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Skill Stick Bird House

  • Young Adult
  • Grades 1-3

Build your own craft stick bird house! Paint it in all your favorite colors and set it outside for the birds to flock to. 

Materials



Paintbrushes
Friendship Thread
Acrylic Paints
Mini Craft Sticks
Regular Craft Sticks
Skills Sticks

Hot Glue Gun (Adult Supervision Recommended)

Craft Glue

Wax Paper

Water Cup

Paper Towels

Scissors

Instructions



Step  1.

Gather your supplies. 

Step  1.

Gather your supplies. 

Step  2.

Count out 10 skill stickers (they have a V-shape notch on each side that allows them to be easily broken into smaller pieces). Gently snap one end off each of the 10 sticks and put the smaller pieces aside for later. 

Step  2.

Count out 10 skill stickers (they have a V-shape notch on each side that allows them to be easily broken into smaller pieces). Gently snap one end off each of the 10 sticks and put the smaller pieces aside for later. 

Step  3.

Attach one end of the shorter skill stick to the end of a full-sized skill stick. The pre-cut notches in the skills allow them to fit together. 

Step  3.

Attach one end of the shorter skill stick to the end of a full-sized skill stick. The pre-cut notches in the skills allow them to fit together. 

Step  4.

Finish making a rectangle by attaching another short and long skill stick together, as shown. This is the bird house base. 

Step  4.

Finish making a rectangle by attaching another short and long skill stick together, as shown. This is the bird house base. 

Step  5.

Continue stacking the sticks to make the house. Once you have built the house 3 layers high, attach 2 of the small pieces from Step 2 on one side of the house. This will create a small opening for the house. 

Step  5.

Continue stacking the sticks to make the house. Once you have built the house 3 layers high, attach 2 of the small pieces from Step 2 on one side of the house. This will create a small opening for the house. 

Step  6.

Repeat Step 5 to make another layer, as shown. 

Step  6.

Repeat Step 5 to make another layer, as shown. 

Step  7.

Finish the main part by making one more layer on the house, this time do not use the smaller pieces. 

Step  7.

Finish the main part by making one more layer on the house, this time do not use the smaller pieces. 

Step  8.

Make the roof by gluing 2 mini craft sticks to form a right angle, as shown. 

Step  8.

Make the roof by gluing 2 mini craft sticks to form a right angle, as shown. 

Step  9.

Snap the end off 2 skill sticks and keep all the pieces. 

Step  9.

Snap the end off 2 skill sticks and keep all the pieces. 

Step  10.

Use scissors to cut a skill stick in half. 

Step  10.

Use scissors to cut a skill stick in half. 

Step  11.

Pick 3 pieces of the cut skill sticks from longest to shortest. Glue the pieces on the min craft stick shape you created in Step 8. They should form a triangle. 

Step  11.

Pick 3 pieces of the cut skill sticks from longest to shortest. Glue the pieces on the min craft stick shape you created in Step 8. They should form a triangle. 

Step  12.

Repeat Steps 8 and 11 to make a second roof piece using the 3 leftover pieces from Steps 9 and 10. 

Step  12.

Repeat Steps 8 and 11 to make a second roof piece using the 3 leftover pieces from Steps 9 and 10. 

Step  13.

Glue the roof pieces to the front and back of the bird house, as shown. 

Step  13.

Glue the roof pieces to the front and back of the bird house, as shown. 

Step  14.

Make the roof panel by laying down 6 craft sticks horizontally. Glue 2 mini craft sticks vertically across the 6 sticks to secure the shape. Repeat this step to create a second panel. 

Step  14.

Make the roof panel by laying down 6 craft sticks horizontally. Glue 2 mini craft sticks vertically across the 6 sticks to secure the shape. Repeat this step to create a second panel. 

Step  15.

Paint the roof panels and dries bird house. Then, add details like flowers, polka dots, or stats. 

Step  15.

Paint the roof panels and dries bird house. Then, add details like flowers, polka dots, or stats. 

Step  16.

To make the base of the bird house, lay down 12 craft sticks horizontally. Glue 2 craft sticks vertically across to secure the shape. 

Step  16.

To make the base of the bird house, lay down 12 craft sticks horizontally. Glue 2 craft sticks vertically across to secure the shape. 

Step  17.

Paint the base another color to add more vibrant color to use finished bird house. 

Step  17.

Paint the base another color to add more vibrant color to use finished bird house. 

Step  18.

Glue the bird house to the base. 

Step  18.

Glue the bird house to the base. 

Step  19.

Use the hot glue gun to connect the sides of the roof of the bird house. Since the roof is angled, the hot glue will secure the roof quicker. 

Step  19.

Use the hot glue gun to connect the sides of the roof of the bird house. Since the roof is angled, the hot glue will secure the roof quicker. 

Step  20.

Gently press the roof panels onto the house. 

Step  20.

Gently press the roof panels onto the house. 

Step  21.

In the small gap on the top of the bird house, between the roof panels, add a small amount of hot glue in the middle. 

Step  21.

In the small gap on the top of the bird house, between the roof panels, add a small amount of hot glue in the middle. 

Step  22.

Cut a small piece of friendship thread. Using a craft stick, press one end of the thread into the hot glue. It’s important to use the craft stick to press the thread into the hot glue instead of your finger. Add a small amount of glue to the other side and attach the other end of the thread to create a loop for hanging the bird house. 

Step  22.

Cut a small piece of friendship thread. Using a craft stick, press one end of the thread into the hot glue. It’s important to use the craft stick to press the thread into the hot glue instead of your finger. Add a small amount of glue to the other side and attach the other end of the thread to create a loop for hanging the bird house. 

Step  23.

Add a little hot glue to a mini craft stick and attach to the hole in the bird house to make a perch. 

Step  23.

Add a little hot glue to a mini craft stick and attach to the hole in the bird house to make a perch. 

Step  24.

Your bird house is ready to hang outside in a tree, or on a shelf in your house. 

Step  24.

Your bird house is ready to hang outside in a tree, or on a shelf in your house.