It's pretty important that I find ways to keep my 4-year-old son occupied on rainy days - without a chance to go outside and burn off some of that excess energy, he'll get into anything and everything in an attempt to stave off boredom. A few weeks ago we made some cute birdseed treats to hang on the branches outside his bedroom window. They were fun and easy to make, came out great, and Colby got a huge kick out of seeing the birds pecking at them. The finished product was so nice that we gave some as gifts, and plan to make more for Christmas!
All you need to make them is:
- 3/4 cup of birdseed (we used wild birdseed)
- 1 small envelope of Knox gelatine
- 1/4 cup of water
- Some twine or sturdy string
- Cookie cutters of your choice
- Wax paper
Step by Step:
- Mix the envelope of gelatine with the 1/4 cup of water in a small pot or saucepan, and bring it to a simmer while stirring, until all the gelatine is dissolved
- Remove the pot from the heat and allow to cool for a minute
- Stir in the 3/4 cup of birdseed (you may need to add a little more if there is still liquid in the bottom of the pan)
- Place your chosen cookie cutter on the wax paper and fill it HALFWAY with the birdseed mixture
- Cut a length of twine, knot the end so that it forms a loop, and push the knot into the birdseed
- Continue to fill the cookie cutter with the birdseed mixture, covering the knot and the ends of the twine, leaving the loop hanging out
- Press the birdseed mixture evenly into the cookie cutter until it's full
- Let them dry overnight, turning them over occasionally
- When dry, pop them out of the cookie cutter and hang them in a tree!
We hope you enjoy this simple craft as much as we did, it's perfect for little hands!
