Tea Party For The Birds! (and a how-to)

Over the winter my tea pot bird bath sustained some damage. While assessing said damages, I remembered all the photos I took while making this adorable bird bath. 



There have been many many requests for me to do a show and tell-how to make my tea pot bird baths.  I thought maybe it would be a little easier just to re-share the post, rather than sending a link to everyone.  It also will give my new followers the opportunity to see too!

The photo above is my tea pot bird bath made with a ceramic/terra cotta pot tray...I am not so happy with the terra cotta, as it is porous, and does not hold the water...it s all seeping into the ceramic vase I have it sitting on...(and I sealed it to the vase..gross)

Below is the very first one that I ever made...it is on a plastic tray. I had it until last spring when I knocked it over and broke it! Luckily I had another one in the garage ready to go! I have made 8 of these in this style...(roses) They have all gone to friends that were very excited to have one.



I didn't make these out of my head from scratch! I found the idea in a magazine years ago....it was in an advertisement and was VERY pricey. I fell in love with the idea of them almost immediately.

I kept it in the back of my mind for several years....then one day I decided to make one from what I remembered it to look like….It doesn’t look anything like the one I remembered…but…it is mine…and …this...is another "Tootsie Original!”

So...? Is everyone ready to make one? GOOD!

Here's what you will need...




One ceramic tea pot

Two tea cups to match or co-ordinate

One plastic plant pot saucer (to scale with your pot and cup)

One 4-5 inch piece of doweling (for the project I am about to demonstrate...a concrete anchor)

4 washers (if you use the threaded anchor)

 4 nuts (for anchor)

some wire (for added support)

One smaller bolt /two washers and a nut to fit. (to hold tea cup)

marine goop or silicone sealant (must be waterproof)

a masonry drill bit to match the size of your doweling or rod

drill

masking tape

colored plastic bits, or rocks

spoon

clear liquid resin and the active ingredient (to make the faux tea)

First you need to gather all materials

got them?

 good...

Lets get started!

1. drill hole in the bottom of the tea pot just below the spout. This hole needs to be large enough to fit the dowel.

TIP: putting a piece of masking tape on the ceramic will prevent the drill from slipping and chipping.





2. Drill the same size hole in the rim of the large plastic saucer



3. Attach the doweling ( or in this case threaded rod) to the tea pot (drilled hole) and add the washer and nut to the inside...and the outside.

Tighten and set aside.



4. Drill a hole in the tea cup and saucer to fit the size of screw you will use to hold the tea cup and saucer onto the larger saucer.

Drill same size hole in the bottom of the plastic saucer.

Secure with washers and nuts to fit. Go in through the bottom, that way the nut won't make your base sit all wobbly.




5. Using your wire and the remaining nuts...place the tea pot onto the plastic saucer.

Secure with nuts. One on the top of the plastic saucer and one under the rim ...and use the wire for added support to help hold the pot in place and not fall forward. We will hide it later.




6. Using the marine goop...seal all nuts, screws and wire....also seal the opening to the tea pot spout to insure that it doesn't become a home to some bugs, or fill with stagnant water...









7. Using the marine goop sealant....attach the lid to the tea pot (so it does not fall off ) and fill the spout of the pot with sealant as well.

(this prevents it from becoming a home for pests such as wasps etc. as well as making sure it doesn't fall off and break!)



8. This step is optional: Following the directions on the resin solution you have purchased....fill cup 1/2 way with colored rocks or gravel....and fill with the epoxy resin (the stuff they sell in craft stores to make paperweights out of ) put spoon in before it hardens, allow to set...and you have a cup filled with tea. (may want to add coloring if you don't have the right color of rocks (also at craft stores))

Filling the tea cup will help weigh the whole thing down, and hold the bolt that holds the cup and saucer in place on the tray.




Once you have filled your cup with "tea" set aside and allow to set.




Have you noticed that it is a cabbage? lol....seriously cute for the garden isn't it?

9. After all is set and secured to your satisfaction place on base that you have chosen....large old vase, pedestal, table, tree stump...etc...and viola! your done!

You don't have to fill the cup with the resin....you could use it as a feeder, by adding a little bird seed... or you could fill it with water.

Waiting to see what I suggest for that second tea cup and saucer on the list?

You can drill hole same size as a screw that is about 1 1/2 inches long....in the cup and the saucer...secure cup and saucer to long piece of doweling or post with screw...fill with seed and you have a feeder to place in the flower bed where ever you want....or fill with water...and have a butterfly bath!



So? How did we do?

Wanna see our finished product?
 
Okay...you convinced me...here it is!



WAIT!!!!

It's missing something!

... hold on....I know what I forgot!....



I couldn't let it go without the raffia ribbon I bought to hide my work!



Okay! That wasn't so hard now was it? And it sure did not cost us a lot of money...the entire project cost me about $40....and that included the resin that we did not use all of!

We can make more if we want to! The one I saw in the magazine was at least 3 times that much!
So...not only did we save money...but making it ourselves makes it mean more!



This one was shipped as part of a giveaway I did back in 2008. It went all the way to Texas!

So? Are you going to make one?

 What theme is your tea pot?

 There are so many wonderful shapes out there…the possibilities are endless!

That’s all for me today…should anyone have a question about the instructions...please feel free to ask...I will get an answer out to you as soon as I can!

Until Next Time…Happy Garden Decorating!

*)*)*)    Imperfection is beauty~ Marilyn Monroe



(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.


www.tootsietime.com

I am linking into...
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Under $100 Linky party  Wednesday
Frugal Friday 
Be Inspired Linky (tuesday)
Show Me What Ya Got
One Project at a Time
Open House Party Thursdays

Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers Feb. 22/13

PSSSST!

Hey YOU!

Ya YOU!   

Do you know what day it is???

It’s Friday !!!!  

Wow this week sure flew by!

Friday is a BIG day for us here at Tootsie Time…(ok, just me…there is no one else here…lol) It’s a big deal because it means it’s PARTY TIME!!!!

Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!

If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”

Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends:

If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like. The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing! You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or abut if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly! link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted.

So....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos...



As most of you already know, I am not even close to being at home…I am actually 2000km away from home…and that means I am not going to be able to share anything that I actually grew with you this week…so…Instead….since I am all the way in Seattle Washington for the NWFGS, I think I will share a few photos that I have taken at the show!

Today's post is going to be up a little earlier than usual...at least I THINK it is...there is a time difference here...and really I am not sure WHAT time it actually is...lol....yes...I am a blonde...with muscles that HURT from walking around in downtown Seattle....UPHILL a lot of the way!  So...the post is going up...and it will be whatever time it is!  haha!  As long as I have it up today...and it is good for the weekend...I am happy with that! :)

Lets get started....I am excited to share some of the photos I took at the show!



This is C-U-T-E!   I think I could enjoy one of these…very much…:)



A little eaves trough gardening anyone?   This is cute too!



I LOVE the fun in this garden…that pot adds so much whimsy!  Gardening is a sport that allows us to use our sense of humor…and this…is a great example of that!



This is just gorgeous…there is no other word for it.  Gorgeous!



Is is bed time yet?

I have so many photos to share…but only so much can be done at a time…so that is it for this Tootsie today!   I can’t wait to see what you guys have to dazzle and inspire me this week!   I hope to be able to comment to everyone this week…but it will be a few days until that can happen…we still have a 2000 km drive home!

So…what are you waiting for???

  Get your flaunt on!!!

I wish all of you hugs and smiles, and safe and happy weekend plans!

Thank you all so much for dropping in today, and to those that faithfully link in to this party…and who are patient while waiting for me to FINALLY visit you…it seems there are not enough hours in a day anymore...THANK YOU!

Until Next Time... Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)  Everyone always says how they wish they could go back in time and fix all of the mistakes they made. But you need to take into consideration that those mistakes are what got you here today.

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers Sept. 28/12

GET READY!!!! IT IS FRIDAY!!! FRIDAY IS FLAUNTING DAY!!! I am so glad you stopped by!
Friday is a BIG day for us here at Tootsie Time…(ok, just me…there is no one else here…lol) It’s a big deal because it means it’s PARTY TIME!!!! Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!
If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”
Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends:
If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like. The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing! You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, but if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly! All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or a link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted.
So....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos...
I decided to get busy and get rid of some of the finished things in my gardens…seems this fall is coming in as gentle as it can be…and I still have a lot to flaunt!  I took a lot of pictures…I am just going to share a few today…or we will be here forever! 
Take a look:

My little rocking chair is sitting proud beside the coal can filled with flowers…

The bed beside the coal can is almost done for…the Dahlias had a little powdery mildew coming in…so I had to jank them…I just put a pot in the empty space to fill the gap…looks ok…but still …

The grass I put in is coming along quite nice.  I remember saying that the boys on this street are going to lose the greenest grass competition this year…and I MEANT IT!  ha-ha!   I think I can safely say…I WON!    I am the only one on this street with anything growing anymore.

The greenhouse is short a few hanging pots…but still looks okay in spite of it…

Things are slowing down…but far from done!


The bed along the sidewalk is still going like crazy.  I thought it would have been touched by the frost we had, but seems that it is ignoring the signs of fall.

I have to laugh at the volunteer hollyhock that popped up beside the tree…it is quite pretty too.  Deep burgundy.  Perhaps I should save a few seeds…


I have to move all the good junk for the winter months…the wagon wheels will be put inside again this year.  I want them to last as long as they can.

I am sort of liking that little patio I made from the stray bricks…and the retaining wall around the greenhouse should help keep the chill off the floor this year.


Closer to the house…things are slowing down.  I had to cut back a lot of the Malva and Lavatera…they were wind whipped and laying down…so the pipes etc.  are once again showing a little bit.

The steps are short one pot too…it got moved to the side of the other shed…

In the front yard…this bed has been the bain of my existence this year.  It is now filled with petals from flowers and leaves…we don’t even want to mention all the spruce needles and pine cones…ugh.

This is the view from the street…


Notice the little change I made????

Yep!  I painted that piano…I like it a lot better in the distressed version.  The black was just too stark for my gardens.  It looks a little more aged now…and a lot softer.  I like it MUCH better!

The front steps…

My snobbiest helper!  Ginger thinks that the little path in the flower bed that leads to the plug in is just for her only…she is always sitting all fancy looking around for something to “hunt”.

I am very impressed at how this bed in the back yard turned out for me. 

It is so hard to take a picture of it…the wood pile in the next yard is often a huge distraction…I think things are tall enough to hide a lot of that now!  It sure is pretty…

…and finally…a last peek at the back yard…where things are finally starting to look like I live here…just in time for winter!  Isn’t that the way it always goes???
I really hope the frost holds off for a little bit longer…I love this warm weather…and I am not quite ready to let go….not just yet!  
Okay kids…that is all for me for this week…now it is your turn.,,,
What are you waiting for??? Get flaunting!
I wish all of you hugs and smiles, and safe and happy weekend plans! Thank you all so much for dropping in today, and to those that faithfully link in to this party…and who are patient while waiting for me to finally visit you…THANK YOU!
Until Next Time... Happy Gardening!
*)*)*) Never make decisions when you're angry. You can't see a clear reflection in boiling water.  Anger is when your journey has taken a wrong turn and your Spirit finds itself in a place it does not belong. 
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com