I've got full detailed instructions on my blog with recommended materials but here's the basics:

Materials: Birdhouse base, small stones (I buy bags of them at the dollar store), funnel for roof, silicone sealant to attach the stones, wood sealer.

Steps:

1. Start with a base. Here I used an unfinished birdhouse but you can also use a wide piece of PVC pipe, a jug, teapot...Anything with a the right shape.

2. If you're using a wooden birdhouse, first treat it with a wood sealant so it will last outdoors for many years.

3. Attach the stones using an outdoor silicone sealant (pick one that dries clear). Work from the bottom up so each row of stones rests on the ones below.

4. Add your roof and you're done!

More ideas: add a wee door; window boxes-create a whole fairy garden scene-; make the roof from moss or tiny cedar pieces or a folded licence plate...

I hope you'll share your ideas in the comments. Have fun!

PS: These birdhouses are intended as decorations only. See my blog for information on safe nesting boxes.

#Bestof2012

What to do with a bunch of left over pallet wood and shipping crate panels? Well – for us – it became the materials to build our buffet hutch in our dining room. It’s a large piece – measuring 6′ wide x 5′ high x 32″ deep. But it gives us a great place to display and store our dishes, bowls and glasses – while giving us a lot of storage room underneath. Storage room that we use to store our crock pots, electric skillet, roaster, and our canning pots and pressure cooker.

We created the framework for the piece by screwing and glueing together some old 2 x 3′ scrap lumber. Next up – we added two panels from a shipping crate to form the two sides of the hutch (The same crate panels we used to build the canning cabinet – they work great to provide walls for any cabinet project).

You can find out more about this piece at our blog: athttp://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2012/08/19/buffet-hutch-made-from-pallets-shipping-crates-and-a-piano-lid/