Wooden Birdhouse Tree Decorations

We wish you a very natural Christmas!

Celebrate the beauty of nature this Christmas with materials such pale, bleached wood, cotton, mineral ores and glass. Combine them with hand sketches, floral motifs, birds of the forest and the beautiful greenery and scent of the pine tree. A simple uncontrived palette of warm grey, peridot green, petrol blue, alabaster and linen white will create a sense of peace and quiet charm this festive season.

Materials…

Dremel Hobby 300 Series
Dremel Gluegun 930 with clear glue 7mm
Spiral Cutting Bit 561 and cutting guide attachment
SpeedClic woodcutting wheel SC 544
Dremel 636 wood drill bit set
Dremel Engraving cutters 106
SpeedClic Abrasive buffs 511S and 512S
Bass wood, 2mm and 3mm thick
Dowel, 5mm
Soft metal sheet, aluminium and copper
Metal self-adhesive foil tape, 6mm, aluminium and copper
Pieces of cotton lace in natural shades
Craft punches, small flowers and hearts
Emulsion paint
Clear fishing line for hanging

To create…

1 Save and print out the template given below, then use adhesive spray to adhere the roof and base sections onto 3mm thick wood, and the other pieces onto 2mm thick wood. Use the Dremel Hobby 300 Series fitted with the Dremel Spiral Cutting Bit 561 and cutting guide attachment to cut out a circle for the entrance hole at the position indicated.

2 Use the Dremel Hobby 300 Series and the SpeedClic woodcutting wheel SC 544 to cut out all the birdhouse sections following the templates, plus a 1.5cm long piece of 5mm dowel for the perch.

3 Drill a hole at the position marked for the perch on the template using the Dremel 300 Series and a 6mm drill bit from the Dremel 636 wood drill bit set. Peel off the paper templates and use your Dremel Hobby 300 Series and the SpeedClic Abrasive Buffs 511S and 512S to smooth the cut edges.

4 Paint the wooden sides for the birdhouse, a deeper shade will show the carving up the best, and then, when dry, use the Dremel Hobby 300 Series and a selection of engraving cutter 106 to decorate the sides, back and front with freehand-carved patterns of stems, leaves and grasses using the picture as a guide.

5 Use your Dremel Hobby 300 Series and the SpeedClic Abrasive buff 512S to smooth rough edges caused by the carving.

6 Cut the soft metal sheet to cover the outside of the roof sections and the upper side of the base. Secure them by running strips of self-adhesive foil tape around the edge, allowing it to wrap over the sides of each section. Use the Dremel Gluegun 930 and clear glue to glue the end of the perch into the hole drilled through the front of the birdhouse. Again, with your Dremel Gluegun 930 and clear glue, glue the pieces together to form the house, sandwiching the side panels between the front and back panels. Glue the house centrally onto the base, then glue on the roof sections, allowing the larger section to overlap the smaller section at the apex.

7 Use the craft punches to punch out small metal hearts and flowers and cut out some floral motifs from the pieces of lace. Use your Dremel Gluegun 930 and clear glue to adhere edging lace along the front eaves of the birdhouse and to glue on the floral and heart motifs to embellish the carved design. Drill small holes through the roof and thread through a hanging loop of clear fishing line to hang your birdhouse decoration.