Birdhouse Table & Chicken Wire Bird

Create a Birdhouse Table & Chicken Wire Bird and bring a taste of the country home. Home decoration ideas have never looked so good or been so creative. This rustic birdhouse table is made from repurposed wood and chalk paint, and features an aged brass roof. The tabletop is accented with stamped bird images and decorative ric-rac trim. A unique chicken wire bird accent piece is a finishing touch. If you're looking for DIY decorating ideas but don't want to spend a ton of money on new furniture, this is a great project to work on. Customize your piece and create a one-of-a-kind design. It's easier than you think!

Primary TechniquePainting

Intermediate

Materials List

Plaid FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint- Seaside Villa
Plaid Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Satin Acryilc Paint - Sandcastle
Plaid Outdoor Mod Podge
EKSuccess Inkadinkado Stamp Set - Flower Icons
Wrights 5/8” Black ric-rac from Simplicity
MD Hobby & Craft Metal Working Gloves
MD Hobby & Craft Brass Rolled Metal
MD Hobby & Craft Chicken Wire
MD Hobby & Craft Hobby Shears
KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser Square & Multi-Mat
Westcott Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors
Craft Attitude Printable Craft Film
Staz-On ink pad - Jet Black
Jax Pewter Black
Repurposed wood 1/2” thick (I used old fence boards to create this birdhouse).
Assorted carpentry tools - saw, staple gun, drill, safety glasses, large hammer, rag
Paintbrushes
Beacon 527 Adhesive
Permanent glue stick

I love birds and birdhouses, so this Birdhouse Table & Chicken Wire Bird were a natural choice. The table could be a functioning birdhouse, but it also works as a great side accent table for a plant, or on a porch next to a comfortable chair to hold a cool beverage, etc. The little chicken wire bird is a totally unique accent piece to set on the table, or in pot with a pretty plant indoors or outside on a porch. I built this birdhouse from scratch and have included measurements - but of course you could buy a large pre-made birdhouse, cut the top off flat and create something similar for an easier option!

Instructions

Cut 4 pieces of repurposed wood (approximately 1/2 thick for all wood) 5 x 21. Nail together to create center of birdhouse. Cut 2 pieces of repurposed wood 7 x 10. Cut 2 pieces of wood 4 1/2 x 5. Cut 2 triangles 8 x 6 1/2 x 5. Assemble to create side portions of roof. Cut piece of wood 11 x 11.
Cut piece of brass metal 12 x 12 and 2 pieces 8 x 11. Place brass metal pieces on hard surface, hit with large hammer to distress. Apply Jax Pewter Black to all brass to add patina to age distressed metal.
Fold edges of each piece back 1/2 and use staple gun to mount to two slanted roof pieces. Mount 11 x 11 piece to top of birdhouse to create table top. Fold edges of 12 x 12 metal piece back 1/2 and use staple gun to mount to flat 11 x 11 table top (staples on folded edge).
Drill 3 evenly spaced 1 1/2 holes in center of birdhouse, and one in each slanted side roof piece. Drill 3/8 holes beneath each large hole.
Paint birdhouse with FolkArt Home Decor Chalk paint. Let dry. Paint 2 1/2 band of Sandcastle paint beneath each hole on center of birdhouse. Let dry.
Ink birds on a branch stamp with permanent black ink. Place Craft Attitude film onto Multi-Mat and use Get-it-Straight Laser Square to help align separate rows of stamped bird images as shown. Cut into strips. Use permanent glue stick to mount stamped Craft Attitude to Sandcastle sections.
Cut black ric-rac and mount to top and bottom of each painted strip. Cut twigs and use Beacon 527 to mount in 3/8 holes.
Seal by coating all non-metal surfaces with outdoor Mod Podge.
I first a chicken wire bird on Pinterest - and was inspired to try it myself with the chicken wire I received from MD Hobby & Craft - I found some photos online for reference and then free-form created the little bird.