Today’s transformation is inspired by a do-it-yourself post I once read at Under the Sycamore. Ashley used a paint by number technique to transform a painting she purchased at goodwill.

I had this bird plaque hanging around the house. I had moved it to several different locations, but I noticed someone had dropped it and bent the black iron scroll at the top. I thought it would be a perfect candidate for a paint by number project, so I quickly removed the bent black scroll.

I started by painting the background and the branches. I taped off the bird and part of the branches to apply paint with a sponge around it.

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Both a thin and medium black permanent marker added just the right style of lines around the bird and branches. For the nest, I cut out a circle from a cereal box and used spanish moss from one of our fake plants. Aleene’s tacky glue did a nice job of holding it all together. (I mixed in a few tiny strips of fabric.) Then with more glue I added the buttons and secured the whole thing onto the “nest” spot.

I grabbed a stick from a tree outside and hot glued that to the top. A knotted a piece of ribbon around went around the stick. Then I attached another separate piece of ribbon with hot glue to the back for hanging it.

Once I added the buttons, this birdie was ready for hanging.

If I added it all up, this project took less than an hour. (If you have a sick whiny baby, add a couple of hours to that.) It isn’t perfect, but it was a creative learning experience and I did it with my own hands for no money out of my pocket. You certainly can’t beat that!

Now, go look around your house, or your garage sale pile, and see what you can paint over.

I used Apple Barrel craft paint, permanent markers, Aleene’s Tacky Glue, and hot glue for this project.

I’m partying over at:

 Mommy by Day Crafter by Night

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Carolyn’s Homework

Alderberry Hill

Uncommon Designs