Birdhouse Necklaces
by Helga Strauss
Want to make some quick, easy and adorable birdhouse necklaces?
Pull out our Birdhouse Necklaces Kit. Cut out your favorite paper images from the kit.
Wipe down the Wood Back with a damp paper towel to remove any residue.
Paint on a coat of your favorite white glue. Golden's Matte Medium, Modge Podge, Crafter's Pick Ultimate Glue, Diamond Glaze...whatever you have on hand will do. My current fave is Inkssentials Glue N' Seal.
Press paper image onto Wood Back and burnish well with your hands or even a brayer if you have one handy. Let dry. Then paint a coat of varnish over your image. Just about any varnish that you have on hand should work...a spray varnish, Golden's Matte Medium, Modge Podge, Diamond Glaze or Inkssentials Glue N' Seal.
When dry, use an awl to poke a small hole from the back side to the front. Then go back with your awl from the front side and push down through the hole. This gives you a clear, nice, neat hole.
This is totally optional but I added a touch of Gilder's Paste with my finger around the edges of the paper image...just to blend the paper edges into the wood.
Now you're ready to add a Pendant Bail. Simply open the jaws wide, slide on the wood pendants and pinch it closed. Easy peasy!
Add Ball Chain and your charming birdhouse necklace is ready to wear. I love the way it can slide open and closed for a peek-a-boo effect.
Here it is closed up with the owl peeking out the window, so cute!
Here is another necklace that I made from the kit. You can make 2 complete necklaces with the kit.
With this one, I added some Gilder's Paste along the etchings on the birdhouse...love how it looks.
Here is another fun necklace idea to try. When you're back at the stage where you've glued your image to the back and put a varnish on top...instead of letting the varnish dry, stick on your birdhouse.
Press the birdhouse and back firmly together and wipe away any glue with a damp paper towel.
When dry, put a dab of Crafters Pick Ultimate glue onto one of the Mini Acrylic Bubbles and stick it into place. Let dry and then you just need to add a Pendant Bail and Ball Chain as provided in the kit) and your birdhouse necklace is ready to shine.