Wash it, sand it, and use Weldbond to attach the tiles... that's what I'd do. I LOVE Weldbond.

Oh, oh, oh. Hate to disagree w/you CAIT, but Weldbond is only good for inside projects cuz it rehydrates w/moisture/water. Eventually wooden things deteriorate outside anyway, but thinset w/make it last longer. Scrub it well, let it dry and mosaic away. Welcome to the wonderful world of mosaics and to this forum. I also use thinset for grout on outside projects.

Thanks for the help.
If the birds are not too embarrassed to live in it then I might post a picture.

All I can add is ,if you want it to last forever outside use concrete ,or terracotta.My wood things have not held up,of couse it's hot and humid where I live.

crack pot, Ms.Carolann lives below Fort Worth isn't that suppossed to be less humid than the more toward the coast? I'm from Ca so it all seems really hot/humid to me! LOL!
pj

Ft Worth is less humid than down here (near Houston), but they get plenty of rain too -- and more ice than down here. I'd make it water safe.

You guys are so sweet to help and I hope you don't mind but I have another question.

If I use broken china for a mosaic project then can I still use thinset?

Yes. Thinset is what I use on china/pottery shards even for inside projects. It's a wonderful adhesive. If you're just getting started, and already HAVE the little birdhouse and are dying to mosaic it, you can always put it in a sheltered spot outside or just use it inside. Ft. Worth - you're close enough to me in Texarkana to come for the workshop or for a visit.

slowmedown, I actually live in a small town south of Joshua but we go to Arkansas all the time. We love the Ozarks and I love the big nurseries. There's one in Mena and in Fayetteville that is wonderful.

I'd love to come visit you. Thanks for the offer.
Our garden club just started doing mosaic projects and a friend of mine was talking about taking a road trip. Do you have any big nurseries near you or in any towns nearby?

Also a nice one just outside Magnolia, AR. There's NOTHING BIG in Texarkana, but we do have several very nice nurseries. My DD likes one here named "Bunches" better than those she visits in Dallas. Bring your garden club, and I'll take you to all of them after the workshop.

We'll have to check the nurseries out.
The workshop sounds like fun.

Is the workshop a demo in mosaics and do you make a certain project? How much is it? Does it include the project materials?

CAROL: The workshop is for two days Friday/Sat., Mar. 28/29 - welcome dinner at My Queendom on the night of the 27th. Workshop hrs. are 10:00-4:00, followed by a mosaic art show, open to the public, both days, and w/be held at the Four States Fair Grounds. Intrance fee for your art piece to be in the show is $5.00, which w/make up the prize for the winner. We have the fair grounds room reserved for FREE. Read the thread (lengthy) the third one down - Riana and Renewing Invitation for a TX Convention for more info. I took Riana's workshop in Puerto Vallarta last year. She teaches you how to make a two-layer wire mesh sculpture and apply the concrete in between those two layers, making a portable sculpture cuz it's light weight. Then, of course, you can mosaic it or a portion of it. Price of her workshop is $250 - to cover her air fare and motel/car rental fees and all our materials. If you are interested, check out her website and look at her 60 structures she has made all by herself. She's a wonderful person and a terrific teacher. We'd so love to have you join us.
Riana's website