Fairy Tale Birdhouse

Once upon a time, there was a birdhouse builder who found a way to use scrap wood that otherwise would have been thrown into the fireplace.

The craftsman's name was Ron Pavelka, and he constructed storybook bird abodes like the one pictured above in his little workshop located in Orange, California.

"I've built many of these storybook birdhouses for friends and family," Ron shares. "They use them to decorate their gardens and yards...the style is different, and I get lots of compliments on them."

All you'll need to add to this house is a colorful paint job.

"You can easily alter the plan to suit your own taste," Ron adds. "You'd be surprised how a difference in color choice changes its appearance."

One word of caution-because there's a lot of wood and glue in this project, the birdhouse weighs about 8 pounds when finished. So we suggest mounting it in a sturdy place, such as on a post or on a deck rail. That way, you can be sure the feathered family that moves in will live happily ever after.

Here's What You'll Need...

• 10 feet of 1-inch x 12-inch No. 2 pine board (or suitable-size scraps)
• 3/8-inch dowel (optional-only 1 inch is used on chimney)
• 2-1/2-inch galvanized deck screws
• 1-1/4-inch finishing nails or brads
• Waterproof glue

Recommended Tools...

• Saber or scroll saw
• Belt sander
• Power drill
• Bar clamps or other large clamps

Download the instructions here.