It’s not often I turn down wood or metal. Why? Well, they are very versatile. If you can’t use them in the fashion they are, you can easily turn them into something new. Today, I have this pile of “trashure” that I’m going to turn into an upcycled bird feeder. I’m so excited to treat our feathered friends!
What you’re looking at is a two cake pans and two different misfit enamel pot lids. They definitely don’t seem to go together, but just give me a minute, k?
During the transitional seasons of fall into winter and spring into summer, migratory birds will stop in your yard for a nibble. In addition, the best part is they will remember your home and stop back year after year. In my other post, I show how to make a log bird feeder filled with nutrient-packed peanut butter.
DIY TIME
This time around, I wanted to be able to feed birds of a different nature – they all feed differently. First, I have to say that those cake pans with release are ingenious. That metal tab in center spins around to help get the cake out smoothly. Only someone who’s messed with trying to get a good release out of a cake pan can understand the frustration of ruining a perfectly good cake. However, I’m putting these pans to better use because they’re quite dingy now.
In order to make my upcycled bird feeders, I need a way to connect the lid to the cake pan. I begin by taking that metal tab and bend it in such way that it makes a centerpiece to attach to my enamel pot lid.
Next, I drill through the bent top tab, and into the lid that doesn’t already have a handle. However, the other lid already has a knob. I remove that I and add a threaded eye hook with nut to hold cake pan below.
It always pays to save your bits and baubles so you have a junk stash to pull from. Last, I add a bit of chain that I saved from my living room chandelier.
THE REVEAL
After a bit of creative fun, I’ve got two #trashure perfect upcycled bird feeders. woot!
Each one only took a matter of minutes and are ready to hang. We have prepped our back yard for winter, so I have a couple of spots from our patio swing where I can hang them on our pergola.
My daughter and I hung these up and then my 6 kids and I went on a lovely walk. Then, when we got home, I went to take a peek if we had any customers, and looky what I saw!
Talk about a heart-happy moment. I had nuthatches, black-capped chickadees, and sparrows within two hours.
Exciting, isn’t it?? My cat, Lily (aka. Killy Lily), had eyes wide-open at the new opportunities. tsk. I’m also curious how long before squirrels start messing them. We’ll see if they can…
Even better is the next morning, our feeders were full of cardinals, blue jays, and more of the same visitors as the day before. I think our feathered friends are happy, don’t you?
Until then, do pin and share my upcycled bird feeder creations. Inspire others to take their “junk” and make trashure fun too!
Up next, do these look familiar? I have far too many and am ready to make something fun with them. HEAD HERE TO SEE!
To get these DIY tips & tricks in your inbox, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. Until next time!
Also, more DIY fun like my upcycled bird feeder:
I try to imagine what you will turn things into. I’m fairly creative, but you’ve left me in the dust!! These are adorable!!!! Thank you for sharing and giving us such amazing detail and beautiful pics!?
Rebecca, I have such fun sharing my quirky ideas with you. Being creative helps me deal with daily stress as well as, hopefully, inspire. Sending hugs!!
I love this creative diy project! It’s so adorable!
woot! woot! We couldn’t be happier to come out and the morning and be greeted with chirps and tweets. They make for a happy sight.
These are great Larissa and will keep the bird food dry! Thank you too for the encouragement, God IS in control! That is good to remember.
That was my goal…no water. So far so good! Thanks so much. 😀
Another brilliant project, very creative!
You should have seen how skip-happy this made me and my kids. tee hee! Thank you!
You are amazing, thanks for sharing. I really love this!
aww…I don’t know about that, but I need you to talk to my husband. haha! Thank you, Tammy!
Super cool idea! I need to try to make one!
You sure do! Your feathered friends will thank you. 😀
What a COOL IDEA, Larissa! You are most clever. I wouldn’t have thought of that. Thanks for the idea
I’m so glad you think so, Cate. Thanks! I’m happy they’re happy. I will add fresh fruit too.
Hi Larissa, look at those happy birds filling their tummies from your fabulous bird feeders! I love vintage pie tins and enamel, so this is a great way to show them off and enjoy them.
Thank you. Such fun to see them flitting about.
Super cute!! Lids and cake pans are usually easy to come by at the thrift store also 🙂 TFS, Laura
Yes! That’s why I was so excited. Thanks so much, Laura.
The feeders are Super Cool and from seeing the pictures, the birds think so too. Looks like they are really enjoying themselves and it doesn’t take long for a bird to find the food that has been put out in a new feeder.
Have a wonderful evening Larissa.
Hubby just finished up building 5 new platform feeders using scrap wood that he had laying around in his shop.
Wonderful! They make for such fun family projects and make great gifts too.
Very clever bird feeder idea and such fun to watch your daily visitors.
You know how it is with winter blahs, so it’s the little things like this that can light up a day. 😀 Thanks, Marie.