Introduction: Glassware Bird Bath, Feeder, or Plant Stand
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About: I crochet and do crafts. Oh and I also work full time and have a family to take care of. I'm on here because this site is so cool and easy to post to. You can also check me out on Ravelry: http://www.ravel…
The idea for this project came up from one of my favorite sites (Ravelry) where one of my “internet sisters” posted bird baths (she also refers to them as plant stands) that she was making from thick glassware she was acquiring from her local second-hand stores. There are three of her photos in this instructable of her original designs. I based my bird bath on what she had said she had done to create her pieces.
I decided to make one because I love making instructables for Challenges. This particular photo instructable was to be entered into a Birding Challenge in August 2012. Although I did not make the challenge deadline, I decided to post the instructable anyway, just so all you bird watching folks like me and my family can have an alternate way to observe our feathered friends having fun.
Heading off to my local Goodwill (Charitable second hand store), I was looking to spend less than $20 for the whole project and decided to take some photos of the items used while still on the shelf in the store.
Two of the pieces shown in the finished piece of bird bath art I purchased at the flea market.
For the bird bath/feeder shown, I used the following things, including the components of THICK GLASS items:
The entire bird bath is 24” to the top of the plate. Note that I specifically looked for vases without a ruffled edge.
I looked high and low on the shelves at my local charitable mart for a ceramic (or glass) bird. The woodpecker was an amazing find, and I love the realistic look of it.
How I created my Bird Bath:
After thoroughly cleaning and drying each piece (that took me about an hour to get some of the stuck on grease off of two of the dishes), I placed the pieces in various arrangements (without glue) until I found the one I wanted to see in my yard and that would be both balanced and aesthetically pleasing.
I purposely tried to put the heavier pieces on the bottom, and knew what plate I wanted for the “bath” on top of piece.
I let the glue dry for at least an hour for each piece, before placing one piece on top of the next one.
The E-6000 glue specifically states not to use for animals, so I chose not to glue the candle holder (used to hold the bird seed) to the top of the poinsettia plate (now bird bath) where the water was going to be.
I dropped the flowers into the decanter mainly to add a little color to the piece and to make it special to me, as that kind of fall daisy’s are some of my favorite kinds of flowers.
The poinsettia plate that I placed on top of the decanter has an uneven bottom surface and I will have to bring the glass bird bath inside during the rainy season so water does not get into the decanter and completely ruin the flowers on the inside of the decanter. Just something to consider if you place artificial flowers on your project.
Finally, I glued the artificial flowers around the base of the decanter, again to add a little more color and add a little more embellishment.
One final note – I ended up having to glue the flowers with the E-6000, because after a week outside, the artificial flowers began coming off of the glass with the original glue gun glue.
My internet friend sold her bird baths at a charitable auction for $35 to $40, and now that I have made one, I know that they are very personal creations that have not only a purpose but bring me a joy to know that I created it for another living creature to use.
My children have been able to catch the little sparrows that live near our home both eating the food and taking little baths, although I have not been able to catch them on camera yet.
I’ll update the instructable with pictures of them, I hope soon!
I decided to make one because I love making instructables for Challenges. This particular photo instructable was to be entered into a Birding Challenge in August 2012. Although I did not make the challenge deadline, I decided to post the instructable anyway, just so all you bird watching folks like me and my family can have an alternate way to observe our feathered friends having fun.
Heading off to my local Goodwill (Charitable second hand store), I was looking to spend less than $20 for the whole project and decided to take some photos of the items used while still on the shelf in the store.
Two of the pieces shown in the finished piece of bird bath art I purchased at the flea market.
For the bird bath/feeder shown, I used the following things, including the components of THICK GLASS items:
- One (1) Vase - $3 from Goodwill
- One (1) Wine Decanter - $2 from Goodwill
- One (1) Poinsettia (or Christmas themed) serving dish, 14-inches in diameter with raised lip - $3 from Goodwill
- One (1) 600-B Pyrex dish with handle - $1 from the flea market
- One (1) 10” flower-etched baking/serving dish - $1 from the flea market
- One (1) woodpecker sculpture - $2 from Goodwill
- One (1) 6-inch diameter raised base candle holder - $1 from Goodwill
- E-6000 Glue - $2.97 from Walmart
- Bag of Birdseed - $2.15 from Walmart
- ‘Left-over’ dollar store artificial flowers – I had these in my craft stash left-over from another project
- Glue Gun
The entire bird bath is 24” to the top of the plate. Note that I specifically looked for vases without a ruffled edge.
I looked high and low on the shelves at my local charitable mart for a ceramic (or glass) bird. The woodpecker was an amazing find, and I love the realistic look of it.
How I created my Bird Bath:
After thoroughly cleaning and drying each piece (that took me about an hour to get some of the stuck on grease off of two of the dishes), I placed the pieces in various arrangements (without glue) until I found the one I wanted to see in my yard and that would be both balanced and aesthetically pleasing.
I purposely tried to put the heavier pieces on the bottom, and knew what plate I wanted for the “bath” on top of piece.
I let the glue dry for at least an hour for each piece, before placing one piece on top of the next one.
The E-6000 glue specifically states not to use for animals, so I chose not to glue the candle holder (used to hold the bird seed) to the top of the poinsettia plate (now bird bath) where the water was going to be.
I dropped the flowers into the decanter mainly to add a little color to the piece and to make it special to me, as that kind of fall daisy’s are some of my favorite kinds of flowers.
The poinsettia plate that I placed on top of the decanter has an uneven bottom surface and I will have to bring the glass bird bath inside during the rainy season so water does not get into the decanter and completely ruin the flowers on the inside of the decanter. Just something to consider if you place artificial flowers on your project.
Finally, I glued the artificial flowers around the base of the decanter, again to add a little more color and add a little more embellishment.
One final note – I ended up having to glue the flowers with the E-6000, because after a week outside, the artificial flowers began coming off of the glass with the original glue gun glue.
My internet friend sold her bird baths at a charitable auction for $35 to $40, and now that I have made one, I know that they are very personal creations that have not only a purpose but bring me a joy to know that I created it for another living creature to use.
My children have been able to catch the little sparrows that live near our home both eating the food and taking little baths, although I have not been able to catch them on camera yet.
I’ll update the instructable with pictures of them, I hope soon!
