How to Make a Unique Grapevine Bird Feeder

I love watching the birds in the winter; they are such a reminder to get out and enjoy it no matter how cold!

Making a new feeder each year has become a fun tradition (see another one I made from an old chandelier here...) and this one was fun and easy to put together.

Grapevine bundles

Grapevine circle

Jute twine

Milk Paint

Peanut Butter

Birdseed

Jute ribbon

Stick

When I was cleaning out my spare room recently, I found these grapevine pieces that I had found at the dump reuse centre and had never used. They were the perfect little bundles to turn into a unique feeder for my feathered friends.

It was fairly easy to turn the straight bundles into a frame. A few dabs of hot glue helped the corners stay put while I wrapped the jute twine in and out creating a binding to hold them together. I did this to each corner until the frame was formed.

I added a little natural milk paint to the frame just to give it some colour. I only placed it on the frame, and not the oval, so that it wasn't on the piece the birds would be eating from.

The grapevine that was shaped into a circle was too big to fit into the middle of the frame once I had it formed. Grapevine is easily moldable when wet through though so I soaked it in a sink full of water overnight and the next morning tied it tightly into an oval shape.

After a day of drying, the twine was snipped off and it fit perfectly.

I needed a perch for the birds to sit on so grabbed a stick and snapped it into a size that was perfect for the little birds. With a little dab of hot glue, I slipped one end into the grapevine bundle at the bottom of the oval.

To hang the oval inside of the frame, I tied it with a piece of hemp ribbon. I used another piece of this same ribbon to hang the birdfeeder from my balcony railing once it was ready to go outside.

To finish off the feeder, peanut butter was spread all over the oval and then dipped into a plate of bird seeds.

The new grapevine bird feeder looks so pretty with the snow and is just the perfect size to hang from one of my railings. Even though its intended purpose was to feed my feathery friends who hang around all winter… someone else who visits daily, beat them to it. I can’t say I mind though as she has been fun to watch and has thoroughly enjoyed the peanut butter and seeds.

I guess it will just be a grapevine squirrel feeder now – or – I will just add some more peanut butter and seeds later and tie it up in a different spot. Either way, someone is enjoying the treats!

For more upcycling and repurposing projects, visit Recreated Designs here...

Grab my handy list "10 Things to NEVER Pass Up at the Thrift Store" here if you love to thrift and reuse.