Camp craft: painting birdhouses
![hero-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest Painted birdhouse, photo](https://i0.wp.com/www.craftynest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/hero-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1600&ssl=1)
I learned my lesson last year at girls camp. I spent the entire week teaching step-by-step instructions for most of the crafts, which left me exhausted and sick of my own voice. So this year I chose a few crafts that didn’t require constant instruction from me. Birdhouses was one easy solution. And I even had time to paint my own birdhouse (above) at camp.
![DSCF7358-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest Row of birdhouses on a bench, photo](https://i0.wp.com/www.craftynest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DSCF7358-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
The essentials for this project were paint, creativity, and unfinished wooden birdhouses. Then I let the girls loose. And boy did they let loose. I’ve never seen so many bright-colored, creative, and unique birdhouses.
![DSCF7352-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest Two girls sit among dozens of birdhouses.](https://i0.wp.com/www.craftynest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DSCF7352-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
Two girls chatting in the midst of drying birdhouses. That discarded wooden pallet came in handy.
![DSCF7363-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest Unfinished birdhouses, photo](https://i0.wp.com/www.craftynest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DSCF7363-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
I bought 100 birdhouses in myriad styles when they were on sale for $4 each at Michael’s last May. I practically cleaned out two stores. We must have had about 15 different models — all of them as cute as the next.
![DSCF7375-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest Multicolored craft paints, photo](https://i0.wp.com/www.craftynest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DSCF7375-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
I stocked up on bottles of acrylic craft paint, also from Michael’s. One popular color that I wish I bought more of was metallic copper (just a tip if you want to try this craft with a group of youth).
![DSCF7392-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest Two girls painting a birdhouse, photo](https://i0.wp.com/www.craftynest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DSCF7392-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
Painting goes faster — and is more fun — with two. We used plastic table cloths with a roll of paper over it to protect the work surfaces. And buckets of water for rinsing brushes.
![DSCF7371-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest Colorful birdhouses on a pallet, photo](https://i0.wp.com/www.craftynest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DSCF7371-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
Thanks to these girls, lots of birds have colorful places to call home this winter. Definitely the craftiest of nests. :)
![pinterest-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest Crafty Nest camp craft painted birdhouses Pinterest image](https://i0.wp.com/www.craftynest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pinterest-camp-craft-birdhouses-crafty-nest.jpg?resize=600%2C900&ssl=1)
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Made this project? Email your photo(s) to monica (at) craftynest (dot) com, and I’ll share your version here!
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