For nature lovers, bird watching is a favorite summer pastime. There’s no need to make a trip to an exotic location to see beautiful feathered creatures, or even to a nearby aviary. If you provide a favorable environment for them, they’ll come to visit you in your own yard.
Birdfeeders are a good start when it comes to attracting birds. Certain flowers also attract various types of birds. But if you want a complete bird haven on your property, birdbaths are essential. You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for them, either. You can make beautiful custom birdbaths with just a few inexpensive supplies. Here’s how.
Supplies
* 12-inch terra cotta flowerpot
* 14-inch terra cotta flowerpot
* 16-inch terra cotta flowerpot
* 20-inch waterproof clay saucer
* Weather resistant paint
* Water-based sealant
* Paintbrushes
* Liquid Nails adhesive
* Sandpaper
Instructions
1. Sand away rough spots on the pots and saucer, and clean off all debris.
2. Turn the 16-inch flowerpot upside down. Stack the 14-inch pot on top of it, and the 12-inch pot on top of the 14-inch one.
3. Use a pencil to draw a line below the rims of the small and medium sized pots. This will show you where to begin painting.
4. Unstack the pots and seal the insides of them, as well as the lower edge of the largest one. Let the sealant dry completely.
5. Paint each pot and the outside of the saucer the color of your choice. Apply a coat from the top of the pot to about an inch below the line you drew earlier. Let dry.
6. Decorate each pot and the saucer to your liking. You could use stencils to paint on flowers, insects or other outdoor objects, or do stripes or dots in an appealing color scheme. You could even stick on mosaic pieces for a lovely effect. Take care to keep designs below the line you drew previously so that you won’t paint designs where they will not be seen. Let paint and/or glue dry thoroughly.
7. Apply at least three coats of sealant to the entire outside of each pot and the saucer, letting dry after each coat.
8. Apply a generous amount of Liquid Nails to the bottom of the smallest pot where it will attach to the saucer. Carefully center the pot in the saucer and apply pressure, then leave to dry as directed.
9. Take the pots to the spot where you want your birdbath and stack them as you did before. Be sure to hold onto the saucer and the smallest pot when handling them.
You can also make a simpler version of this with only one large terra cotta pot and a saucer. The end product will be shorter, but the birds will still enjoy it.
About CSAHM
