Garden Crafts - About.com

Clay Pot Bird Bath

Materials Needed:
16 inch or larger Terra Cotta Clay Pot
16 inch or larger Terra Cotta Clay Saucer
Rub-On Decals
Clear Acrylic Sealer Spray

Instructions:
These are so simple to make, and the birds just love mine!
Wipe down your terra cotta pot and saucer with a damp cloth and let dry completely.

The decorating ideas are endless. You can find a neat stencil and paint it, or try sponge painting. For mine, I used simple rub-on decals available at pretty much any craft store.

The only trick is to seal your bird bath well. I use clear acrylic sealer spray. Also, make sure you store your bird bath inside during cold weather months.

Another interesting tid-bit: I made my bird bath to cover the pipe for the septic tank that is in our yard! That is the main reason for it's smaller size, since it needs to be moved more often that a normal bird bath.

Toad Houses

We used coffee cans for our toad houses (make sure there are no sharp edges!). You could also use old clay pots, margarine tubs, or any other container that is durable and large enough and something you do not plan on using again.
I started out by using a gray, spray paint primer on the coffee cans, then my kids and I simply painted them using outdoor paints. Use your imagination! Once the paint was dry, I sealed the cans with a few layers of a clear, acrylic spray.

Once your toad house is ready, find a moist, shady spot in your garden for it! Lay the can on it's side and bury half of it, filling the inside partially so any visiting frogs will be sitting on dirt.