This was one of my favorite projects to do growing up, and figured it would be a great DIY to share. There is nothing quite like sitting in front of a fireplace and catching glimpses of winter birds outside your window. As a kid they were just beautiful and fascinating. If you have some free time this winter and are looking for a fun project to do with your kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews, be sure to give this one a shot. It’s simple (slightly messy) and a fun experience for kids to enjoy!
First things first, I was somewhat extra with mine and decided to get ‘gourmet’ bird food. I was a little nervous that the seeds might be too big and heavy to be held together with gelatin, but I was pleasantly surprised. And yes, I used valentine’s day cookie cutters, but I just liked the heart shape!
Here is the recipe I used to make three large ornaments:
- ¾ cup of bird seed
- 1 packet of unflavored gelatine
- ¼ cup of boiling water
- Cookie cutters
- Ribbon
- Saran wrap (or wax paper or parchment paper, just to keep the counters clean)
I will say that it was very important to cover the counters before making these ornaments. It really saved me from having to clean up a very sticky mess! After prepping the counters, the first step is to bring a cup of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling add your one packet of gelatine and stir until the gelatine is completely dissolved.
Once it was dissolved and smooth, I let the mixture cool for one minute before adding ¾ cups of bird seed. Stir really well to make sure that all of the bird seed is evenly coated. Next, I laid out my cookie cutters and started to scoop the mixture into them. I cut some straws to hold a spot so that I could put the ribbon through the ornament.
I let them dry overnight, and in the morning had three perfect ornaments! The birdseed stuck together nicely and didn’t stick to the cookie cutters. Then I simply tied some ribbon through each hole, and went to place them outside in the trees!
I have seen people use corn syrup for a lot of their ornaments, but I opted not to. I don’t think it’s necessary as the ornaments held together perfectly fine, despite the weight of the large seeds! Placing these outside actually adds a fun bit of color to a bunch of bare trees. I would definitely recommend making a few more and having more colors of ribbon.
