My husband has an uncle who enjoys woodworking.  This Christmas, we opened a package to find he had given us a pair of handmade cedar birdhouses!  One was a wren house and the other for blue jays.  Aren’t they awesome?

You don’t have to be a bird watcher to appreciate a handmade birdhouse.  Think about it.  Who isn’t fascinated with birds?  I mean come on, they fly!  And what a great gift for families with kids.  Post these suckers close to a window with a comfy seat and the little ones will be sure to be entertained … well, at least for a short while.

And, if you or the ones you love aren’t handy with wood working, then you can cheat.  Lord knows I LOVE a good cheat.  A quick search on Etsy turned up over 1,300 bird houses in the wood working section alone.  I love buying gifts on Etsy because the seller usually puts in a little card talking about their handmade business.  The recipient knows you didn’t just pick up this birdhouse at KMart.

Check out this cutie I found, just $15 from Etsy seller Bacon Square Farm.  I love that little twisted perch.  Such a simple detail makes it so special!

Or, if you are looking for something a little more mod, check out this vintage camper birdhouse for $45 from Etsy seller Strictly for the Birds.  You can even order a custom license plate with up to 10 characters for just $4 extra.  Freaking adorable.

And, if you want to take it up a notch, click the “Custom” button at the top of Etsy and request a bid for a custom birdhouse from the Etsy community.  Snap a pic with your cell phone and you can include it in your bid request.  A birdhouse built to custom specifications would be a great gift for a first-time homebuyer or as a thank you to friends who invite you to spend a weekend in their vacation home. Also great for matriarchs or patriarchs who have everything and have created memories for your family in a special home that you can immortalize in birdhouse form.  With Etsy Custom, you can be as specific or as general as you want and YOU name the price.  You are not locked into any purchases until you accept an offer.  I LOVE buying gifts this way.

I love a gift that makes memories.  This is that kind of gift.  So whimsical and thoughtful, steal this idea and give someone a handmade, or even custom, birdhouse!!