A couple year ago I received a china tea cup bird feeder from a dear friend. What a beautiful gift!
I am so excited to show you how to make this unique addition to the garden...
These little tea cups bring a touch of surprise and delight among the flowers! And they bring birds!
Not only can they be filled with birdseed, but tea lights can be placed in them and they become tiny glowing lights after dark.
With a small amount of materials and very little cost you can have a one of a kind romantic bird feeder in your garden... Or you can give it to a friend!
China Tea Cup Bird Feeder
tea cup and saucer
medium grade sand paper
1/2 inch copper pipe
1/2 inch copper end cap
marine epoxy
Purchase inexpensive tea cups. I bought mine for 97cents at Goodwill. The will suffer the elements so this is not a project to use great grandmother's heirloom china. Although they are not the prettiest china I've ever used they will look lovely in the garden.
Cover a work area. I cut apart brown bags and use them to protect my work surface. Turn cups over and rough up the bottom rim of the cup where it will meet the saucer with sandpaper. Rough up the saucer.
Read all the directions that come with the epoxy. Mix according to directions and using a toothpick spread it on the bottom rim of the teacup. (Next time I do this I am looking for a clear epoxy. This is what was recommended, but it remained grey.) Position the cup on the saucer. Let set until completely hardened.
Wipe up any stray epoxy according to package directions.
Once the cup is fixed to saucer rough up the top of the copper tube end cap. Put epoxy on the cap and place in the center of the saucer bottom.
Let it to
tally dry.
I purchased a 10 foot 1/2 inch copper pipe. Using a pipe cutter I cut 2- 3 1/2 foot pipes... and 1- 3 foot pipe. This was very easy... even for my first time!
Find a pretty spot in your garden.
Secure the pipe in the ground and slip the copper pipe end cap over the pipe. Fill the cup with birdseed.
I paid a visit to my garden mentors. Their beautiful garden seemed to be the perfect spot to show off these pretty feeders. These dear women are so generous with their garden and time. They welcome many groups and organization for tours all summer long.
One of the tea cups seemed to find a home in the cocks comb! It wanted to stay!
Hi Yvonne,
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty and festive little bird feeder that I know my birds would love. My squirrels would spoil all of their fun, however! They get in a lot of trouble around here. Thanks for such a fun and colorful post. I loved seeing the amazing flowers. Happy weekend!
Love the idea of the copper pipe Yvonne, I did these a few years ago and used slender stair banisters as the base but eventually the wood rotted in the ground. The copper will age well with a great patina. I think I may revisit this project with your great copper detail.
ReplyDeleteYvonne, so pretty! I made several of these back in NY and used crystal bobeches instead of the saucers with some cups that had no mate- the hanging crystals glittered so beautifully. Love the idea of the copper!
ReplyDeletexoxo Pattie
Yvonne, I love these too and have seen them in gardens here and there. It's a great use for odd china and I love how the copper weathers to the verdi green. My son does the copper with colored plates turned on end and then cuts copper leaves and attaches them to the post part. They look like flowers in the garden! Thanks for the tutorial-Diana
ReplyDeleteI love these! The copper is a nice touch and they are so cute. I have to make one of these for my garden. I think I see making several for friends and family in my future! Thanks for this one!!
ReplyDeleteYvonne,
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty. Thanks for sharing the "how tos.!
xo
Robin
Yvonne....I LOVE this project and the use of copper piping is great...I can just see it all covered in patina as it weathers in the garden. Off to FB to read your tip on bird seed :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Gail
thanks for sharing this adorable project- swelled my heart to when I viewed the cockscomb photos- both my great grand and grandmothers grew them.
ReplyDeleteI should make these to put candles in around my deck. I have set cups and saucers on the deck fencing and used them as candle holders in the past.
ReplyDeleteWe have sooo many squirrels that I shouldn't use them as bird feeders but agree that they are soooo lovely.
Becky K.
These are so pretty. I would love to have a few around but we have waaay too many squirrels for birdseed. Candles would be nice, tho.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the instructions...
xo bj
What beautiful photos. I have seen those tea cup feeders before. Thanks for the tutorial and the gorgeous tour of unusual flowers. I have not seen those wavy fuzzy looking ones before.
ReplyDeleteYvonne, This bird feeder is the
ReplyDeletecutest one I have ever seen! I am
going to give it a try, although
my garden is not at it's best in
the hot Florida Summer!
Very pretty Pink Saturday post!
Jane
Flora Doora
Thanks for sharing the lesson. I already have copper pipes, and will be looking for the end caps. Then I'll have to go into the basement and see what I can scrounge up to use for tea cups. My newest 'finds' are too pretty to go outside. ♥♫
ReplyDeleteI wish our squirrels wouldn't destroy this if I made one!!! I might try one though to put a tea light in! I love the idea, and it looks so pretty! Thanks for the pictures of the flowers too. Everything right now is so dry. Happy Sat., Yvonne! XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. Your flowers are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteBeckie
Hola Ivonne, a so charming bird feeder!!!! so beautiful and great idea!!!!
ReplyDeleteLoving your wonderful blog for my first time visiting you!!
Greetings from Chile,
maria cecilia
Hi Yvonne, what a nice gift and I'm sure your friends loved it! You're the first person I heard mention using them for candles and I LOVE this idea!
ReplyDeleteFor the folks having squirrel problems... try adding cayenne pepper to the seed-they don't like that but it doesn't bother the birds. I sprinkle it in planters too.
What an adorable idea. I especially like the first picture - it matches my Royal Albert Lady Carlyle set. It's so pretty. You never cease to amaze me!!
ReplyDelete:)
ButterYum
I just always love these...they look so pretty sitting high among the flowers! Thanks for showing how! ;D
ReplyDeleteOh I love this! I am going to make one out of my MacKenzie Childs cup and saucer! Thanks so much for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteLove love love!
Happy Saturday!
Cathy
What lovely photos. thank you for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift-thank for the lesson too! Happy PS!
ReplyDeleteHi Yvonne,
ReplyDeleteI love teacup feeders even though I don't as yet have one myself! I will have to look into making one one of these days. Thank you for sharing the photos and instructions. Happy Pink Saturday and enjoy your weekend.
Blessings,
Sandi
What a totally lovely idea. As a teacup lover, I don't think it's possible to ever have too many teacups, so I would love to have some in the garden as well.
ReplyDeleteAs always, Yvonne, your photos are stunningly beautiful. You are so gifted in so many ways, and it makes your blog one of the most beautiful on the block.
I can only imagine what a gracious hostesss you are. Sure wish I lived close to you, because I would LOVE to spend time with you in person and experience your lovely hospitality first-hand instead of through cyber space.
Blessings on your weekend
Love,
Patti
Love it! I saw a similar one at a garden tour that I went on in the spring. Thanks for sharing a how to make it. Carla
ReplyDeleteI love these sweet feeders Yvonne. Thank you for giving us a little lesson on how to make our own. I would love to make some for my garden.
ReplyDeleteYour phots are just amazing!
Hugs
That is so awesome Yvonne!
ReplyDeleteThey really are beautiful works of art! And thanks for the tutorial, I think I can do it!
Best Wishes,
Cindy
Great tip on facebook. I stopped filling my bird feeders because of the tremendous number of weeds germinating from the dropped seeds that fell directly into my flower beds.
ReplyDeleteyour blog is gorgeous!I love the beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeletethank you for visiting me today for pink saturday.
have a magical night
marfi
Yvonne, Your teacups look perfect amongst those beautiful blooms. Thanks for the tutorial. I have a couple of teacups I may try it out with. Have a wonderful weekend. Patty
ReplyDeleteYvonne, what a great idea and how pretty these would be in the garden. I have been gone again this week and had to review all of your posts. I love the adorable little pies and the tips on drying hydrangeas. We can't keep them over the winter, but I do plant them some years as annuals.
ReplyDeleteI have tried so many epoxys on glass and china and haven't had any good luck. If this works, I will take the bit of gray!
Really lovely!
ReplyDeleteThose are so lovely Happy belated Pink Day. Love you post.
ReplyDeleteI love the teacup idea, they always add a little air of feminity to the garden! Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteDena
Sweet Pickles and Chocolate
Yvonne,
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are beautiful. This is a great project and with your step by step tutorial we can make this for our homes too! (thanks! :)..
I adore the cockscomb photos, they are one of my favorites.
xoxo
beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI saw these several months ago at an artsy garden center and snapped away with my camera so I wouldn't forget about them. Of course, I did forget until I saw your post. I thought they were so pretty and I love the step by step. Maybe next summer:)
ReplyDeletemy mom and i are planning to make some of these very soon! soooo cute!
ReplyDeleteThis is just precious, Yvonne! Thank you for sharing this wonderful tutorial as this is something I'd enjoy making, especially with some of the cups/saucers that have flaws and I do not sell. And boy did you pick the most gorgeous spot to display it! What stunning gardens.
ReplyDelete~Always finding beautiful inspiration from you and your blog,
Nancy
Loved the tutorial and your photography is stunning. I have spent over an hour here and then I popped over to various recipe blogs from here that you suggested. Now I am hungry and lost my morning. ...LOL. I took the recipes for the zucchini pie and the fudge cookies and will try them out on my company next week. Okay...off to make some lunch/breakfast/brunch. Thanks so much for stopping by and signing up for the give-away and a happy belated Pink Saturday to you. ~~
ReplyDeleteLynn@thevintagenest
I can just picture one of the many fat squirrels that frequent my bird feeders sitting on that saucer looking smug;)
ReplyDeleteJanet@Housepeepers
Happy Belated Pink Saturday, Yvonne.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting one of these, and you have inspired me. And, your photos are stunning. I love cockscomb, too.
Hello again, Yvonne!
ReplyDeleteI was away for several days and while away my computer was stolen so I am just now getting around to Pink Saturday...what a FABulous project! And thank you so much for featuring me today...what a compliment!
Did you get my request for the brownie strawberry shortcake recipe? I am so hoping it was here that I saw it!
I am in Mechanicsburg...perhaps we can connect one day!
Have a beautiful day~
;-D Kathleen
I love these! I've purchased these, but prefer the idea of making them.
ReplyDelete- The Tablescaper