I knew it was time to retire the old bundt pan when a quarter of the baked pound cake finally stuck to the bottom of the pan. It had been through a good amount of baking projects, with many of them being this same exact pound cake recipe. Though I would no longer use the pan for baking, quite a few ideas popped into my mind on how to repurpose this into something once again useful, or decorative. Depending on the condition of the bundt pan, listed below are just a few ideas for crafting.
Please note that if the pan is so worn out that it is flaking on the inside, do not use this for projects where animals may ingest the flakes. If this is the case, simply stick to using it for non-animal related crafts/decoration only.
Critters
There are some interesting ways to repurpose that old cake pan into projects related to animals. Again, make sure that it is not flaking on the inside, as we don’t want our critter friends to potentially ingest this. One idea that I first used was to turn the bundt mold into a feeder for our ducks. Our female eats much too quickly, and we decided to use this as a feeder similar to the way grooved, maze-like bowls are used to help dogs who eat too quickly. By portioning out her feed into this, we’ve found a new way to help slow down her eating. Some people even use these bundt pans to make their own wild game feed blocks, combining the ingredients and using this as a form for the block.
When looking into other upcycling projects, I noticed many other people had turned them into bird feeders. After drilling four holes in the upper corners of the pan, I ran twine through them and made a simple hanger so that our wild bird friends could enjoy it as their new place to find seed. Within minutes, the sparrows and cardinals were popping their heads out from the inside of the pan. However, this is definitely not squirrel proof, so note that they will enjoy turning this into their personal swing! It’s possible to also use the pan as a mold for a birdseed block.
This is also one of the simplest bird baths (for smaller birds)/drinking stations you can provide. If you have the ability to, safely cut a log to the desired height and stand it on end, placing the filled water pan on the top side. The birds enjoy perching on the edge of this, and getting sips of fresh water, so make sure to keep it cleaned regularly. Remember, if you are a youngster reading this, make sure to have your parents handle any tools and always have their guidance when crafting.
Crafting
Living in the technological era that we do these days, it isn’t hard to find a plethora of ideas on how to use household items in really unique crafts. This applies to the bundt pan, and searching something on the web similar to “bundt pan crafts” will not disappoint the DIY’er. A popular option is to paint the underside of the pan, if not already that color, and apply a little burlap ribbon to turn it into a wreath that looks like an apple or a pumpkin. Seasonal wreaths are a wonderful idea, and you can even have the kids help apply googly eyes and pipe cleaner to a brown pan to make it look like a reindeer for Christmas-time!
Another interesting project is to take the bundt pan and use it as a planter, filling with soil and planting small flowers or succulents inside. Perhaps you do not have any living plants to fill it with? This is a great opportunity to either place some artificial flowers inside, or even turn the pan into a flower itself! There are beautiful examples of how to paint the pan to look like a blooming, colorful flower and then place it on a green metal stand to provide garden decor.
While these are only a few ideas on upcycling that worn bundt pan, or inspiring you to look for one at the next yard sale, hopefully you will use your creativity to make something unique for your home. Remember to use safety whenever crafting, and if you’re able, have fun making something together with your family. We would love you have you share with us some of the ways you’ve used one of these pans!
Fala Burnette is a homesteader with her husband at Wolf Branch Homestead in Alabama. They are currently building their own log cabin and milling their own lumber, along with raising heirloom crops in the Spring and tanning furs during the Winter.
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