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Around the Home DIY gardens

Once a Fruit Bowl, Now A Bird Bath

DIY birdbath ideas - fruit bowl turned birdbath

Just when I thought I had no idea what I was going to do this month, I started to think about my garden.  The one thing I love about our yard is the variety of birds that come to visit.  Every year I am looking for ideas to attract different kinds.  So, off to the thrift store I went with DIY birdbath ideas in mind.

Low and behold I found a huge (what I think is a) fruit bowl.  The best part it was on a pedestal.  The really best part was, it wasn’t very attractive as it was so I knew I wouldn’t feel at all bad about painting it!

If this is your first time stopping by the Red Cottage, the last Thursday of every month I partner with some fantastic DIY bloggers for a Thrift Store Upcycle Challenge!

The Rules:

  • Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
  • There’s no monthly theme.
  • There’s no budget to stick to.

Meet the Hosts!

Amanda | The Kolb Corner    Kim | Made in a Day
Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles    Pili | Sweet Things
Debra | Shoppe No. 5    Marie | DIY Adulation    Sue | A Purdy Little House
Chelsea | Making Manzanita    Ann | Duct Tape and Denim    Karen | Dragonfly and Lily Pads
Kimm | Reinvented    Kathleen | Our Hopeful Home   Megan | C’mon Get Crafty
Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled    Shirley | Intelligent Domestications    Angela | Simply Beautiful by Angela Chelc | Inside the Fox Den     Michelle | Our Crafty Mom    Jeannee | Shepherds and Chardonnay
Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod    Michelle | Michelle James Designs
Ali | Home Crafts By Ali    Denise | My Thrifty House 

Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!

Thinking of DIY Birthbath ideas I upcycled a fruit bowl

Looking for DIY birdbath ideas? Try upcycling a fruit bowl

Looks like a fruit bowl to me, but maybe it was a pasta bowl.  No matter, it is a birdbath now!

This is where the beauty of chalk paint comes in.  The bowl had a very smooth painted ceramic surface and the Rustoleum Chalky paint adhered to the bowl with no problems at all.  It took two coats to completely cover the images on the bowl.

DIY Birdbath ideas were on my mind when I was shopping for this months Upcycle Challenge

I painted this during our kitchen renovation, hence the assortment of sawdust and tools!  In our tiny home, the dining room is very multi-function!

DIY birdbath ideas for your garden

I did two coats on the inside, letting each coat dry in between before during it over and doing two coats on the outside of the entire bowl and pedestal.

I knew I wanted to dress it up a bit with the phrase “Birds of a Feather Flock Together, but I also know my handwriting is pitiful and this was a job for my friend Leslie!  She didn’t let me down!  As awkward as it was to do write freehand inside a bowl, she did a wonderful job as always.  Thanks pal.  What would I do without you!

DIY Birdbath ideas using an upcycled fruit bowl

Finally I gave it 3 coats of Varathane Diamond Wood Finish Outdoor spray.  It is labelled for wood, but it did go on evenly without discoloring the chalk paint.  It has been holding the water really well so far.

Always make sure you paint in a well ventilated area, and follow the directions on whatever paint you are using.  When it came to spraying on the Varathane, I did so outside while protecting the surrounding area.  I am really a safety girl when it comes to using paint.  Especially aerosol paint and never ever use it indoors.  Not even in the garage!

My mom suggested I should put a rock in the centre for the birds to perch on when stopping by for a drink.  I couldn’t find one I liked, so I used an old Bocce ball we had lying around.  

diy birdbath ideas were on my mind at the thrift store this month

I have a boatload of metal buckets lying around, so I just turned one upside down and placed the birdbath on top to keep it up out of the soil. 

DIY birdbath ideas

You will have to excuse my naked soil.  The weather is just getting nice enough to work in our gardens and we haven’t got around to mulching yet.  That is just one of many things on the to-do list for this weekend.  

Looking for DIY birdbath ideas?  You will want to ……

Bar Recipes

DIY Birdbath ideas

If DIY birdbath ideas aren’t on your mind, then check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!

Until next time….

Red Cottage Chronicles Ideas for House and Home

 

 

 

Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge

And now for more thrifty goodness!

 

An InLinkz Link-up



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12 Comments

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Comments

  1. Amanda @ The Kolb Corner says

    May 25, 2017 at 9:05 am

    This is a fun idea! I love it sitting on top of the galvanized bucket too. I actually went to the store for this challenge with a bird bath in mind as well! We have a pedestal with no top that the previous owners left. I didn’t find quite what I was looking for though.

    Reply
  2. Shirley Wood says

    May 25, 2017 at 9:34 am

    This is exactly why I love these Thrift Upcycle challenges to much. Love this idea. I see those fruit bowls at thrift stores all the time. Just added this idea to my to-do list. I really like the writing you added. Nice touch.

    Reply
  3. Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled says

    May 25, 2017 at 10:32 am

    Great re-purpose! I’d love to add a birdbath to our outdoor but I’m afraid of what my trio of wild kids would do. Poor birds! Visiting from Thrift Store Challenge.

    Reply
  4. Kathleen says

    May 25, 2017 at 11:06 pm

    I wouldn’t feel bad painting that bowl, either:) Great idea to put it on that bucket, it was perfect! xo Kathleen | Our Hopeful Home

    Reply
  5. Ali B says

    May 26, 2017 at 10:18 am

    What a fun project!! I never would have thought of using a fruit bowl, but your makeover of it looks wonderful!

    Reply
  6. Megan says

    May 28, 2017 at 10:25 pm

    Beautiful update, I like the lettering around the birdbath!

    Reply
  7. Debrashoppeno5 says

    May 29, 2017 at 9:06 am

    This is a cute idea. A water feature is so relaxing and it is enjoyable to watch the birds.

    Reply
  8. Sue Purdy says

    May 30, 2017 at 12:55 am

    How cute is this bird bath? I love it and the quote inside is perfect. Job well done.

    Reply
  9. Kim~madeinaday says

    May 31, 2017 at 2:07 pm

    Cute idea! I love that you painted the inside with the cute saying! Bucket underneath is perfect!
    Kim

    Reply
  10. Chelsea @ Making Manzanita says

    June 1, 2017 at 11:57 pm

    What a great idea!! I love the way you transformed this thrift store find!

    Reply
  11. Jeannee Taylor says

    June 2, 2017 at 5:29 pm

    what a great idea! It is so pretty! I will never snub my nose at another oversize bowl in a thrift store ever again! I’ll have a yard full of birdbaths!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 40 Lovely DIY Bird Bath Ideas To Invite Friendly Fliers In Your Yard – The Self-Sufficient Living says:
    March 31, 2019 at 10:35 am

    […] It may hold memories, but outlived its time to hold fruit. Up-cycle that old fruit bowl into a garden bird bath so it can remind you of a past loved one and still be useful […]

    Reply

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Well, hello! I am Maureen, and welcome to our little Red Cottage. Married to my high school sweetheart, I am a passionate baker, accidental DIY'er and love all things home! Read More…

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