We thought the birds could use a little love this time of year, so we made a fresh batch of bird seed cookies! While we were “baking” these, we could hear birds chirping loudly outside our kitchen window. Emily kept telling them to be patient!
First, Emily traced a heart shaped cookie cutter onto corrugated cardboard (in this case, a cut up box from our invention kit).
I cut out the hearts, and poked a hole into them to thread through some red ribbon. Then, Emily spread a layer of vegetable shortening onto the cardboard, just like you would spread butter onto toast. I think this was her favorite part! You can substitute lard for this, but don’t use products that contain salt, as it is bad for birds.
Next, time to sprinkle the cookies with bird seed!
We used the back of the spoon to smooch the bird seed into the shortening really well.
Delivery time!
To identify some of your “customers”, you might want to try making your own inexpensive bird field guide for tots. Some other ways we’ve spoiled the birds include these bird feeders made from recyclables, and this bird watching kit. So much fun!!
November 2nd, 2009 on 5:04 pm
Dear Valerie,
Thank you for not using my lard.
Love,
Mark
November 2nd, 2009 on 5:15 pm
This is a great project. We like to feed the birds too!
November 2nd, 2009 on 6:02 pm
What a great project. Have you thought of using peanut butter? I've heard they really like that.
November 2nd, 2009 on 7:12 pm
very great idea! I love it!
November 2nd, 2009 on 7:56 pm
Another great idea! I esp. love the heart shape.
November 2nd, 2009 on 8:26 pm
I am about to post another idea for a home made bird feeder! Great minds think alike!
November 2nd, 2009 on 9:13 pm
Another fabulous craft idea – thanks so much!
November 2nd, 2009 on 9:36 pm
I can't wait to check my reader each day to see what you & Emily are doing. You guys are such an inspiring team! Sure wish y'all lived nearby, I know my little ones would love hangin out with y'all (and so would I!!)
November 2nd, 2009 on 10:05 pm
I love that they are hearts! Last year only one fat squirrel visited our homemade birdfeeder.
November 2nd, 2009 on 10:09 pm
That's so neat!! I think I'll try that.
November 2nd, 2009 on 10:11 pm
Hi Valerie
These are such sweet treats for the birds and I love that photo of Emily delivering your creations.
November 2nd, 2009 on 11:01 pm
I stumbled across your blog today.
I love it! Such wonderful, creative ideas!
And your girls are so cute! They seem to really enjoy making lots of cool things. I'm going to have to use some of these ideas in my Sunday school class.
November 2nd, 2009 on 11:41 pm
@ Ivy — We've used peanut butter on pine cones before, and it does work well. However, I tend to be really stingy with the peanut butter around here! It's much easier to part with the shortening.
@ EntertainingMom — Oooo… I can't wait to see! Great minds, indeed!
@ Stacy — Awww.. that is so sweet! That would be lots of fun, wouldn't it?
November 2nd, 2009 on 11:44 pm
@ Mom and Kiddo — We have a couple of fat squirrels running around our yard too. My parents have their bird feeder on a poll and every once in awhile my dad goes over and greases it up with vasseline. That seems to work pretty well! It doesn't really matter to us who's eating it, since Emily thinks it's hilarious to watch the squirrels stuff their cheeks like that.
November 2nd, 2009 on 11:45 pm
@ Sew Impatient — Welcome! So nice to meet you here, and please let us know if you use any activities from here for your Sunday school. I love hearing about things like that! Really makes my day!
November 3rd, 2009 on 1:45 am
That is a great project..both of my kids would love it.
Holly
November 3rd, 2009 on 2:47 am
Nice what you are doing… i will try it with my daughter
November 3rd, 2009 on 4:01 am
what a beautiful idea! I hope I remember it when Chiara will be grow up enough. We leave in apartment but we have a little park not far. above all we dream we will live in the country someday!
November 3rd, 2009 on 4:03 am
… ehm … "we LIVE in apartment" … pardon!
November 3rd, 2009 on 7:22 am
Awww, these look so cute!
November 3rd, 2009 on 10:17 am
That's pretty cool. I've been thinking about making a bird feeder from a recyclable… but, you know me, just thinking.
So, are we gonna see pictures of the birds eating?
November 3rd, 2009 on 2:16 pm
So cute…and appropriate for many ages. Love it!
November 3rd, 2009 on 11:06 pm
@ Biancifiore — No need to apologize, I understood what you meant! So nice to see you here again!
@ Holly & Jennifer — I totally agree, and I WISH Clara had been awake while this was going on so she could have joined in the fun too. All that napping means she misses out on some of the best projects!
November 4th, 2009 on 8:42 am
I love this idea!!!
I am wondering if I coul do some without having so much green around me… maybe I can try and see what happens.
November 6th, 2009 on 2:59 pm
The bullfrog made stars and we hung them under the cover of our eaves, with white twinkle lights. Pretty and fun, plus now we're all decorated for winter holidays.
Thanks!!
November 7th, 2009 on 4:06 am
Great idea!! I think my little guy will enjoy making these. Thank you!!
November 7th, 2009 on 7:52 pm
What a pretty way to feed the birds.
November 8th, 2009 on 10:26 pm
Linked. :>)
March 12th, 2010 on 6:30 pm
your husbands comment cracked me up!