Homemade bird feeders from recycled materials

I have built a number of homemade bird feeders.
I used staircase posts to give my bird feeders some height. These can be planted in the ground and moved around the yard to find a compatible location that works for the birds and your yard design.
I then found some dishes that kind of matched for color or style and had fun.
I used E6000 glue to hold the dishes together and hold up under various weather conditions.
I used painters tape on the posts to create a variety of designs for my paint and color coordinating.
I have included a few examples of the birdfeeders that I finished.

 Easy to spray with spray gun or spray cans. touch up with small brushes for detailed lines if you prefer.

 This is a couple of candle holders and  a plate that I put together.

This is what happens when your dog has puppies and has run out of ink for her color printer.

Getting Ready for the Birds

The birds have been coming to the house for food, but have you really invited them to stick around so you can enjoy them year-round. Having a variety of food, feeders and houses for them can be a nice incentive.  We have added some fun new houses each year.
Home Depot puts on several workshops throughout the year which allows your kids to build a bird house.  One you have finished building the house, you might as well have fun painting it with some style. Here are a few ideas we came up with for our houses. Also remember you can take, lint or left over strings and set them out in a bundle for birds to use as they are building a nest.

Creative Gardening Space

If you are limited on your gardening space, you might want to considering growing up rather than out to keep some of your plants from spreading out over lawn or taking over other plants.  We used a frame from a bench swing that had been been damaged from our beautiful rescue dog who enjoyed chewing the cushions. (That is another story) You then laced rope around the frame to create a ladder looking effect across the frame. As our pumpkins began to grow and leaves started running everywhere, we placed the vines on the ropes and then naturally continued to spread and bloom up the frame. We watched the pumpkins grow. You could stabilize larger pumpkins with some extra support rope if they needed it.

Creating a seaside feel at home

I took some large posts and surrounded my mailbox to give it a nautical dock look. I got a large rope and tied around the posts. I the build a sandbox around my mailbox. sprayed the area to kill all  weed and grass. I used edging that has a post look to in and was painted in a light grey or natural appearance. After filling in the area with clean sand, I added sea shells from beaches that we have visited over the years.

Recycle, Upcycle large wire spools

I got large spools used to hold wires and ropes.  I painted them to look a bit rustic or nautical.  I then bought rope to cover the center parts.  I have included some of the center dimension so you can estimate the amount of rope needed.
16 in high by 15 diameter
Requires 126 ft 1/2 in rope or 169 ft 3/8 in rope.
the plastic top measures 11.5 high by 12 diameter.
Requires 73 ft 1/2 in or 99 ft 3/8
The other all wood spool measures 18 high by 12 diameter.
Requires 114 ft 1/2 in or 152 ft 3/8 rope.

Here are two spool examples to work off of for size.

wooden spools

1 36 dia 22 high

1 36 dia 21 high

plastic spools

2 30 dia x 14 high

DIY USB plug personalized craft

I took my iphone plug and personalized this with some decorative duct tape.

DIY Garden Stakes

I got some paint sticks. You will also need to get some pictures or printables of the items that you will be growing in the garden.  There are lots of free printable sites to find these labels for your stakes.

You will also need some paint- I use acrylic paint and finally some Mod Podge. 

Just as an extra idea. I use medicine measuring cups for my paint which is a great way to recycle when you are ready to throw away your used up kids cold medicines.

You can see the Mod Podge already setting the pictures into view very nicely. If you are really using these outside, I would use a quick spray paint clear sealer to keep your paint on longer especially before you put into soil.