Little Free Libraries are a great way to swap books and they make a great surface to customize using Testors paint and airbrush kits with images that share your interests. Can you guess what theme I went with?
If you follow me on Instagram- StefanieLGirard you will see lots of photos of what I call my “squirrel kids” they are adorable and curious. You will also see all the #SoCalLittleFreeLibrariesIVisited
Here is one of my squirrel kids having a snack and keeping me company while I airbrushed the squirrels on the Little Free Library.
You can get a Little Free Library ready to paint if you don’t want to build one yourself at their site but I built mine out of recycled materials I got at EcoSet and a frame from the thrift store.
I love loading up my car when I go there with supplies for all sorts of art making and craft projects.
You never know what you are going to find there but I never leave empty-handed.
Yah, again the squirrel kid was in on the building action too.
I used the frame as my guide for size for the front.
It took two jars of Testors Ultra Gloss to cover the Little Free Library with a beautiful white finish.
Then I covered the roof with tar paper and shingles leftover from my roof.
To decorate my Little Free Library I thought I’d airbrush using stencils, “Take a book, Leave a book” and “Little Free Library” along with 2 squirrels reading a book on the side.
I used my Cricut to die cut the stencils out of Avery Sticker paper.
So easy!
I cut the words out in strips and stuck down the word stencils first. Then I covered the rest of the Little Free Library with recycled packing paper.
For the top words I used Testors Aztek Opaque Airbrush paint in Turquoise with the Amazing Air Airbrushing Paint Kit.
TIP: When airbrushing using a paper stencil don’t hold the airbrush too close as the paper stencil will get too wet from the paint and buckle up causing a messy edge of paint.
For the bottom area of text (and book) I used the Testors Aztek airbrush paint in Fluorescent violet. This paint works great straight out of the bottle and doesn’t require thinning.
For the squirrels I used the Testors Aztek Pearl finish in copper color. I specifically left this area painted slightly irregular as I thought the squirrels would look cute with a modeled finish.
The green grass area I free-formed it with a combination of Turquoise and Fluorescent green-the paint mixes great with just a little shaking in the jar.
I then hand panted the little book pages and spine of the book.
For door I painted the picture frame with a mix of white and red Testors Ultra Gloss paint. The base of the Little Free Library was straight red paint.
All that was left to do was assemble all the parts, hinges, magnetic closure, daisy handle, etc. I did add a die cut squirrel on the front and tiny button at the roof peak.
Little Free Libraries are a great project to make and paint with Dad for Father’s Day or for anyone to participate in. As I was installing it someone asked right away if it was an “Urban Street Swap Library” and I was so happy it was already getting noticed even before it was filled!
Want to find one in your neighborhood and recycle your books? Find one at their locator map.
If you are in Burbank, CA please come by and swap books! Let me know you were here on Instagram using the hashtag #LittleFreeLibrary3009oakStBurbank
