Works for Me Wednesday (Vol. 2): A Homemade Gift for the Birds

Yesterday, I posted at our family blog about what fun it was to feed the birds with the kids this past week. Just as fun was putting together a birdfeeder birthday gift package for one of their little friends who “has everything”, but likes to craft.   This was a great activity for our Jammies School time, and, perhaps others will be inspired to make their own versions of this economical, green and enjoyable gift. Here’s what ours included:

• 1 repurposed frozen lasagna tray from a study my husband is involved with at work (to hold most of the gift together, as well as to hold birdseed when doing the craft)
• 1 bag of birdseed
• 1 jar of inexpensive peanut butter (could be swapped out for honey, lard or other similar sticky products for those with peanut allergies)
• 2 plastic knives, for spreading peanut butter
• 1 bag of pine cones that we collected outside
• 1 bundle of colorful pipe cleaners to hang the pine cones with (string, yarn, thread, etc. all work, but pine cleaners tend to be easiest for small hands and, we think, the colors of them might attract the birds)
• 1 bag of repurposed toilet paper tubes
• 1 bundle of colorful ribbon lengths (to thread through the tubes in order to hang the feeders)
• 1 homemade Local Bird Bingo card on cardstock in a page protector (could be laminated or traded out for a bird book, picture cards, etc. - see thumbnail below, which, I beleive, if you click on, will bring you to a full-size verion you can print.)
• 1 instruction sheet with pics of the kids making birdfeeders to inspire the mom and child receiving the kit (see thumbnail at the bottom, which, I believe, if you click on, will bring you to a full-size version you can print.)

We hope our little friend -- and whoever receives your economical gift for the birds -- has as much using the gift as we did creating it. We know the birds will appreciate it!

To see more tips on everything from blogging to family almanacs, check out the links at We Are THAT Family.  To find other fun crafts to do with your kids, check out the links at Red Ted Art's Kids Get Crafty.