Building and Painting Birdhouses

There’s something incredibly satisfying about making something with your hands, and when Gabriel and I decided to build and paint wooden birdhouses, it turned out to be one of our most creative and fun-filled afternoons. It wasn’t just about creating homes for the birds—it was a chance to let our imaginations run wild, try out different painting techniques, and, of course, get a little messy in the process!

Assembling the Birdhouses: Teamwork and Excitement

The day started with us assembling the wooden birdhouses we had been given as kits. Gabriel loves projects like these—anything that involves building or creating with his hands, he’s all in. As we laid out the pieces on the table, his excitement was palpable.

“Mum, I want to build the first one!” Gabriel declared, taking charge with his usual enthusiasm.

We worked together, following the instructions and using a little wood glue to hold everything in place. It was one of those perfect moments of teamwork—Gabriel holding pieces steady while I applied the glue and helped with the trickier parts. By the time the birdhouses were standing on their own, Gabriel was already imagining what colours and designs he would use for each one.

Painting the First Birdhouse: Neat and Colourful

For the first birdhouse, we decided to go with a neat, colourful design. Gabriel wanted to paint each side a different colour, so we chose some bright, cheerful shades—blue, orange, pink, and green. We set up our painting station outside in the garden, knowing that a bit of mess was inevitable, and armed ourselves with brushes and paint.

Gabriel took the lead, carefully painting one side of the birdhouse while I worked on another side. His focus and precision amazed me, especially when it came to keeping the colours from blending into one another.

We swapped sides halfway through, and I was impressed by how neat and careful Gabriel was being. The end result was a beautifully colourful birdhouse, with each side showcasing a different bold colour. It stood on the table, drying in the sun, a proud testament to our hard work.

The Second Birdhouse: Creative Chaos with Splatter Painting

But the real fun began when it came time to paint the second birdhouse. “Let’s do something different this time,” Gabriel suggested with a gleam in his eye. “What if we splatter paint it?” I couldn’t say no to that idea—it sounded like messy, creative fun!

First, we painted the entire birdhouse a solid purple, acting as a base coat. Once it was dry, we laid it down on an old mat on the lawn, making sure the area was ready for some artistic chaos. Armed with a few paintbrushes and some pots of paint in various colours, Gabriel and I got ready to make a mess.

With a flick of the wrist, Gabriel sent his first splatter of paint flying onto the birdhouse. It was a great hit—paint splattered in all directions, landing in uneven, colorful drops across the purple surface. Laughing, I joined in, flicking white and yellow paint from my brush.

The best part was the freedom of it—no need to be precise or neat, just the joy of creating something that was totally unique. Paint splattered across the birdhouse in a wild, abstract pattern, and Gabriel was having the time of his life.

“Mum, this is the best way to paint!” he said, his face lighting up as he saw the colours explode across the wood.

The great thing about doing this outdoors was the easy cleanup. Any stray paint landed harmlessly on the grass or the mat, and once we were done, we could simply roll everything up and hose down any leftover mess. No stress, just pure creative fun!

Admiring Our Work: Two Very Different Creations

As the birdhouses dried in the afternoon sun, we stood back to admire our work. The first birdhouse, with its neat, multicoloured sides, looked bright and cheerful—a perfect little home for some lucky birds. The second, splatter-painted birdhouse, was a work of art in its own right, full of energy, movement, and colour.

Gabriel was beaming with pride, and I couldn’t have been happier with how the afternoon had turned out. Each birdhouse reflected a different side of our creative process—one neat and carefully designed, the other spontaneous and fun. But both were made with the same love, teamwork, and joy.

Final Thoughts: Building, Painting, and Bonding

Building and painting the birdhouses wasn’t just about creating something functional—it was about bonding with Gabriel, sharing in the joy of making something with our hands, and embracing the messiness that comes with creativity. The birdhouses we ended up with were beautiful in their own unique ways, but the memories we made while creating them were the real masterpiece.

So, if you’re looking for a fun, hands-on project with your kids, I can’t recommend this enough. Whether you go for a neat, colourful design or embrace the chaos of splatter painting, the end result will always be something special—because it’s something you’ve made together.