Crafty Kids: How to Make an Up-cycled Birdfeeder

The weather’s warm and the birds are fitting all through the neighborhood! Turn your window or fire escape into a bird-viewing station by luring in some feathered friends to nosh at this seed feeder, made from an empty snack container. This easy, cheerful craft comes to us from Project Kid by Amanda Kingloff. When you’re done with it, you might just be inspired to make a dozen more!

What you’ll need:

• 1 small nut can (about 3 inches in diameter)
• Scissors
• 1 6-inch stick
• Tacky glue
• Outdoor craft paint
• 1-inch foam brush
• Twine
• 2 wooden beads

1. First, empty the can: Peel the foil cover halfway back and remove the nuts. Cut off the unattached foil, then cut a 1⁄4-inch slit vertically in the center of the remaining foil and fold the edges down on both sides to create a wide V shape. (We want the birds to enjoy their meal without injury.)

 

 

2. To create the perch, punch a small hole near the bottom of the attached foil with the end of the stick and push the stick through. Before the stick hits the back of the can, apply glue to the bottom edge of the stick and let it rest standing up in the bottom, back edge of the can until dry.

3. Paint the outside of the can and let it dry. Add a second coat if necessary.

 

4. Cut a piece of twine that’s 5 feet long, plus as much as you’d like to use to hang the feeder. Find the center point of your length of twine and place the bottom edge of the feeder on it. Wrap each end of the twine around the can about three times, until both ends are once again at the top. Tie a knot, thread the beads over the two ends of the twine, and hang outside. Voila! You’re done. And the birds will surely thank you.