DIY Bird Feeder

This DIY Bird Feeder is a “Decorate It Yourself” project! I’ve been in search of a craft project that would use some of the excessive amount of bottlecaps that have accumulated in the bottle cap catcher on our back porch. Our back porch is THE place to watch football. We have an open door policy — all are welcome just BYOB and an appetizer to share! Needless to say, we’ve accumulated a wide variety of bottlecaps.

I was wandering through Hobby Lobby one day and this flyer caught my eye. I knew it would be the perfect project to use up some of the bottlecaps. (And I have another idea in the works for the rest of them…stay tuned!).

DIY Bird Feeder Supplies

Unfinished wooden bird feeder
Paint in your choice of 3 colors (I used DecoArt in Warm Sunset, Apple Barrel in Caribbean and Yellow)
Paintbrush
60 bottle caps
Rubber mallet
Hot Glue
Painter’s tape (optional)

The bird feeder comes unpainted. Hobby Lobby frequently runs their unfinished wood items on sale at 40% off so look out for the sale.

I really liked the color scheme on the flyer and already had the yellow and blue paint at home so all I needed to buy was the terracotta color which I also got on sale. This whole project cost less than $10.

My 8 year old daughter Audrey helped me paint it. She did a great job with staying “in the lines” but you could use painter’s tape to help younger kids paint neatly. We flattened the bottle caps with a rubber mallet. Although they didn’t turn out as flat as the ones shown on the flyer but they still look good. I used hot glue to adhere them to the roof of the bird feeder.

While making this DIY Bird Feeder Audrey and I wondered if it would end up being used by the birds or a squirrel. We have a very determined squirrel in our yard who Audrey has named Smarty Pants because he’s figured out how to bypass the baffle to get to our other bird feeder. I have no doubt Smarty Pants will enjoy a few meals from our DIY Bird Feeder!