How to Make a DIY Birdfeeder and Bird House with Vintage China

Lori VanoverLori VanoverUpdated: Mar. 02, 2023

Offer this season’s avian arrivals a warm welcome to your yard with a teacup birdfeeder and a teapot bird house.

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teacup bird feederMark Derse/Country Woman

These craft projects are perfect if you have some vintage china to repurpose and want to attract more backyard birds. Turn a pretty teapot and a teacup and saucer into a DIY bird feeder and birdhouse that your feathered friends will love. Psst—here’s how to make a DIY nesting box for bluebirds. Oh, and check out these birdhouse kits from Etsy to build for nesting season, too.

Teacup Bird Feeder

What You’ll Need

  • Teacup with matching saucer
  • Industrial glue or epoxy
  • Ribbon
  • Birdseed

Directions

  1. Arrange teacup on its side, the handle facing upward, on the saucer.
  2. Apply glue where the teacup meets the saucer. Hold teacup in place while glue sets. Allow to dry according to glue instructions.
  3. Tie ribbon to handle to hang. Fill cup and saucer with birdseed.

Tip: Because vintage china sometimes contains lead in the glazes, test pieces intended for use by people or animals with a DIY kit like the Pro-Lab lead surface test kit. $8, on amazon.com.

teapot birdhouseMark Derse/Country Woman

Teapot Birdhouse

What You’ll Need

  • Wooden craft plaque
  • Stain, optional
  • Hanging hardware
  • Teapot
  • Industrial glue or epoxy
  • Paintbrush or rag
  • Hammer

Directions

  1. If desired, stain plaque and allow to dry completely.
  2. Using hammer, attach hanging hardware to the top center of plaque back.
  3. Apply glue to bottom of teapot and press into place on plaque. Allow to dry according to the glue instructions.
  4. Hang outdoors or indoors for decorative use.

Originally Published: July 08, 2020
Country Woman
Originally Published in Country Woman

Lori Vanover
Lori Vanover
Lori has 20 years of experience writing and editing home, garden, birding and lifestyle content for several publishers. As Birds & Blooms senior digital editor, she leads a team of writers and editors sharing birding tips and expert gardening advice. Since joining Trusted Media Brands 13 years ago, she has held roles in digital and print, editing magazines and books, curating special interest publications, managing social media accounts, creating digital content and newsletters, and working with the Field Editors—Birds & Blooms network of more than 50 backyard birders. Passionate about animals and nature, Lori has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Environmental Communications from the University of Illinois. In 2023, she became certified as a Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener, and she is a member of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology and sits on the organization's Publications Advisory Committee. She frequently checks on her bird feeders while working from home and tests new varieties of perennials, herbs and vegetable plants in her ever-growing backyard gardens.