Recycled Light Birdbath

Garden craft ideas are a great way to quickly change the look of your space. A Recycled Light Birdbath may seem like a complicated craft idea, but it's actually so much fun to make. Best of all, you can salvage old supplies for your decor project.

Materials:

Table lamp base
Craft knife
Scissors
Glass bowl ceiling fixture w/decorative nut
Tub and shower caulk
Household cement
Paper towel
Acrylic latex house paint
Paintbrush
Clear spray sealer (optional)
Plastic bag (optional)

Instructions:

If your lamp base has a felt covering on the bottom, use a craft knife to cut and remove it. Using scissors, cut the cord, pull it out and discard. Unscrew the harp and bulb socket from the threaded pipe that runs through the lamp base. On some lamps the pipe will run from the bottom to the top, while others are inserted in a shorter segment at the top of the lamp base. Discard the harp and socket, but do not remove the thread pipe.
Place the glass bowl ceiling fixture on your work surface with the outside, bottom facing up. Apply tub and shower caulk to the dimple around the center hole.
Apply household cement to the pipe threads that extend above the top of the lamp base.
Place the ceiling fixture over the threaded pipe with the inside of the bowl facing up. Screw the decorative nut that was used to secure the fixture to the ceiling to the threaded pipe of the lamp. Note: You are attaching the nut to the inside of the bowl. Tighten the nut to squeeze the household cement and the caulk together. Use a damp paper towel to wipe off the excess.
If desired, paint the base any color you desire using a acrylic latex house paint. I chose a wall paint that will weather over time to give the finished birdbath a shabby, chipped paint appearance. To prevent weathering, place a plastic bag over the bowl, then spray the painted base with a clear sealer.

Note:

These birdbaths can be top-heavy and tippy. When displaying them in your yard, first place a stake in the ground and set the base of the lamp over it. Pour a couple inches of water in the bowl and watch as the birds preen and primp.