What can you do with those vintage teacups and saucers that you inherited from your grandmother ten years ago? Make a DIY teacup birdfeeder for your yard. Don’t have a vintage teacup? Don’t worry, you can order a new teacup online, or find a vintage one at a local thrift store for under $5.
The Motivation
My children told me to stop writing about dishes, and start writing about something more useful; something that can actually help people. Hopefully this post will be helpful to the birds, and people that want to utilize those beautiful teacups. Plus, I still get to write about dishes.
The Inspiration
About two weeks ago I was watching episode one of Big Dreams, Small Spaces on Netflix. The host is Monty Don. He is an English gardening expert who works with ordinary people to help them achieve their gardening/yard dreams.
In Episode One, he helped an engaged couple transform their sloped back yard into a place where they could have their wedding and accomodate guests comfortably. At the end of the show, as the camera panned across the newly-terraced garden, I saw something that made me sit up and take notice. It was a teacup and saucer on a pole, sticking up among the flowers. I knew I had to have one (or two) to adorn my own flower beds!
I thought the teacup was merely a yard decoration. But after doing some research , I found several DIY tutorials on upcycling teacups into bird feeders and bird baths. Maybe that’s how the couple on Big Dreams, Small Spaces used their garden teacup. There were also some gorgeous sets for sale on ETSY- no assembly required! If you’re short on time, this is the way to go.
The internet was awash with DIY teacup bird feeders. Some hung teacups from trees with string, or mounted the teacups on top of vases. I loved the ones that incorporated teapots and silver utensils. You have to walk before you can run though, so we chose to keep it simple and just glue a teacup onto a rod.
We examined two different tutorials with teapots glued on rods. One used a dowel rod, and another used a copper rod. We chose to go with the copper rod for a sturdier, longer lasting bird feeder. Plus, the dowel rod needed paint (or stain) to look polished.
The Directions:
Step 1: You will need the following supplies (you can get everything except the teacup and saucer from Lowes Home Improvement Store):
1. teacup and saucer -I chose a giant planter teacup from Crate and Barrel, so I could put lots of birdseed inside.
2. 2 ft. copper rod (1/2 inch – you can get a really long copper pole, buy the rod cutter and make several at one time, or make one for a bird bath and one for bird seed. I chose the rod that was pre-cut, because I didn’t want to buy the rod cutter.
3. 1/2 inch copper cap
4. E6000 Industrial Strength Adhesive– this glue looked less messy than the epoxy with all the tubes.
Step 2: Glue the cup to the saucer- Don’t be “chintzy” (dish lovers should get the joke) with the glue- USE PLENTY
Step 3: Turn the now-joined cup and saucer gently upside down and make a dot in the center of the saucer bottom with a Sharpie marker. Then glue the 1/2 inch copper cap onto the underside of the saucer, allowing the Sharpie marker dot to be your guide for placement.
Step 4: Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours
Step 5: Put glue on the copper rod and tap the rod into the 1/2 inch copper cap.
Step 6: The bird feeder/bath is ready to be used and enjoyed!
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To read about vintage teapots use the following link: https://lovemycottage.wpengine.com/vintage-disney-teapots/
Happy Spring!
Kristie
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