the acrylic paint. Cut slits in the sides of the can and insert the wings.
- Cut two holes in the top and insert black electrical wire to hang the birdhouse.
- To finish off and keep it from scratching, use Mod Podge or clear spray acrylic.
About Our Sponsor:
Founded in 1989, in downtown Reading on the corner of 8th and Windsor. The Reading Coffee Company is a purveyor of small-batch, gourmet coffee. For over three decades, we have endeavored to perfect our methods and to cultivate relationships with leading importers, thereby gaining access to premium coffees from around the world. Our commitment to medium roasted coffee stems from a desire to maximize the natural potential of the beans, to develop complex, full-bodied flavors, and to deliver a product that is rich and smooth – never bitter or burnt. The company is in its second generation of ownership, owned by cousins Frank and Kevin Orman. We also have fine teas, brew methods and gourmet gifts and baskets.
