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Family Weekend Project: How to Make a Bird Bath

With the cooler weather we are enjoying spending a whole lot more time outdoors as a family. Which is a good thing because our garden really needs some attention! We recently spent some time revamping the fairy garden (which I will share next week) and one thing we wanted to add to the space was a bird bath. So we decided to make one ourselves from a terracotta pot. This was the perfect family project to involve my kindergartener in – quick and easy to complete, purposeful and pretty.

And here’s how we did it…

FAMILY WEEKEND PROJECT Build a Bird Bath

You will need:

  • One terracotta pot – ours is glazed and was on special for under $10 at our local hardware store
  • One terracotta pot base – slightly larger than your pot
  • Coloured fairy stones in the colours of your choice
  • Adhesive (not shown) – you’ll need a rubber cement style adhesive that is waterproof. Ask at your hardware store.

FAMILY WEEKEND PROJECT Make a Bird Bath

To make:

Decide on your design (or take a chance and go completely free form) and glue your stones into place on the inside of the pot base. We chose to glue our stones in alternating circles of contrasting blue. Except for the outer circle which has an alternating light blue/dark blue pattern.

I squeezed a spot of glue onto the pot base and then Immy pushed the stone into position.

FAMILY WEEKEND PROJECT How to Build a Bird Bath

Finally, upend your pot and glue your planter base onto it. Leave to dry according to the directions for your adhesive. Then add a little water and place into your garden. Remember to give your bird bath a hose out and refill regularly.

FAMILY WEEKEND PROJECT Build a Bird Bath from a Terracotta Pot

Do you involve your children in the garden? What sorts of chores or projects do they help out with?

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Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.

Read more of Christie's adventures at https://childhood101.com.

Read the comments or scroll down to add your own:

    • Christie Burnett says

      April 20, 2013 at 7:41 PM

      Hi Donna, thank you for your comment. The pot base is quite shallow and we just add a little water at a time, refreshing it really regularly with the hose so we haven't had any problems with mosquitoes so far.

  2. Jode@mummymusingsandmayhem says

    April 21, 2013 at 12:03 PM

    I love this Christie...I have been wanting one in the garden for awhile but was trying to think how I could make it unique...this is perfect. I'd love to incorporate it into my backyard family day care space but do you think it would be classed as a water hazard? Your colours are beautiful...what a fun family project, my girls have been helping me with the seed planting and weeding lately.

    • Christie Burnett says

      April 29, 2013 at 9:22 PM

      I am not sure what the rules are with regards to water hazards, Jode. We literally put less than a centimetres water in the bath, refilling it with the watering can every day or so.

  6. Barbara says

    April 29, 2013 at 10:45 AM

    LOVE this!! Can you tell me if you attached the base to the terracotta pot? I could see my preschoolers wanting to lift the base off. I've also seen one that had 3 pots. The bottom one upside down, the next one on top of it right-side up, the top one upside down, and then the base.

  7. Katherine Collmer says

    April 30, 2013 at 4:13 AM

    This is such a creative way to get children interested in the garden! It is something that they can be proud of as they watch the birds in it! Thanks for sharing. Will do the same:)

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