Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Celebrations: Spring Butterfly Feeder Jar

Butterfly Feeder Jar
Spring is around the corner and I'm already enjoying the warmer weather and blue sky. I've been busy in my garden and in preparation hope to attract butterflies this year with a sweet little butterfly feeder.


How to make a butterfly feeder jarIt’s a Butterfly Feeder Jar. Or in this case, a Butterfly Feeder Wine Jug. I can’t wait for the butterflies to flutter around for a little drink of sugar water.

Here’s how to make a butterfly feeder jar.

How to make a butterfly feeder jar
  • Start with a clean glass jar or jug. Whatever you use, the lid must fit tightly because in the end, you’ll be hanging your jar upside down.
  • Prep your surface by wiping it down with rubbing alcohol
  • Plan your design using Adhesive Stencils (I used Martha Stewart Stencils)
  • Dab Martha Stewart Glass Paint in Opaque Gloss onto the stencil.
  • Gently peel the stencil while the paint is wet.
  • Continue until your design is done. 
 How to make a butterfly feeder jarLet your paint dry thoroughly. If air drying, the glass paint completely cures in 21 days. To speed things up, you can bake your glass in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. IMPORTANT: Place your glass object in a cool oven then heat to 350 degrees. Let cool completely in the oven.


How to make a butterfly feeder jar 

How to make a butterfly feeder jar 

How to make a butterfly feeder jarOnce the glass is cooled, you can continue and finish up the feeder.


How to make a butterfly feeder jarDrill or nail a hole into the jar lid. I used a nail to make two small holes in my lid since I was planning on using string for the feeder. You can make a larger hole and use a piece of sponge or fabric. Whatever you use, the fit must be really tight. The goal is to have your sponge, fabric or string inside the jar and the rest hanging outside of the jar. When you fill your jar with sugar water and turn it upside down the butterflies will come and drink from the strings.


How to make a butterfly feeder jarTo hang your jar, make a simple twine or string netting. Tie four pieces of string to the top of your jar. The strings should be at least four times the height of the jar. Knot the strings alternating every other one.
 
Fill your jar with butterfly nectar. To make the nectar, use 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. Boil the sugar water for a few minutes, stirring while it’s boiling. Let cool and pour into your jar. Turn your jar upside down and make sure it’s not leaking. The strings will eventually be soaked with sugar water.


How to make a butterfly feeder jarHang your Butterfly Feeder outside and wait for the butterflies to stop by.

How to make a butterfly feeder jarI hope you enjoyed my Butterfly Feeder Jar project. 



Thanks so much for stopping by.

 

43 comments :

  1. Someone is going to be happy to win this great prize!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Carolyn, I'm crazy about butterflies and this project is absolutely adorable!Thanks for sharing!
    Have a wonderful week!
    Hugs from Portugal,

    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love your butterfly feeder! It is so colorful and is bound to draw many happy little winged creatures.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My first time entering a giveaway. Hope I did it correctly. I also entered @ Flamingo Toes. Not sure how many times a person may enter.
    I really like that butterfly feeder. Maybe they'll share with the hummingbirds. Great tip about putting the jug into a cold oven and then heating it. Might be where I messed up with my baked marbles. I put them in a preheated oven.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I adore how your butterfly feeder turned out Carolyn!! It is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is beautiful! Really so, so pretty :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fantastic idea for the garden, and the jar is so pretty too! Pinning yet again!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You outdid yourself on this one lady! The butterflies will be too transfixed by your paint job to take a sip!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love this idea. Pinning it so that I can make one if spring ever arrives here in Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just saw this on Looksi and had to come over and find out what in the world a butterfly feeder jar is! What a neat idea and so perfect to do with kids! Love how you prettied it up too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a beautiful way to welcome spring with martha products and a beautiful design.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful Fun Crafts= )
    christilynn2622@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I will be so happy if I won this! Love the butterfly feeder, it's gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  14. love love love the feeder, and ty for the amazing chance of winning these great products

    ReplyDelete
  15. Carolyn, this is so, so beautiful. You've taken the craft of glass painting and made it into an elegant art with your impeccable sense of color and design.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love the butterfly feeder.. Thanks for the chance!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sadly I can't enter but the stencils are so pretty. I love Butterflies, this will be a nice project to do for this Spring and Summer :)

    ~Bevolee

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would love to do this with my 13 yr old... she likes to do this stuff with me!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great Giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity!!
    Artful Blessings,
    Kathryn

    ReplyDelete
  20. So awesome to be able to enter this great giveaway!! Gracias!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wonderful giveaway and I love your butterfly feeder project!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love that! It's beautiful and I love the idea of feeding the butterflies. Do you think it'll attract bees?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Cute butterfly feeder, would be fun to craft.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you for sharing and the opportunity to win this awesome prize! *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hey Carolyn! I found you on Fox Hollow Cottage & wanted to let you know I am pinning your project to my board! Come check out my blog, Home | Styled anytime and follow me if you see something you like! Also, you can check out the recipe I attached to the link Pinterest Link Party! Have a great day!
    www.home-styled.blogspot.com
    http://home-styled.blogspot.com/2013/03/pepperoni-onion-arugula-wheat-crust.html

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have a feeling we will be making a lot of butterfly feeders at our house...so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love this. So glad I saw it on one of the link ups.
    Leslie

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for this tutorial! My girls and I just made our feeder this morning, I'm excited (and hopeful) to start seeing some butterfly activity in our backyard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, totally forgot to include the link to our finished project! http://thislemonyogurt.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/flutter-by/

      Delete
  29. How do you keep the ants away??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Amy, Mine hangs over a portion of the garden that doesn't seem to get too many ants. But I also put ant stakes around my garden because once in awhile we do get quite a few.

      Delete
  30. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  31. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  32. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  33. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  34. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  35. It is nice butterfly feeder jar . Its easy to make also. I will try definitely.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. I enjoy reading and responding to your comments. If you do not hear back from me via email your profile is most likely defaulted to no reply-comment or anonymous and I am unable to respond.