How to Make Ceramic Bird Baths

Ceramic bird baths are decorative additions to your landscape. The colorful designs attract all types of birds, enticing them to take a dip or a drink. You can make bird baths using ceramic planters and trays. Decorate your own terra cotta planters with ceramic tiles or acrylic paint to suit your outdoor décor, or select glazed ceramic pots and saucers for the bird bath designs. Terra cotta planters are inexpensive and are available in a variety of sizes. Take care of ceramic bird baths during cold temperatures, the material can crack so bring the bird baths indoors for protection.

• 1

  Spray paint the exterior of a 16-inch diameter terra cotta planter and the inside, outside, and edges of an 18-inch diameter terra cotta saucer with exterior spray paint. Let the paint dry. Terra cotta is porous, so apply one to two additional coats to all of the surfaces, making sure to let the paint dry between coats.

• 2

  Glue mosaic ceramic tiles and/or broken ceramics over the outside perimeter of the 16-inch diameter terra cotta planter. Do not cover the bottom of the planter with ceramics. Waterproof construction adhesive works to attach the ceramics to the planter. You are creating a mosaic, but there is no need to grout if you position the pieces close together. The planter is curved, so a few gaps between the ceramic materials are inevitable. Allow the adhesive to dry.

• 3

  Cover the gaps between the ceramic materials with flat-backed glass marbles. Attach the marbles with waterproof adhesive; let the adhesive dry.

• 4

  Place the planter upside down on your deck or patio, or in your garden or yard. Make a ring of waterproof construction adhesive around the upended bottom of the planter. Center the 18-inch diameter terra cotta saucer on top of the upended planter. Press the saucer down onto the adhesive.

• 5

  Fill the saucer with water to complete the bird bath.