Introduction: Castle Birdhouse

By www.facebook.com/jonathan.hodges

Got a new scroll saw and decided to make a bird house or two.

Supplies

A scroll saw, various wood pieces, wood filler, adhesives, wood screws, drill, tape measure, pencils, various paints and primers, dot paper, good vacuum cleaner. and assorted paint brushes

Step 1: From Gnawing Thought to Finished Project

My mother who is 93 is slowly losing her memory. My dad passed on years ago and crafted/bought bird houses, since it made my mother happy.Well it still does and it has been a dozen years since my dad passed on, so I decided to start rebuilding some of her dilapidated houses. After fixing a few, I set out to make some of my own. The first one was rather plain and unfinished, and this one was gnawing at my brain to exist. I've still minor adjustments to be made to the saw, but it worked well enough for this second attempt.

Step 2: Warped Scraps and Lots of Patching

The castle slowly takes shape as I attach the 4 sides to the top section.My wood scraps are all various cut offs and what not, so I can't be a choosy beggar when it comes to building stuff. Lots of patching ahead!

Step 3: Moat Me Baby

After laying out a moat design, it's time to cut, sand, and prime.

Step 4: Finally Starting to Paint

I wanted the moat to be brackish to ward off would-be swimmers, but still look like it could sustain life. Perch with entry window on one side, fake doorway with drawbridge on the other.

Step 5: C'mon and Brick Me

Figuring out that using 1/2"x1" shaped brinks looked better than 1"x1" ones. Then a lot of measuring, pencil lines, and painting. I like the way the corner bricks turned out.I prefer dot paper over squared graph paper.Good use for playing the game of squares with too. Both are freely downloadable here: https://print-graph-paper.com/

Step 6: Details, Details, and Finish!

Now is when I broke out the white paint and shrunk down lines and covered up pencil marks. Added a flag made from a scrap of velvet (thanks Judy) and put it in the center front. This is to avoid the chains or wires that will be added to the top of the 4 corner battlements.