Birchbark Houses

Liz and I spent much of New Years day making birchbark houses for our dining table. Last year we made them as a family on Christmas Eve which was a great way to help the time pass until evening.

This year we didn't get to it. Liz and I decided that this year they aren't Christmas decorations but instead "winter" decorations.  We'll re-decorate the table after 12th night with these and some winter birds.

Earlier in the month I gathered birchbark just before snow was due to arrive. I wish I had gathered other bits of moss, lichen, and forest detritus, but I was in a rush. I also saved a number of small butter and tea boxes. First we turned the boxes into house shapes and hot-glued them together. Then we hot-glued on the birchbark and decorations.

Here is Liz covering one of her houses with watered-down glue.

And here she is shaking glitter all over the glue. 

This low-barn building is made from an Annie's Mac & Cheese box!

Here is one I made.

And here they are on the table.
The glittery roofs really make them sparkle at night.

I got the idea for these from Kristen Nichols. Here's her tutorial