DIY Fabric Birdcage Decoration For Spring
Maybe it’s because I’m the daughter of an ornithologist, spring makes me think of birds. Which gave me the idea to make a scrap fabric birdcage decoration for the home.
These upcycled fabric birdcages would make a lovely gift & as with the fabric birdhouses I made, they can be personalised by using a favourite old shirt or blouse. Any old fabric scraps will do for these gorgeous birdcage decorations. I’ve been eyeing up an old pink striped shirt of my husbands which I think I’ll use next.
The fabric birdcage take about 1 hour to make and cost almost nothing to make as you use stuff lying around the home.
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What you need to make a fabric Birdcage
- 2 wire coat hangers (like the ones you get from the dry cleaners)
- Small round metal flan case or any round object about 7-8cm in diameter. If you don’t have anything like that, you can just use a round bit of stiff cardboard
- Scraps of cotton fabric, or an old cotton shirt.
- Pliers, wire cutters, glue brush, duct tape & glue
- Small twig and twine and feather bird
How to make a fabric birdcage
Making The Wire Frame
1. Firstly you need to make the birdcage frame. Take the wire coat hangers and cut them with wire cutters in the two places shown in the picture below.2. Next shape your hanger into the shape below using duct tape in the corner to hold it in place. Do this to both hangers, but cut the top hook off the second hanger.
3. Then, slot your two hangers together to form a cross shape and secure in place with duct tape. Don’t worry about how much duct tape you use as you will be covering it all in fabric.
Now your frame is ready to cover in fabric.
Covering The Frame In Fabric
1. Firstly, tear the fabric into strips about 3cm wide. tearing gives a better effect than cutting. With a brush paste the wrong side of the fabric with glue and then wrap it around the wire frame overlapping as you go. Continue until the whole fabric birdhouse frame is covered.
2. Next, cover whatever you are using for the base in fabric and stick this to the bottom of your cage. This is relatively easy to do as you are sticking fabric to fabric.
3. Finally, the fabric birdcage is almost finished. All you need is to hang a twig from the frame with some twine to make a perch and add your bird.
I bought by bird months ago on a trip to Brighton, but they are easy enough to find on Amazon. You could even make a fabric one yourself there are loads of patterns on Pinterest.
With mothers day around the corner, I think that one of these fabric birdcages would make for a lovely Mothers Day gift. You could make the gift even more special by using an old favourite blouse or shirt.
If you are looking for more Mothers Day gift idea you should check out these upcycled crafts.
- Scallop Shell Trinket Dish
- Denim Upcycled Necklace
- Pinecone Flower Heart
- Marimekko Bowls
- Tropical Birdhouse
Eric
Very cool and creative! Looks like you bought it somewhere!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much.
Cecilia
So cute! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much!
Angela
Claire,
These truly are “gorgeous”! I’d like to include these in a roundup post on my blog, if that’s okay. I might also use another project of yours as well. If for some reason you are not comfortable with this, please let me know. The post will be up on the 6th but I will gladly remove links if I hear otherwise. 🙂
Angela
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. Angela you are welcome to use a project in a round up. You can use one photo for each project as long as there is a clear link back to Pillarboxblue.
Janine
Claire,
You are so clever and talented. I adore every one of your projects! This is fabulous and thanks for sharing!
Claire Armstrong
Janine your going to give me a big head, thank you so much for your kind words.
Mary-the boondocks blog
What a cool and original idea Claire. I also love to use fabric to wrap around anything that looks ugly to me or to add some zip. This was insanely creative of you. Visiting as a fellow contributor to the blog hop.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you very much. I’m a bit of a fabric hoarder, the hardest bit I find is choosing a fabric.
Tuula @ Thrifty Rebel Vintage
Just popping back in to say thanks so much for sharing your awesome bird cages at Vintage Charm
Claire Armstrong
Thank you !
Navy Wifey Peters @ USS Crafty
I have a thing for bird cages, and these are beautiful! I absolutely love what you’ve done here! Pinning!!!!!
Navy Wifey Peters @ The Submarine Sunday Link Party
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! They are very simple to make.
Donna of Funky Junk Interiors
Hangers! I would have never seen that coming. These are precious! They remind me of my visit to Maui… such a neat vibe!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much ! I loved reading about your visit to Maui, I want to go.
Tuula @ Thrifty Rebel Vintage
Your birdcages are so adorable Claire. Love the colourful fabrics!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you! I do love a bit of colour.
hilke
Cute! And a really good instruction.
Claire Armstrong
Cheers and thank you !
Audra @ Renewed Projects
Awwwww, how sweet! Great tutorial on how to make these. We have a generous stash of wire hangers from the dry cleaners…perfect project for those!
Claire Armstrong
Thanks ! Who’d thought you could make something pretty out of those ugly hangers.
Michele
How fun and creative!! Love that they are made with hangers. My girls would love to make some with me. Thanks for the awesome idea!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! Maybe they could use one of their old shirts.
Jess | Make and Do Crew
I really would have never guessed those were coat hangers! Birds have been a huge topic lately with my daughter so I think I will show her this and see if she wants to make one. Thanks for the idea!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! They are easy and fun to make so hopefully she’ll enjoy making one.
Lucy @ Patina Paradise
Claire these are so bright and cheerful! I love repurposed clothing projects and these are definitely on my to do list! Thanks for the inspiration. ;o)
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! I love to make stuff with the bits I have lying around. Trouble is I can become a bit of a hoarder.
Cindy diy beautify
These are SO sweet, and I love that you repurposed clothes hangers…great idea 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much !
brooke
What a cute idea. Who would have thought you could make this with a hanger!!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! I like to use everyday objects.
Jeanette
I would have never guessed wire hangers! Very inventive.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! It’s amazing what you can upcycle !
Meegan
What a creative idea! I love the fabric prints. Perfect for Spring.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you !
Handan
Claire, this is a great way to use those old wire hangers. This project is on my to do list now. I can only imagine how beautiful they are going to look on our deck. Thanks for this creative idea!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! Happy to have inspired I’m sure they will look fantastic on your deck.
Donna H
What a wonderful project! I love it!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! glad you like it.
Holly
Hi Claire – I was like… how on earth did she make that?!?!? Coat hangers are you kidding me – so creative! Visiting as a fellow contributor to #DIYMySpring. Hope your week is full of sunshine! Hugs, Holly
Claire Armstrong
Thank you very much ! They were so quick and easy to make.
sustainablemum
They are adorable. I love that you have used bits and pieces you had in the house!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! I love to craft with stuff that I have round the home.
Emily
Wow! I can’t believe you made these using coat hangers! So clever!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you very much !
Lindsay Eidahl
Great hanger upcycle project for spring!!!
Claire Armstrong
Cheers and thank you !
Tee @ Beauteeful Living
Such a creative project! Love how you were able to re-use wire hangers. Thanks for sharing tutorial.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you ! I do love an upcycle !
Christina
These are so charming! These are on my must try list- Love how you can use a favorite fabric to make them really personal! Linking up from DIY Spring
Cheers
Claire Armstrong
Thank you very much ! I love to use fabric scraps for projects and keep any pretty old shirts for future projects.