The other day I opened a big box of Mod Podge products from Plaid Crafts.
It was like Christmas in June!!
There were so many new products– I couldn’t wait to get started!!
I’ve been working on sprucing up my backyard and I have always wanted to try the Outdoor version of Mod Podge. I had some birdhouses in my bedroom that don’t really fit in with my decor in there now. I bought them about 10 years ago, and I thought it might be fun to do something with them in my yard.
So I took some fabric and decoupaged it onto the birdhouses. I think it gives them a new updated. modern look!! And to display them in my yard, I mounted them on some 4×4 posts I picked up at my hardware store.
I also added a little bit of whimsical trim I also found at the hardware store. Can you believe this is trim that you buy to go with corrugated metal roofing?? I loaded up my cart and I think the hardware store workers were wondering what I was doing with it LOL.
Here’s how to Mod Podge Fabric to Wood:
- The first thing I did was I traced the birdhouse fronts onto some craft paper.
- Then I cut that silhouette out and pinned it onto the fabric I wanted to use.
- I cut the fabric pattern out and laid it onto the front of the birdhouse. Since I had a drawer(s) in the middle of the birdhouse, I traced the opening with a pencil. Then I cut it out. The middle part I used to mod podge the drawer.
- I also traced the round hole and cut that out.
- Then I added a layer of outdoor Mod Podge to the front of the birdhouse and then laid it on top of the birdhouse. I immediately smoothed the fabric out using a new Mod Podge tool. It’s great.Don’t push too hard or the fabric might stretch and become too big.
- Once the fabric was smoothed out, I added a layer of Outdoor Mod Podge to the top of the fabric and let it dry.
- After the birdhouses were Mod Podged and the Mod Podge had dried, I added the trim. I mitered the edges of the trim and then applied it to the bottom of the birdhouses. First I added some wood glue to the bottom of the bird houses. Then I laid the first piece of trim and then nailed them to the bottom of the birdhouses. I did this with all four pieces of the trim.
- The nails did go through the bottom of the birdhouse (I took the drawers out first). After nailing them through, I snipped off the ends with some heavy-duty wire snips.
- I also added a drawer pull to one of the birdhouses. I think it’s so pretty.
Then I made some little Mod Podgeable Tags to go on the outside of the birdhouses. These are so fun. You can use them to make necklaces and so much more. They are different sizes and shapes of clear tags and you can Mod Podge the front or back of the tags. You can also embellish them. So many possibilities. I used some of the leftover fabric and used the Outdoor Mod Podge along with some letters in the paper booklets to spell out “FLY” and “Soar” and then I attached them to the birdhouses.
The last thing we did was put the posts in the ground and added birdseed to the drawers.
Ella also made some necklaces for her and her “bestie” — a tutorial on how to make those necklaces is coming up soon.
So go out and get some old birdhouses to jazz up your yard!
Thanks to Plaid Crafts for the awesome Mod Podge products!!
You can find out more about Mod Podge on Plaid’s Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages. And the amazing Amy from Mod Podge Rocks, has also created a Community Pinterest Board with tons of Mod Podge ideas. It’s a fabulous resource!!
Have a Creative Day!
xoxo
Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Plaid Crafts and Blueprint Social. The opinions in this post are 100% mine.
Kai says
Hi Jen – these are ADORABLE!!!!! How long does the mod podge last outdoors?
Debbie Logue Byrd says
These are beyond adorable….LOVE ’em!!!!
Paula Seigler Beckham says
I’m interest to know, several months after completion, if the outdoor Mod Podge prevented the fabric from fading. Thanks!
Mod Podge Amy says
Aw, thanks Jen!! You were so sweet to mention me! I can’t wait to feature this babies. They are so pretty!
Katie says
Seriously!?!? These are adorable!!! I always forget that I can use fabric on Mod Podge projects!
Carla says
How clever. I want to try this soon. I have a fabric already in mind now to find that birdhouse in the closet I wasn’t sure what to do with. Thanks for the idea!
Jen says
Oh fun!! Let me know if you make some. I would love to see yours!
xoxo
Brittany (@PrettyHandyGirl) says
These came out so cute Jen! I love embellished bird houses.
Amy Christie (@thisheartomine) says
neat houses! the fabric prints are beautiful.
candi052781 says
so, I guess every one else loves these as much as I do……they’re great. I have my little back yard garden, and have bird houses that are inhabited…but these would be fantastic. Do you think they would hold up in our NW weather??
Jennifer Davenport says
I absolutely love the birdhouses! Thank you for sharing. I didn’t know their was outdoor mod podge. I’m headed to Hobby Lobby right now!
Gina says
Thanks for getting back to me! At least now I know what’s going on so I will be patient! My son is building a birdhouse with his dad,but don’t think he’d let me mod podge chevron on it-haha! Will have to use this idea sometime though.
Tauni (@taunitweets) says
Oh my gosh Jen, these are ADORABLE. I love them. xoxo. T
Jen says
Aw – thanks Tauni!!!!
They were fun to make and make me so happy to see outside my window 🙂
xoxoxoxox
Angie@Echoes of Laughter says
I love this project Jen! So absolutely adorable! The birds in your backyard must feel super hip in their new home! The colours are just fabulous! Angie xo
Jen says
hehehe!! I hope so. I seriously love looking out my kitchen window and seeing the bright happy colors. thanks Angie!!
xoxxo
Tmuffin says
I’ve always wondered about outdoor mod podge… these look so fabulous! I love how they look all together. Also, I know what you mean about the guys at the hardware store wondering what you were doing with that corrugated piece. I’m always buying random stuff and they look at me funny, like, “Do you know what you’re doing with this?” Ha. If only they knew the possibilities.
Jen says
Thanks!! I love the consistency and the sheen of the Outdoor Mod Podge — it really finished off a project and makes it last!!
xoxox
Kathryn says
wow I did not know they had created outdoor…wow…got to get some…has to be really tough stufff
gail says
Is the Mod Podge Outdoors available in stores? Gee I hope so, I have a few birdhouses that could use some sprucing up! Yours are very pretty!
Jen says
Hi Gail!!
Yes, you can buy it at Michaels 🙂
xoxoxo
Elizabeth says
These are just adorable. Beautiful idea. Thank you. Elizabeth from thedotdotblog
Britni says
I want the red one! So cute!! I’m feeling inspired by these and it might help me finish this corner I’ve been working on (for over 15 months) in my daughter’s room! 🙂
Jen says
Thanks Britni!! They were fun to do. I am excited to see your daughter’s room. Will you send me a picture when you are done?
xoxox
Jill @ Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons says
Wow…I love these! You did such a great job!
Jen says
Thanks Jill!! I hope you are having a great summer so far!
xoxox
Bonnie says
looks like a great idea, your photos aren’t loading tho
Jen says
We’ve been working on the site speed — they are loading slowly and we’re working with the site host to improve it. They should be a bit better now.
Gina says
Help!!!! Just wanted to add that I finally was allowed to comment and that the page took forever to load for me. Just a head’s up Jen in case there is a problem on your end. Or it could be my computer don’t know,but am upset because I LOVE your blog and I can’t get into any of your posts. I hit the read more button and the page is completely blank and won’t load. It’s a miracle I got in this one. If anyone is more computer literate than I and knows what’s going on and could let me know I’d appreciate it! If I can even get back in here again…
Jen says
We are wrestling the servers now. It should be a bit faster but it’s still not as fast as it should be. We’re working on it — thanks for your patience!
Danielle says
Wow! These are so cool! I love them!
Bethany says
Very cute!
Jami Mayer says
I LOVE the chevron. Can you tell me where you’re getting that? I’m not finding it anywhere in my home area. Thanks! LOVE your blog and creativity!
Jen says
Hi Jami!!
You can buy the yellow chevron from Fabric.com – here’s the link — http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=baf5d167-e883-4a09-a4e7-4cbadfa0f295
xoxo
Melissa says
Super cute!!!! Love the chic digs for the birds!
Erin's Creative Energy says
I love the look of your bird houses! So cute! Too bad it is taking so long for the pics to load. Is there something new you did to the site, your blog is the only one that is taking forever to load lately?
Judy says
I had the same issue – Enjoyed the tutorial after it loaded! 🙂
Jen says
Hi guys!! I know!!! I am so frustrated. I am so sorry that my site is taking so long to load. I am moving to a new hosting company and server at the end of the week. The new company tells me that my site will load at least 6 times faster. So yay!!!!!! I hope you will continue following me. It means so much to me.
xoxo
Doreen says
I adore these birdhouses, especially the yellow Chevron trio! I’ve covered birdhouses with paper; will have to try fabric now.
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
Just adorable! I love the yellow birdhouse. Your backyard friends will be living in style. 🙂
Jen says
Amanda!! You are so sweet and wonderful. Thanks for being such an awesome friend. I hope you guys are having a great summer so far!!!
xoxoxo