Old Lamp + Tiered Server = New Bird Bath

I am so excited to share this project with you!

A few months ago, my friend Karli from Style{d} had a huge sale of her vintage props which of course I went to!  I scored a lovely little vintage lamp with crystals dripping from it.  It needed to be re-wired and it had no shade, but it still had it's harp and finial and so I snatched it up.  

And then, it sat in my garage.  For those that know me, I am not a hoarder.  In fact, I have no problem tossing anything, but this piece was awesome so I allowed it to sit in my garage for months and months.  I had no plan for it but I knew it belonged in my life.   I finally decided to make a bird bath out of it using another old tiered serving stand.  Here's how I did it.

Here's the finished product, read below to get the instructions.

Step 1: Identify all of your parts. This tiered server worked out perfectly.  I do not have the ability to drill through glass and by using a tiered server the holes were already drilled.  Otherwise, for me, this project would have been a no-go.

And the lamp

Step 2: Start taking apart the lamp.  Take off the finial and harp.

Step 3: Take off the light switch.  Just turn counter-clockwise until the screw is exposed.

Step 4:  See the pink tip of my paint can opener / screw driver.  I am unscrewing a tiny screw that was holding the lights wiring in place.  Take that off.

Step 4: Pull gently and the lighting wiring should come off.  (Yours may have more screws / nuts and bolts on the other end but the cord had already been cut on this baby since it was used for photo styling and not in real life.

Step 5: Take apart your tiered server.  Most of these come apart quite easily so they can pack flat for storage and this was no exception.  It came apart quickly and easily.

Unscrewing the top

Removing the rubber gaskets and washers

Unscrewing the bottom screw

Step 6: Dry fit your parts together.  In my case, after I dry fitted them I realized I needed a piece of all thread and some nuts to put it back together so I went to True Value and for $2.36 I got the long piece of all thread and some nuts.  Here is where my picture tutorial totally goes kaput.  My all thread was longer than needed and the guy at the hardware store said to put it together and then cut it off.  Um, yeah, didn't work so well.  Needless to say, please dry fit all the parts together and make sure they are the appropriate size before you break out your glue.  Or you will have to take it apart and do it again.  Your husband will have to come and help you saw through the all thread with wire strippers because that's all you have in the way of tools and then you'll have to bend the rod until it snaps.  I did that part myself and felt like a super-hero, it was awesome.

I also realized at this point that the top of the server looked cool turned upside down but I also needed the bird bath to be a little higher for looks.  I punched a hole in a canning lid and built up the level that way.  I also used some socket wrench pieces that I had lying around to make it taller.   At this point, use what you have.

See how I added the top tier upside down and the canning lid is resting on a socket wrench piece.

Here is how it looks from the top.

Close-up of the canning lids stacked in there on top of the socket wrench piece.

When I set it in the garden and filled it with water, it fell over.  Lesson learned is to make sure it is level.

Filled with water.

Starting to tip

Kaput-at least it didn't break! 

I dug out the grass, and nestled it down in about an inch.

Filled with water and holding steady. We'll see what happens when the chickens and birds get in it!