How to Make Bird Seed Christmas Ornaments

Birdseed Christmas ornaments are easy to make and fun to give as gifts to nature-loving friends and family. These can go on the Christmas tree or straight into the yard as a seasonal treat for feathered visitors. The ornaments take about 30 to 45 minutes to construct, plus an hour drying time and an hour in the oven. No special skills or talents are required; all materials are nontoxic and clean-up is quick with just soap and water, making this a super child-friendly craft.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 cups bird seed
• 4 envelopes (¼-oz.) unflavored gelatin
• Cookie cutters
• Nonstick baking sheet
• Vegetable oil baking spray
• Wax paper
• 24-gauge craft wire
• Decorative ribbon

1. Line a nonstick baking sheet with wax paper.

2. 

   Spray the inside surface of cookie cutters with vegetable oil baking spray. Place cookie cutters on the baking sheet, spacing them evenly.

3. Cut a 2-foot length of craft wire for each cookie cutter.

4. 

   Crunch the craft wire into a loose ball, leaving approximately 3 inches of straight wire. Shape the wire balls so that they fit inside the cookie cutters.

5. 

   Arrange a wire inside of each cookie cutter so that the straight end pokes up over the top edge of the cookie cutter.

6. 

   Combine 3 cups bird seed with four ¼-oz. packages unflavored gelatin in a mixing bowl.

7. 

   Add 4 tbsp. water to the birdseed mixture. Stir until thoroughly combined. Be sure that the gelatin is evenly dispersed in the mixture.

8. 

   Spoon the birdseed mixture into the cookie cutters, filling the cookie cutters to the top edge. Be sure to cover the craft wire completely. Compact the mixture firmly, pressing it into all the corners of each cookie cutter shape.

9. Allow the birdseed ornaments to dry for 1 hour. Gently twist each birdseed ornament to loosen it from the wax paper. Slide the wax paper out from under the ornaments, leaving the ornaments on the baking sheet. Sprinkle each birdseed filled cookie cutter evenly with 2 or 3 tsp. water.

10. Bake the ornaments at 250 degree F for 1 hour or until the ornaments are thoroughly hard and dry. Remove the birdseed ornaments from the oven and allow to cool.

11. Press each ornament out of its cookie cutter. Twist the wire on the top of each ornament into a loop. Attach a decorative ribbon to each ornament.

Tips & Warnings

• Use birdseed formulated for birds that frequent your region during winter.
• Do not use wire to hang the ornaments directly on the branches of living trees. Thin wire can cut through bark and cause damage to the tree branch; use soft yarn instead.

Resources

• Attracting Birds in Winter

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[angiewindheim]

on 11/29/2009 This is a great article and the details and pictures really help. I'm going to give it a try as a gift to my friends this Christmas.