painted bird bath

When we moved in this house, almost 3 years ago, there was an old bird bath in the yard. Concrete, painted white with a squirrel, it’s not something I would have picked out, but we would clean it and put water in it frequently for the birds.

Over the weekend we bought some native flower and grass seed mix for Rocky and spent a good amount of time pulling weeds, trimming the roses and looking at this awful bird bath.  Then I got to thinking about changing it.  I didn’t like it already so what was the worst that could happen.

I cleaned it and got out my crafting acrylic paints, probably not the best paint for an outdoor piece, but it didn’t matter.  First I was just going to paint yellow petals on the bowl, but then I got out the green, the red, the blue and well, I just got a little carried away. Then, the hubby suggested that I make the squirrel into a lizard. I scoffed and said that it couldn’t be done.  Then he chipped away the squirrel’s ears, making it look a little more lizard like which gave me no other choice then to go with it.

I think it’s fun and colorful, the kids love it, the birds love it and our back yard is better for it.  It goes nicely with the rose blooms and hopefully soon, some native grass and flowers.

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16 Responses to painted bird bath

  1. Michelle says:

    It’s FABULOUS! You guys make a great team. I *love* the lizard! Go buy some sealer, to make that permanent. Seriously!

  2. Linda says:

    You are so clever!

  3. angela says:

    Now THAT is a birdbath! I love it! Maybe I won’t scoff the next time I drive by concrete world…I just needed some inspiration to open my eyes, thanks.

  4. curlsofred says:

    It is simply delightful! Definitely love the lizard over the squirrel. Well done.

  5. Heather says:

    Absolutely gorgeous Regina!!! I’m totally floored by the squirrel => lizard change!!! It looks beautiful in your yard. =)

  6. Teresa says:

    That is so AWESOME! I love it so much more with the lizard! I want one of those!

  7. hena tayeb says:

    wow what a transformation.. how could the bird not come to this beauty.

  8. Ribs says:

    Fabulously kitsch – I love it! If only I had a garden…

  9. Chris says:

    Wow! This is just fabulous. I was looking at an old bird bath in the yard the other day, and wondering if I could paint or stencil it to make it funky and adorable. You did just that! Thanks for the inspiration…and the squirrel-to-lizard idea was genius!

  10. Totally awesome! I *love* the lizard in place of the squirrel.

  11. mary says:

    I LOVE THE BIRD BATH…..I WISH I COULD FIND A MOLD FOR THAT……MY FATHER USE TO MAKE THEM LONG TIME AGO……HE DIED IN 1994…..IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE I CAN GET THE MOLD FOR THAT BIRD FEEDER IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

  12. Nancy sheridan says:

    I would like to also find the mold please.My husband and his dad use to make the same one back.in 1951 1952 r 1961 thank u

  13. Sheri says:

    I just bought that that exact bird bath and was trying to figure out how to paint it! This is great!

  14. Nate Kranz says:

    I just got this exact same bird feeder for free off of LetGo and actually thought that the squirrel WAS a lizard when initially viewing the pictures. Upon taking a closer look once it was in my garage, I was disappointed to find it was in fact a very dull, detail-less squirrel. I’m seriously in disbelief and literally can’t believe I found not only the same exact birdbath, but with it almost exactly how I was picturing it in my mind! Do you have any pointers you wish you would have known when first setting out to make the transition from squirrel to lizard, especially for someone not in the least bit artistic (I’m probably in over my head attempting to duplicate your masterpiece lol)? If you have any additional pictures you could send me showing all the detail you added I’d be ever so grateful and promise not to divulge your secrets to the world ? naterkranz@gmail.com

    • Nate says:

      Hahaha I just noticed that this post was originally from 2010 so I doubt you even get notifications about this or even care at this point. No hard feelings if I don’t get a response.

  15. Sally Meredith says:

    I have a birdbath just like this that was my aunt’s;it’s in desperate need of painting. Thanks for the inspiration!

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