Bee Mailbox


  Bills don't seem so bad when they come out of a bee!

What you need:

  • Standard Mailbox
  • Wings: 1/4"" plywood (approx 1' x 1')
  • Petals: 1/8" Sintra PVC sheeting (approx. 2' x 4')
  • Eyes: 2 of 2-1/4"" acrylic half spheres
  • Legs: 3 pieces 1/8" styrene square tube, each 12"
  • Antennae: 2 pieces 1/8" styrene channel, each 12"
  • Krylon Indoor/Outdoor White Primer (Note: If painting a plastic mailbox, substitute Indoor/Outdoor Primer with Krylon Fusion for Plastic White.)
  • Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gray Primer (Note: If painting a plastic mailbox, substitute Indoor/Outdoor Primer with Krylon Fusion for Plastic White.)
  • Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Black
  • Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Sun Yellow
  • Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss White
  • Post and petals: Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Ocean Breeze
  • Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Satin Italian Olive
  • Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Watermelon
  • Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Raspberry
  • Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Tuscan Sunset
  • Krylon acrylic paint (black) 1/4""x 1" bolt, washer, and nut 7 or 8 of 1/2" drywall screws
  • Jigsaw
  • Pliers
  • Dremel with sanding attachment
  • 100 grit sandpaper
  • Heat gun or hair dryer
  • 2" painter's tape
  • Newspaper

How and How Long:

BEE

  1. Trace wing template onto ply and cut out using jigsaw. Use Dremel with sanding tool to sand down edges.
  2. Tape off mailbox every 2" using painter's tape to make bee stripes. Lightly sand mailbox, wings, and petals.
  3. Prime all using Krylon Indoor/Outdoor White Primer. Repeat after dry if needed.
  4. Spray mailbox body with Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Sun Yellow. Spray wings with Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss White. Let dry.
  5. Paint details on wings using Krylon black acrylic paint.
  6. Cut 6 pieces of 1/8" styrene tubes into lengths of 6". Use heat gun and pliers to make joints.
  7. Cut 2 pieces of 1/8" styrene channel into lengths of 12". Use heat gun and pliers to curl ends of antennae.
  8. Lightly sand 2 half spheres and all legs and antennae. Prime using Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gray Primer. Let dry for 10 min.
  9. Paint eyes, legs, and antennae using Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Black. Let dry.
  10. Remove all masking from mailbox. Attach eyes, legs, left wing, and antennae using five-minute epoxy.
  11. Attach right wing through provided flag hole using standard bolt, washer, and nut.

POST

  1. Prime post using Krylon Indoor/Outdoor White Primer.
  2. Tape off angle using painter's tape and mask stem using newspaper. Paint open area with Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Blue Ocean Breeze. Let dry for 10 min.
  3. Take off masking and mask over what you just painted. Paint the stem area with Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Satin Italian Olive. Let dry and remove all masking.
  4. Use template to trace 7 or 8 petals onto 1/8" sintra. Cut out using jigsaw.
  5. Use Dremel with sanding tool to round off all edges. Lightly sand entire piece using 100 grit sandpaper.
  6. Use heat gun to curve petals.
  7. Spray entire petal with Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Watermelon. Spray underside and around edges with Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Raspberry. Apply a light spray of Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss Tuscan Sunset to highlight the middle of each petal.
  8. Once petals are dry, attach to post using screws.
Bee Mailbox by Melissa CorradoApproximate project time: 2-4 hours.

What it Costs:

Cost is $55-70.