With having just gone on a Disney holiday this past May, our family will be hanging close to home for the next while. So, my husband and I have started to prep the back yard to enjoy a few summer stay-cations. While working away in the yard this week, I had a pleasant surprise of meeting some new neighbours… I was excited to discover that while we were away on holidays, a pair of red-breasted Robins decided to create a nest under our deck. This is the second year in a row that a pair of Robins has decided to make our home their home. The presence of our new guests is really exciting for everyone at our house! Because of this, the birds sparked the idea for the kids and me to do make some kid’s birdseed craft ornaments.
Now, if you know me you’ll also know that I love entertaining and hosting people. So being good hosts, my boys and I decided to do something special for our new backyard birdie guests. We decided to make some hanging birdseed ornaments for the trees around the backyard. Because it’s not every day that you have a growing brood of baby Robins in your yard.
Kids Birdseed Craft Ornaments
My kids loved doing this craft because they felt like little chefs. It was fun for them to make and create "cookies" for the birds!
Instructions
In a large bowl add a ½ cup of cold water. Pour 2 packages (or 2 TBSP) of the gelatine onto the top of the water. leave sit for a minute to bloom the gelatin. Add an additional 1/2 cup of boiling water to gelatin mix and stir until the gelatin has been completely dissolved.
I usually do this part as it deals with boiling water.
Add the corn syrup and stir until it is mixed well.
Add the birdseed into the large bowl with the gelatin/corn syrup mixture and mix well.
Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes so the liquid mixture sets. This will prevent the liquid from leaking from underneath the cookie cutters.
Place the cookie cutters on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Using a spoon fill the cookie cutters to the top with the birdseed mixture. Using little hands or the back of the spoon make sure the mixture is pressed firmly into cookie cutters.
Cut the drinking straw into 2 1/2 inch pieces and place one straw into the cookie cutter. I usually make sure the straw is placed almost in the center of the cookie cutter.
Allow the birdseed mixture to sit in the cookie cutters for about 10 minutes. Then gently push the birdseed mixture down from the top to remove it out of the cutter. The birdseed should keep the shape of the cutter. Place the birdseed ornaments back onto a piece of parchment paper and place back into the fridge for a few hours. After removing from the fridge I also leave them out on the counter to dry overnight.
Gently remove the straws and put a piece of twine through the hole. Tie the end on the twine into a tight knot and hang from a tree for the bids to enjoy!
Ingredients
Directions
Instructions
In a large bowl add a ½ cup of cold water. Pour 2 packages (or 2 TBSP) of the gelatine onto the top of the water. leave sit for a minute to bloom the gelatin. Add an additional 1/2 cup of boiling water to gelatin mix and stir until the gelatin has been completely dissolved.
I usually do this part as it deals with boiling water.
Add the corn syrup and stir until it is mixed well.
Add the birdseed into the large bowl with the gelatin/corn syrup mixture and mix well.
Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes so the liquid mixture sets. This will prevent the liquid from leaking from underneath the cookie cutters.
Place the cookie cutters on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Using a spoon fill the cookie cutters to the top with the birdseed mixture. Using little hands or the back of the spoon make sure the mixture is pressed firmly into cookie cutters.
Cut the drinking straw into 2 1/2 inch pieces and place one straw into the cookie cutter. I usually make sure the straw is placed almost in the center of the cookie cutter.
Allow the birdseed mixture to sit in the cookie cutters for about 10 minutes. Then gently push the birdseed mixture down from the top to remove it out of the cutter. The birdseed should keep the shape of the cutter. Place the birdseed ornaments back onto a piece of parchment paper and place back into the fridge for a few hours. After removing from the fridge I also leave them out on the counter to dry overnight.
Gently remove the straws and put a piece of twine through the hole. Tie the end on the twine into a tight knot and hang from a tree for the bids to enjoy!
If you’ve ever had the chance to witness what goes on with a bird’s nest you’ll know it’s pretty darn interesting. I feel that it’s a great gentle introduction for my kids into the tops of the “birds and the bees” (really really gentle – lol). We really do have a front row seat to see how the Robins prep the nest, lay and tent to the eggs, care for their chicks and later care for their fledglings. My boys are so lucky to get to witness nature at work this way.
Here are some photos of last years nest of baby Robins. Just like my own babies, it’s crazy to see how fast they grow up!
Hopefully mommy and daddy Robin and their growing brood like our new birdseed craft creations. We had a fun time making them!
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