The Bite:
Where do baby birds come from? Your backyard, if you put together this DIY birdhouse, blueprint courtesy of craft-maven and stationer Art School Girl, Amy Rowan. Cardinals, sparrows, and robins are currently looking for places to crash, so instead of tossing your OJ or soy milk cartons (cardboard + paper = 41% of the city's waste), use 'em to build a bird crib. Here's how you do it.
Old Carton Birdhouse
2-3 hours
What You Need:
2 half-gal milk or juice cartons
About 4 yards masking tape
Craft knife (like an X-Acto)
Pencil
Ruler
Rag (yep, that old 'N Sync tee'll do)
Brown, nontoxic Prism paint (other earth tones optional)
Small paintbrush (optional)
Awl (or other hole-making tool like a protractor or upholstery needle)
4 inches string or twine
1. Rinse out the carton and let dry. Cover the outside of one carton entirely with masking tape, wrapping it horizontally so it looks like siding on a house. (Step-by-step photos here.)
2. Create an awning to keep the rain out: Using the craft knife, remove (and recycle) the top, triangular part of second carton along edge. On the remaining lidless piece, use pencil and ruler to mark a cut line 2.5 inches from the top, and cut horizontally around to remove (and recycle) the bottom piece. On this center piece, mark a diagonal line along two opposite sides and cut along line, creating a hollow wedge.
3. Using tape, affix the wedge to the front of your birdhouse (see photo) then cover the awning with tape to match the rest of the house.
4. Using the rag, rub brown paint into the tape to give it a weathered-wood look. (Brown's best for keeping pesky predators - like your cat - away.)
5. About 4 inches up from the bottom of the house, front and center, trace the carton's round cap (or a quarter) and carefully cut out a hole with the blade.
6. Using the awl, punch several holes in the bottom of the carton to keep any water from collecting there. Then poke a hole into the very top of the carton (where you would open it if it didn't have a cap) - be sure not to pierce the roof itself. Attach a 4-inch piece of twine and hang the house at least 6 feet from the ground on a sturdy branch.
Old Carton Birdhouse
2-3 hours
What You Need:
2 half-gal milk or juice cartons
About 4 yards masking tape
Craft knife (like an X-Acto)
Pencil
Ruler
Rag (yep, that old 'N Sync tee'll do)
Brown, nontoxic Prism paint (other earth tones optional)
Small paintbrush (optional)
Awl (or other hole-making tool like a protractor or upholstery needle)
4 inches string or twine
1. Rinse out the carton and let dry. Cover the outside of one carton entirely with masking tape, wrapping it horizontally so it looks like siding on a house. (Step-by-step photos here.)
2. Create an awning to keep the rain out: Using the craft knife, remove (and recycle) the top, triangular part of second carton along edge. On the remaining lidless piece, use pencil and ruler to mark a cut line 2.5 inches from the top, and cut horizontally around to remove (and recycle) the bottom piece. On this center piece, mark a diagonal line along two opposite sides and cut along line, creating a hollow wedge.
3. Using tape, affix the wedge to the front of your birdhouse (see photo) then cover the awning with tape to match the rest of the house.
4. Using the rag, rub brown paint into the tape to give it a weathered-wood look. (Brown's best for keeping pesky predators - like your cat - away.)
5. About 4 inches up from the bottom of the house, front and center, trace the carton's round cap (or a quarter) and carefully cut out a hole with the blade.
6. Using the awl, punch several holes in the bottom of the carton to keep any water from collecting there. Then poke a hole into the very top of the carton (where you would open it if it didn't have a cap) - be sure not to pierce the roof itself. Attach a 4-inch piece of twine and hang the house at least 6 feet from the ground on a sturdy branch.
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