Do it yourself Birdseed Ornaments! this video

Join Shari Carroll from SimonSaysStamp.com to learn how to make some awesome ornaments to draw in wildlife to your backyard this winter!

Materials Needed

• 2 cups of birdseed (wild birdseed with nuts and fruits recommended)
• 2 packets of Knox unflavored gelatin
• ½ cup of water
• Cookie cutters (or plastic/paper cups)
• Parchment paper
• Vegetable oil
• Paper straws
• Twine (approximately 12 inches long)
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Spatula

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

We are going to be hanging these ornaments on some trees and bushes. Make sure to have everything you see in the video. Shari suggests using wild birdseed for this project but use any birdseed you have on hand.

Remember to use plain gelatin powder. Colored, flavored, or sweetened gelatin is not suitable for birds!

Step 2: Prepare the Gelatin

In place of cookie cutters, you can also use plastic or paper cups.

Here is where the fun begins!! Measure out half of a cup of water and microwave it for 45 seconds. While you wait, grab 2 packets of gelatin and put them in a mixing bowl. Once the timer goes off, pour the water into the mixing bowl.

Step 3: Mix Gelatin and Birdseed

Now, stir until the mixture is smooth. Be sure to wait until the gelatin is completely dissolved. It will be used for binding the mixture later.

Step 4: Prepare the Cookie Cutters

In a large mixing bowl, pour in the 2 cups of birdseed. Next, pour the mixture of gelatin into the bowl. Use a spatula to mix the birdseed and gelatin until everything is evenly coated. ***Don’t forget to scrape the bottom to pick up any settled mixture.***

Step 5: Fill the Cookie Cutters

First, get some parchment paper and lay it down on the table. Take some vegetable oil and put some on your finger. Go to each cookie cutter and oil the insides of them. This is to help the birdseed shapes come out easier after they harden. Do the same if you have plastic or paper cups.

Fill the cookie cutters with the birdseed mixture. If some falls out, that’s okay. It’s why we have the parchment paper! Use your fingers, parchment paper, or a spatula to pack it down as tight as you can. The tighter you do it, the better the ornaments will stick together.

Step 6: Insert the Straws

Take a paper straw and cut it into four pieces. Take each piece and put it in the middle of the ornament so that it makes a hole where the twine will go.

The straw needs to be in there pretty good so that it can hold the weight of the ornament when it is hanging.

Step 7: Firm Up the Mixture

Put the cookie cutters in the fridge for about 15 minutes. The gelatin will firm up and hold the shape. After the 15 minutes is up, pull out the tray and lightly push around the straws so everything is packed tight.

Step 8: Remove and Add Twine

Take a cookie cutter and carefully remove the birdseed shapes by pressing down on the seeds and lifting up on the cutter.

Next, grab a 12-inch piece of twine, fold it in half, and push the folded end through the hole of the straw. Remove the straw, pulling the twine through the ornament. At the top, make an lariat knot and then an overhand knot to secure it to the ornament to create a loop for hanging.

Step 9: Hang Your Ornaments

Your birdseed ornaments are ready to go! Hang them on the bushes and trees in your garden to make it easier for the birds to find them.

These ornaments are great for cold weather since the gelatin can melt if the temperature goes above 45 degrees.

Step 10: Store Extras

This recipe makes 6 ornaments, so you can hang some up, and put the rest in the fridge or freezer to use later. Once it’s thawed, you can hang them up.

You can watch the birds visit your ornaments! You can find more detailed instructions and supply details in the blog post below.

Conclusion

Making these ornaments for birds is great for supporting wildlife in the winter. Happy crafting!