Just wingin' it...

So, Harper has a new obsession. I bet you're thinking... princesses? No. Shoes? No. Cheese? No. (ok, maybe all true, but not top of the list this week). It's birds. Yep, birds. It all started last week at school when they made a bird feeder. This bird feeder then spurred an urgent desire to get it home ("Now, Mommy"), and "feed the birdies." So, we did. Then, this spawned a new need. According to Harper, they now need "a place to sleep." Naturally, "after they eat, they have to sleep." Duh, Mommy.

I think the only word in a 4 year-olds vocabulary is "Now." But I have learned that when Harper gets stuck on something, it really sticks, and only she knows when these new obsessions will come (and just as easily go). So, I knew that we were gonna have to have a birdhouse, or I was going to hear about it. And hear about it. And. Hear. About. It. Those who know her know what I am talking about.

Luckily, here was Daddy to the rescue. He had gotten her a bird house kit about a month ago at Lowe's. Totally forgotten about in the garage until the new bird obsession started. So yesterday morning, Daddy pulled out the kit and the hammer, and he and Harper got to building.

Then, of course, it needed to be "pwetty". So, we pulled out the paint. Blue, green, gold, and pink (of course). Besides a few reminders that we don't need a cup of paint on our paintbrush for each stroke, it went off pretty well.

Then, strangely enough, a napkin Harper had pulled out that morning from a previous bday party, happened to be sitting on the table next to us. I had a light bulb moment... cut out the flowers and polka dot details and decoupage them to the birdhouse. Harper agreed that this idea was a good one. Good thing. So happy when I can think of ways to upcycle items I already have on-hand.

So, after Harper was done with painting (layers and layers and layers of paint later), and the birdhouse had dried, I glued the cut out flowers on with a light layer of Modge Podge. When those pieces dried, I added two more light layers of Modge Podge on top.

I then finished with two coats of Polyurethane to seal everything in. Our new birdhouse is perfectly imperfect, which is just the way I like it.

A perfect Sunday project for the entire family (even Esme).

And now the birdies are living large.

And the bird feeder that started it all...