If you have kids or even just another person living in your home, there may be times that you need to leave memo’s for them.  You know, the occasional information or phone message.  Getting any old memo board will work just fine, but why not be a little creative and make one yourself!  A birdhouse is a great Spring and Summer item.  Maybe make other memo boards for each season and change them out when a new one comes along.

Here’s What You’ll Need for this FamilyFun.go.com Craft:

• 1 ¾- by ¼-inch strip of pine lattice (cut into one 10-inch length and one 12-inch length)
• Pine board, 20 by 11 by ¾ inches
• Pencil
• Handsaw or table saw
• Chalkboard paint in any color you’d like (the spray type is easiest)
• Chalk
• Four #16 carpet tacks, hammer
• Permanent markers (black and other colors)
• Drill with 11/64- and 3/8-inch bits
• Golf tees, craft glue (optional)

First, hold the two pieces of pine lattice in place on top of the pine board to form the birdhouse roof and then trace along the upper edge. Remove the lattice and saw the board along the traced lines. Paint the board according to the chalkboard paint manufacturer’s directions.

Once the paint has dried, season the message board with chalk, again referring to the directions on the paint can. Now you can nail the roof pieces in place with carpet tacks.

With a black permanent marker, color a 2-inch-wide hole in the center of the board. Use the 11/64-inch bit to drill a row of four evenly spaced holes (for the key ring pegs) about 1 inch up from the bottom of the board.

Next, use the 3/8-inch bit to drill a hole (it should angle slightly upward) centered just under the black hole for a chalk perch. Finally, color white golf tees with permanent marker and, when dry, push them into the peg holes, securing them with glue if needed.

Image: FamilyFun.go.com