More DIY Toys

[Bea]

My stuff from My Parrot Shop (www.myparrotshop.com) arrived today and i was eager to make my very own Baby Disco (http://myparrotshop.com/hanging-toys/baby-disco/prod_262.html). It was TONS easier that i would've guessed, and the only thing i'm not happy with is the rope i used to join the quick link, but that's ok, the birds will still like it!

To make it i got a wiffle ball, enough pacifier beads to poke into all but 4 of the wiffle ball holes, an o-ring, a bell, a little bit of cotton rope, and a quick link!
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/August302007-toys008Custom.jpg

Stuff the pacifier beads into the holes leaving two up the top and two down the bottom empty. Then attach an o-ring into one and add two extra pacifier beads and a bell. Then using the rope add the quick link up the top. ;)
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/August302007-toys009Custom.jpg
Too easy! Took me about 5-10 mins! :D It was cheap too, all up it would've cost me about $7 which is a lot cheaper than the $20 i would pay to buy one made.

The other toy i've been planning to make all week is this:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/August302007-toys013Custom.jpg
Very simple and very fun for the birdies! I've had the idea in my brain for several days, only took a couple of minutes to make too.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/August302007-toys014Custom.jpg

Now i'm waiting on more beads to arrive so that i can make more, and i still want to get my hands on some raffia because i am thinking of a fun idea which involves raffia and a wiffle ball!! ;)

[Plukie]

Those are brilliant!! Where do you get those pacifier beads from? I've never seen anything like that, it's fantastic! I presume they aren't too small for a tiel, I can't tell from that photo, just that it looks great.

[Bea]

The pacifier beads i bought from My Parrot Shop (www.myparrotshop.com) - they were the most expensive part of the toy at $6.50 for 26 beads. Anything pony bead size (like on the second toy i made) and up is tiel safe. ;) If you can't find them locally i *think* that My Parrot Shop ships to england, you can view the site with prices in British pounds so you would think that means they ship too.

[Plukie]

LOL!!! Thanks Bea, you've really got me confused. I answered it here and then when I went to Talk Budgies, I couldn't see my reply and so I answered it there as well. LOL!!!

I'll go and take a look at that site, thanks.

[feathers]

Hi Bea, you have done a fantastic job with making that Baby Disco ball :) and the other one with the pony beads is very well made and I am sure both your tiels will really love them both! We are going to get toy making this weekend and I am still thinking of a good way to hang up the paper till rolls? You are the very creative and I will follow the baby disco instructions this weekend so I hope ours turn out as great as yours!:D

[Bea]

We are going to get toy making this weekend and I am still thinking of a good way to hang up the paper till rolls? You are the very creative and I will follow the baby disco instructions this weekend so I hope ours turn out as great as yours!:D
If you think of a way to hang the till rolls let me know. :p

The disco ball was easy to make, the little pacifiers just squish right in. ;)

[Laura]

great toys Bea your so creative Bailee and Cookie are lucky to have you, do you want to make me some and send them...lol :p

[birdieness]

Great toys. Might get my stuff tomorrow or monday. Then to get on the go with all the stuff.

[Bea]

great toys Bea your so creative Bailee and Cookie are lucky to have you, do you want to make me some and send them...lol :p

Nah - just copy my ideas!! :p I get ideas by going on bird toy sites and then stealing all their ideas. ;)

[feathers]

nice toy's I am going to make some toy's like it:)

[Meghanxx4]

Hi Bea, you have done a fantastic job with making that Baby Disco ball :) and the other one with the pony beads is very well made and I am sure both your tiels will really love them both! We are going to get toy making this weekend and I am still thinking of a good way to hang up the paper till rolls? You are the very creative and I will follow the baby disco instructions this weekend so I hope ours turn out as great as yours!:D

Hi Feathers, I found this on another forum. I thought it fit well for this, since you were wonder how to hang a till roll. Now this design is meant for larger birds, but i'm sure you could changed it and just use a smaller block woods etc.

anyway heres the image:

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/graphicsxx4/paper_toy-1.jpg

[Bea]

That's a crafty idea!! Thanks Meghan. :D It would involve trying to find more stainless steel hardware though, which is no easy or cheap task around here. :rolleyes:

[birdieness]

Paper is not a good idea around here lol. Huge mess plus small room and 5 birdies. i can just see what the end result would be. Hoping to get my package today. Should go check the mail box soon.

[A-n-M]

The toys look great!!!!
I love making toys for the fids.
I use natural material like Jute, Sisal, and Hemp.
It gets detroyed fast though which is the down side.

I need to get beads and nidbits so I can make more creative things.

[Bea]

I got crafty again this afternoon!! :D First of all a brilliant (in my opinion, lol) idea came to me when i was lying in bed this morning and was taking my time getting up!
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/September12007-tielsandtoys028Custo.jpg
I think it works for holding a till roll! I was thinking how nice a little ladder would be, and that sliding a till roll onto one of the rungs would be a good idea. And then i thought that using those useless dowel perches that come with new cages would be perfect and FREE to make the rungs of the ladder! I cut the perches into evenly sized pieces and then painted them with food colouring. Once they were dry i drilled the holes and got to work!

Next, and all credit for the idea goes to Feathers cause i wouldn't have come up with it, is the crazy paper stick ball! An instant hit with my tiels (of course it is, they can destroy it)!
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/September12007-tielsandtoys027Custo.jpg

And that idea led to this idea!
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/September12007-tielsandtoys026Custo.jpg
The budgies have the double crazy stick ball at the moment, but it will no doubt end up in the shredder cage of the tiels eventually. I felt like i was over run with wiffle balls so this seemed like a great way to use a couple up in a way that they would be enjoyed!

And this was the linking system i used on these toys. They're some great plastic links Boomberry sent me from England. To close them up i just used a little star shaped pony bead. :D
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/September12007-tielsandtoys036Custo.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/September12007-tielsandtoys035Custo.jpg
Looks pretty too!

And of course here's some photos of the toys in use.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/September12007-tielsandtoys031Custo.jpg
Bailee having fun with his birdy toilet paper, hehe.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r78/birdybea/Other/September12007-tielsandtoys033Custo.jpg
Cookie trying to decide what that thing actually is...

I've now run out of beads again, hehe, but i should have a big package of them arriving in the mail on Monday *fingers crossed*.

[Plukie]

Bea, you really ought to go into some sort of little business making these toys. You could make a bit of money I'm positive. They are so unusual, creative and fun. I just wish I lived nearer instead of right across the world, because I would definitely be putting an order in.

[Bea]

Bea, you really ought to go into some sort of little business making these toys. You could make a bit of money I'm positive. They are so unusual, creative and fun. I just wish I lived nearer instead of right across the world, because I would definitely be putting an order in.
LOL!! It's probably cheaper for everyone to just look and then steal the ideas and make them themselves - and more fun!! :p Cookie and Bailee were helping me out with this afternoons toy making. Helping involves stealing beads and running off with them... :rolleyes:

I just spent about an hour painting approx. 100 wooden paddle pop sticks with food colour. I would rather colour them myself so i know what's been used. I had some pre-coloured ones but i was forever worrying about what colouring had been used.

[birdieness]

lol most times its cheeper to make them. Unless the supplies u get is way overpriced. I try and find stuff here but cotten rope is a must order for me. None here that i've found. Just waiting for my box with 40' cotten rope and 30' s/s wire.