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Tuesday 5 January 2016

Bird Feeders - Op Shop Style!

As you all know, we really enjoy op-shopping and making things for our home. During the holidays, we saw an idea on Pinterest (where else), for making glass bird feeders with second hand glass ware. We hunted through our local op-shops for glass pieces that we thought would work well for this project, then headed home to get started. 

Our family really enjoys birds. They are such beautiful little creatures and their variety is a testimony to the creativity of our amazing God. Having more of them around our home is definitely something that all of us like the thought of!

The feeders were so simple to make. 
All we needed was ...


  • the second hand glass ware
  • a hot glue gun (with spare glue sticks)
  • some wire
  • a pair of pliers



I also found in the shed, a black wrought iron candle holder that once held a glass bowl in the top for wax melts. The glass bowl had long since shattered and so I thought that re-purposing the holder to make a bird feeder would be an excellent use for it! It gives the garden a bit of a quirky touch too, which doesn't bother me in the slightest!

As I was sifting through the shed, I also found two wire brackets that I ended up using to hang the wire hanger on as well.

We sat out on our back patio as a family, while the rain drizzled all around us, and happily made the feeders. We tried different dishes stacked on each other and chose the layouts that we were most happy with and the ones we thought our little feathered friends would most appreciate! 





They've turned out so beautifully! I am yet to fill them with seed, as it's been raining for a few days here now and it'll just be a waste to get the seed wet. But, we have seen a couple of birds already drinking from them, which is very exciting! 

All up, these four bird feeders cost us no more than $5! A very inexpensive way to provide a little refreshment for the sweet birds, and add some extra beauty to the garden.

20 comments:

  1. Those look really cute. I hope you get nice birds, and not the obnoxious cockies we have around our place. I saw a whole bunch of rosellas this morning, in a flowering gum tree, maybe cockies don't like those trees as much as the rosellas?!

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    1. Hi Tracy, we do get cockies around here, but not close to our home. We get lots of rosella's, galahs, the occasional kookaburra, willy-wag tails, king parrots. I love flowering gum trees, they're so beautiful! Have a great week!

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  2. They are absolutely gorgeous, what a great idea! We have so many birds around our place and our plastic feeder has seen better days so this would do perfectly!

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    1. Hi Eva, did you end up making some for your home? If you did I hope your lovely birds (and family) enjoy them. Thanks for visiting!

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  3. Will definitely want to try this come warmer weather...I think moisture would freeze them here now, but look lovely come summer. Thankyou for the idea! D

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    1. You are very welcome D, I hope you enjoy making them when the weather warms up. Have a beautiful week!

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  4. I am a bird fanatic. I share my life with several, including a parakeet that talks up a storm named Algebra, and conure named Buddy who bites everyone but me. I love your craft idea! Thanks. (I popped in from Inspire Me Monday)

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    1. Hi Dea, you sound like you would get along very well with my younger sister, who is also a bird fanatic. She owns mostly budgies. I hope you enjoy making some if you do. Thanks for the visit.

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  5. What a beautiful idea Elisha! And a great way to use up some of the bits and pieces of glassware that every household ends up with over the years, as various pieces of sets break ... visiting from #teamIBOT xxx

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    1. I agree Janet, glassware sets get broken all the time. Thank you for saying hi Janet!

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  6. These are wonderful. I love them. You have inspired me. I am doing a Christmas Challenge and I would love to make some of these as gifts. Thanks for the idea. Blessings.

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    1. You are most welcome Chrissy! I hope you have a lot of fun making them and your Christmas Challenge is enjoyable too ... you have me intrigued! Blessings to you too!

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  7. Clever! It is such a joy feeding the birds, great idea!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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    1. Thank you Cindy and thanks for hosting your great link-up!

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  8. These are gorgeous and so very frugal too! Thank you for sharing this at the Art of Home-Making Mondays. I am pinning this :)

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    1. Thanks for the pin, Jes. Are you planning on making some for your home too? I hope I can see them if you do. Have a great week! :)

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  9. They turned out awesome! But I used a glue gun for 2 similar bird feeders made with recycled dishes. Turned out beautiful but after being in the sun and rain a few month they fell apart. :( I am going time try again with a different adhesive.

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    1. Yes, I have actually had the same thing happen to ours too. I'm going to try a stronger adhesive as well. I'm glad you enjoyed making them.

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  10. Hi, Elisha. Your bird feeders are gorgeous! For the adhesive, I use E6000 craft glue for most crafts that involve glass. It dries clear, is waterproof, and temperature resistant, which would work for your bird feeders. In my area, I find it at Walmart, home centers like Home Depot and Lowe's, local hardware stores, and the major chain craft stores like AC Moore, Joann, and Hobby Lobby. Also, the price is comparable to other glues of this type. Thanks so much for sharing.

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    1. Thanks for your tips Taryn, although I'm not sure if that's sold in Australia, I shall have to browse around. Thanks for visiting!

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