How to Make Garden Crafts with Kids

Kids love making things, especially when it is something someone will actually use on a daily basis. Involve them in your backyard projects by helping them create birdbaths and bird feeders to attract birds to your garden.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Birdbath Supplies:
• Large terra-cotta pot with glazed saucer (the saucer must be glazed on the inside)
• Pebbles
• Fresh water
• Acrylic paints
• Clear waterproof sealant
• Liquid Nails
• Bird Feeder Supplies:
• Coconut
• Hammer
• Nail
• Vice
• Hacksaw
• Drill
• Garden twine
• Birdseed

Make a Terra-Cotta Birdbath

1. Purchase a large terra-cotta plant pot with a saucer that is glazed on the inside. The size you purchase is up to you, but for best results choose a saucer that is at least 8 inches across.

2. Provide your child with an assortment of acrylic paints. Turn the plant pot upside-down and allow him to paint designs on the pot. You may wish to discuss the look you would like to accomplish or suggest designs, but for a truly child-inspired piece, allow him to be creative.

3. Allow the plant pot to dry and coat with a clear waterproof sealant to preserve the design.

4. Place the glazed saucer on top of the upside-down plant pot, and glue in place with Liquid Nails or another construction adhesive.

5. Choose a location for your birdbath that is near trees and shrubs, to provide shelter for your birds.

6. Layer small pebbles on the bottom of the saucer. Add 2 inches of fresh water.

Make a Coconut Birdfeeder

7. Punch a hole in the coconut with a hammer and nail. Choose one of the dark spots to make a quick hole. Pour off the coconut milk.

8. Place the coconut in a vise and saw it in half using a hacksaw. Remove the coconut meat.

9. Drill three evenly spaced holes near the rim of the coconut half. Tie on three 18- to 24-inch pieces of garden twine. Tie the loose ends together to form the hanger.

10. Hang from a hook or tree branch. Make sure the bird feeder is low enough for your children to fill with seeds.

11. Provide your child with an assortment of seeds and let her experiment to see which birds are attracted to particular kinds of seeds. Provide tidbits of dried and fresh fruit to offer to the birds, too.

Tips & Warnings

• When making the bird bath from plant pots, you can increase the height by using more than one pot. Simply alternate the direction of the pots so that the rim of one is glued to the rim of the next pot. This will create an hourglass shape. It is best to have the open end of the bottom pot resting on the ground to provide stability.
• To prevent the wind from blowing the bird bath over, insert a metal rod into the ground and stack the pot or pots on the rod by running it through the center hole(s). Glue the saucer to the top as usual.
• Always purchase a saucer that is glazed on the inside. An unglazed terra-cotta saucer will not hold water.