Dude!
You totally need a lamp birdbath.
By the time I am through with y'all, there's going to be lamp birdbaths lighting up your hood!
Bahahaha!
Lighting.
That's awesome.
So here's what you need:
Lamp. Drill. Bowl. Epoxy glue.
And spray paint if you wish.
First things first: Cut the cord.
(No "husbands deeply attached to their mothers" jokes, if you please.)
Next: Take it apart. Most lamps are made of sectioned pieces that all fit on a metal rod. After removing the lightbulb and shade support, you should be able to twist the light bulb housing to the left. Of the three birdbaths I made, two twisted right off, one I had to use some needle-nose pliers to help get it off.
You want to remove enough pieces so that the top part of the metal rod is exposed. (See below.)
This exposed piece is what you attach your bowl to.
Now you need to drill a hole in your bowl. Make sure you use a drill bit wide enough for a snug fit. Also, if you decide to use a glass bowl, be sure to use a drill bit intended for glass! Very important.
After drilling the hole, slide your bowl over your lamp base. Next, use 5-minute epoxy to glue your bowl onto the base. If you have a metal washer from the top pieces you removed you can add it now, but the epoxy will be strong enough without. While you still have mixed glue, I would also recommend adding an embellishment to the top. If your lamp had a decorative finial on the top, this would work well. Think of it as a decorative touch, or a special seat for birds.
Awhhh. So nice.
Side note: You can use other glues or adhesives, but I found epoxy worked best. DO NOT use a glue gun. Glue gun glue will melt in direct sunlight. Just ask the Easter wreath I made last year when I found five billion cracked Easter eggs on my front porch. Oh no wait, you can't, 'cause I threw a tantrum and then chucked it in the trash.
Give your birdbath at least 24 hours to set and dry, and then it's ready to move outdoors!
Here's how mine turned out:
And here's the third before:
And after:
And finally, a peek at how they look in my yard:
The cool thing about this project is no two birdbaths are going to be the same.
Unless you are my internet stalker, and you cut your hair the same way and wear the exact same clothes as me every day. If so, you totally need to get some highlights man.
Seriously, if you go to a thrift store or search yard sales, chances are you are going to find totally different items that would work. And you should! Have fun with this, and be creative!
Want to see more of my DIY projects? Check them out at natalme.com!