Introduction: Randy Instructables Robot Birdhouse

Randofo, where are you? Haven't seen any offbeat projects from you in a while. Maybe this will make up for one.

Make a birdhouse from cardboard and an IKEA pencil.

Step 1: Meet My Little Friend...

Scavenge pieces of cardboard to build your birdhouse. You really don't need that much more than from one medium size box.

Download your official Instructables Robot image here.

Print it out to fit about a half a page of paper.

You will need regular white glue or Modpodge to glue that image to a piece of cardboard.

When dry, trim roughly to a house like shape with the peaked roof at the top.

You can use regular glue to assemble the birdhouse but hot glue sticks fast and that is especially helpful when working with cardboard.

You will need something for the perch, a stubby pencil is perfect if you don't have a dowel handy. It's not the size that matters but how you use it.

You will need paint or a varnish to waterproof the project for outdoor use.

You will need some cord to hang it up.

Step 2: Holey Moley...

Cut a hole for the bird entrance on the Robot image. You can darken in the cut circle edge with a permanent marker to make it look better.

You can research what size hole is optimal for attracting certain species of birds to your new birdhouse.

On the back, glue on one or two pieces of cardboard to reinforce the area where the perch is mounted.

Step 3: Brace Yourself...

You can make the walls and roof one continuous piece of cardboard or piece together the panels.

Fold up all the cardboard to see that you get a house like loaf container.

Apply hot glue to the edges to attach and hold in place until the hot glue sets as it cools down. Be careful not to touch or brush up against the hot glue when it is hot.

You can apply glue all around one end of the loaf container and press it up against the back of the piece with the Robot image. It should fit and complete one end of the birdhouse.

Go around and fill in the seam with hot glue to reinforce and fill in any open spaces of the cut corrugated cardboard edges.

Now is a good time to punch a hole in the center of the roof and place a hanger loop. It can be made of cord or use a nylon tie-wrap to make a loop.

Step 4: Back It Up...

You can trace the outline of the birdhouse on to a piece of cardboard to make the back piece. You can also just rough cut a piece, hot glue it on, and trim to fit the edges.

Go around that seam with hot glue.

Use an awl to punch a hole for the perch rod. Hot glue in the rigid perch. You might have to get jiggy with it to straighten it out. It might naturally curve left or right.

For outdoor use, you would want to paint or coat all over with a waterproof or weather resistant finish. You can get the Modpodge in a version suitable for outdoor use or go with a clear polyurethane. Spar varnish would be heavy duty.

It should last a season outdoors and then time to make some new ones to replace them during the dark winter months.

Attach a cord to the hanger loop embedded in the roof. Hang it up outside where it is nice and cheery.

Hopefully it will attract some feathered friends.

Enjoy!

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