Stars and Stripes Mini Birdhouse

Instructions

Surface Preparation:

1. Lightly sand rough areas with fine grit sandpaper.
2. Basecoat birdhouse using No. 12 flat brush as follows: Roof – Lipstick Red and Wicker White alternating sections Body of Birdhouse – True Blue Base – Licorice Base Trim – Lipstick Red
3. When dry, sand if necessary and reapply basecoat colors. Allow to dry.

Painting Instructions:

1. White Stripes on Roof – Load the No. 1 liner brush with thinned Lipstick Red. Paint evenly spaced diagonal lines on each white section. Allow to dry.
2. Paint one True Blue star on each white section at the base of the roof. Allow to dry.
3. Load the No. 1 line brush with thinned Licorice. Paint a patterned line separating each white and red roof section. Paint a dash followed by two dots, repeat length of dividing line. Continue painting with thinned Licorice and outline each True Blue star.
4. Body – Load the No. 12 flat brush with thinned Wicker White. “Flyspeck” the entire blue body of the birdhouse. To flyspeck, be sure to load the brush with thinned paint, run the bristles of the brush over your finger; specks of color will fly onto the surface. You can also tap the loaded brush against the handle of another paint brush to create flyspecks. NOTE: Save an old toothbrush as a tool for flyspecking, it works every time!

Finishing Touches:

1. Paint the cut edge of the opening Licorice using the No. 12 Flat Brush.
2. Paint the perch Wicker White and highlight the end of the perch Lipstick Red.
3. When dry, apply a couple coats of either waterbase brush-on varnish or spray finish to seal and protect your artwork.