Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Recycled K-Cup and Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder-Kids Craft Tutorial

Bloggy Buddy Mary challenged me to make something for the garden from used k-cups. I accepted that challenge:@) This simple Bird Feeder from Recycled K-Cups and Popsicle Sticks is a great kids craft for Mother's Day, Grandparent's Day, or any rainy day...

 Supplies: 
K-cups, yarn (baker's twine or jute) in your choice of colors, popsicle sticks and glue. Sharpies and stickers optional.

Steps:
Clean the k-cups the best you can but remember... The birds aren't picky:@)
Draw designs on the cups with Sharpies and add stickers if desired. I didn't do this.
Put the tip of a pair of scissors in the hole and twist back and forth to make the hole bigger, about 1/4". This will make it easier to feed the yarn up through the hole and give additional drainage if it rains. Depending on the age of the child you may want to help with this.

Measure 1" from the end of each popsicle stick. If you don't have popsicle sticks you could use twigs.

Cut yarn to desired length, mine was about 2' long. Center the yarn on the popsicle stick at the 1" mark and double knot it.

Overlap the short end of the popsicle sticks and glue together. I used hot glue, use whatever glue you'd like.

Cut another piece of yarn adding about 8" to your original length. I started with 2', this piece is two feet and eight inches. This doesn't need to be exact folks, you just need enough yarn to wrap around the center of the popsicle sticks a few times. We're just trying to reinforce the glue so it doesn't come apart.

Trim the ends of the yarn so they're even and feed the yarn that is tied to the sticks up through the k-cups.

Keeping the holes in the k-cups towards the center glue them down as close to the center as you can. I used hot glue, use whatever glue you'd like.

Bring all of the yarn straight up.

Grasp all of the yarn and tie in a knot, trim the ends even.

Fill with bird seed and hang from a tree branch in the yard. It's best to tuck it a little into the branches for added stability.
The kids will be thrilled when the birds stop by!