3-D Bird Houses • Silhouette Tutorial

Project Description: 

I have designed patterns for an entire village of embellished birdhouses. Each one is unique and sports decorative cut outs for added interest. The files are sized to work together. The set is growing but currently includes the following files:

• Heart Bird House
• Double Decker Bird House
• Rounded Bottom Bird house
• Scalloped Edge Birdhouse

The same techniques were used to assemble all of these structures. I have assembled one tutorial but you can follow these steps for any of the designs.

Display a birdhouse village hanging from a gnarled piece of driftwood.

Or add stakes and put them in a container of wheat grass.

Note: 

I am a new Silhouette Contributing Artist. Both my Silhouette files and this website are the beginning. Send along any suggestions, problems, ideas or photos as we learn to create together. I'd love to hear from you!  Marji Roy
eMail: ashbeedesignemail@gmail.com

Tutorial assembled using Silhouette Software Release 2.7.18. This tutorial assumes you already know how to use the Silhouette and Silhouette software.

Supplies Needed:

• Template from Silhouette On-Line Store (Link to template added herexxxx)
• Heart Bird House here.
• Double Decker Bird House here.
• Rounded Bottom Bird house here.
• Scalloped Edge Birdhouse here.
• Glue dots or other fast drying paper glue
• Silhouette Cameo
• 1 sheet of patterned paper - for each bird house
• 1 sheet of contrasting paper - for each bird house
• 12" 1/8"-1/4" wide ribbon in complementary color
• 1 tooth pick

Steps for completing the Bird House Project:

1. Download the cutting file for your Silhouette Cutting machine from the Silhouette Online Store at the links noted above. Each file contains the three parts for a specific birdhouse including the basic structure, a roof pattern and a perch pattern.

2. Cut the file.

I like to cut the structure and the roof from contrasting papers. I have used combinations of prints and solids or all solids. The easiest thing to do is print the file twice, on two different papers and then mix and match the roof and structure. Here is a sample of the scallop edge birdhouse done that way.

Before you cut, consider how you will display the birdhouses. If they are going to hang, then you will want to insert a ribbon and the slots are located on the roof. If you are not going to hang them, then you may want to ungroup the file and remove the two roof slots.

Here are all the parts for one birdhouse cut and ready for assembly.

3. Fold the house

• Note: Each cut file has dotted lines. These are fold lines. 
• Fold along all fold lines. The folds all go in toward the inside of the birdhouse.

4. Glue tabs in place.

• I like to use Glue Dots although other glue types are appropriate. 
• I start by gluing the edges that attach to the birdhouse front in place. I do the back last. This is because you can reach the back more easily through the entry hole for pressing together.
• I apply 2-3 glue dots per tab....

• And pressed them in place carefully lining up edges and keeping things square.

• Once the front and roof are in place, apply glue dots to the remaining tabs for the back side. Carefully position the back and use a skinny tool inserted in the entry hole to press them into place.

5. Add the ribbon and attached the roof.

• If your bird house is going to hang from a branch, now is the time to thread a ribbon in the slots on the roof.

• Then apply glue dots to the roof and carefully position it in place. It is designed to have an over-hang in both the front and back.

 6. Add the perch. 

• Take the small rectangle and wrap it tightly around a toothpick. Glue the outside edge. (But not the inside edge or it won't slide off!)

• Insert the tooth pick with the perch into the hole beneath the entry. It will be tight and if you carefully twist the perch as you insert it, the hole will widen and you can slide it it place. If you do this carefully, the hole will stay tight and the perch will be secure.
• Slowly, pull out the tooth pick, leaving the perch in place.

Nothing like a plaid birdhouse to brighten your home!

Go and make some more with different papers.......

Download some other patterns and make some different shapes......

And soon you'll have a neighborhood!

I brought a bunch with me to visit my grandson.  We used them on his Easter Egg tree!

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© 2013 Marji Roy, Ashbee Design