Michele Made Me

Reader Question: “Got a garland for outside?”

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The other day, the lovely Caren dropped an email in my inbox. It went something like this:

I was thinking that maybe you could help me. I have a problem. Actually, it’s more of a challenge. See, there’s this pesky bird (as my son says) outside – it’s a juvenile robin – and it keeps attacking its own reflection in our window. I was thinking it might help to hang some garland strips along the window, but I don’t want to make it with materials like paper or cardboard that will dissolve in the rain. Got any ideas on what to make it out of?

And here is the assailant caught red-breasted at Caren’s window. Well, yes, the poor little thing does seem to be a titch confused, doesn’t he?

This pesky bird (photo provided by Caren)
No dear, you can’t come in to use the facilities. You’re a fowl for goodness sake. Pee on the car windshield like a normal bird, won’t you?
I don’t think he heard me.
Well, Caren, I’ve devised this extremely simple garland using an empty plastic shampoo bottle cut up into circles and strung onto some nylon string. It should be darn weather-resistant. If the stats on plastic are anywhere near correct, this garland will be around long after you or I.
Also, I couldn’t bring myself to insult your intelligence with a written tutorial, this thing is just beyond simple to make. Instead, here’s a wordless tutorial. If you have any questions, anything at all, you know where to find me!
Wordless Tutorial: Plastic Shampoo Bottle Garland

Plastic shampoo bottle garlands! These could work to scare the birdie, no? If nothing else, they’re pretty and they smell good. Hope this does the trick, Caren!
I’d like to note that these plastic garlands were inspired by the many many paper circle garlands you’ve no doubt seen across the net over the last several years. I was trying to find the earliest instance of the ubiquitous paper circle garland (dreamer…) but the furthest I went back was 2007 and So Sage. I’m fairly certain they’ve been around much much longer. But who knows. If you know of an earlier case, please post the link in the comments.
 
I will be taking a bloggy break for the next week to enjoy some family time. The school year is over for the boy today, it’s Canada Day on Friday, and our little family will be travelling up north over the long weekend to celebrate my youngest brother getting hitched. I will be back here on Wednesday, the 6th of July with more merry-craft-making. Until then, take good care of yourself, Happy Canada Day, and to my American friends, Happy 4th of July! I’ll see you on the flipside!
 
This post is linked to The Shabby Nest’s Frugal Friday!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. PEACHES says

    Woo hoo! Enjoy some well deserved down time 🙂 And congrats to your brother!

    Love this garland too. Great idea! I have about ten thousand diet coke cans that would do nicely for this project. Nice!!!

  3. DM says

    De très bonnes vacances à toi, Michèle !!! Et bravo pout ta guirlande en bouteille de shampoing, j'y penserai pour mon prochain mobile, of course !!!

  10. Caren says

    Yay, great idea!!! I'll have to do that! Should keep that pesky bird away for sure – oh, and I have a bottle like that, too – but it's blue! Maybe I could scrounge up a couple of different colors and make it really interesting. Hmmm. I'll have to look into the nylon string thing – the closest I have is nylon clothes line (a teensy bit to big for a needle, eh?)

  14. Rescued Goods says

    This is awesome! We have to make some. I really really love the idea of a wordless tutorial–nice! Have a happy time with your family!
    Vanessa

  19. Mrs A. says

    Brilliant idea. would work equally well in borders where you don't want the birds going after your plants. Hugs Mrs A.