Make Birchbark Houses

Using items found almost entirely in the woods (except glue, glitter, and cardboard), Kristin makes birchbark houses that she likes to give as gifts or keep for herself.

Materials to Make Birchbark Houses

• repurposed cardboard from cereal, butter, or cracker boxes
• natural materials: birchbark (from fallen trees, not live), acorns, acorn caps, moss,
• dried flowers
• multipurpose or wood glue
• glitter

Directions to Make Birchbark Houses

1. From the cardboard boxes, cut a matching pair of square pieces for the front and back. Now cut 2 matching pentagon shapes for the sides of the house. Cut a length of cardboard for the roof and fold it in half.
2. Assemble a small four-walled house by attaching the cardboard at the seams with glue. Glue on the roof piece.
3. When the walls are dry, layer strips of birchbark siding onto the walls and roof, acorn caps stuffed with a bit of moss for a wreath, moss on the roof, and acorns for a footpath. Apply glitter for sparkle.

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