~~Kids~~ Make It~~

~~Bird Feeders~~

Have fun making these colorful bird feeders from recycled milk or juice cartons. Get an adult to help with the cutting, then paint and decorate in bright colors.

MATERIALS

For All

*Clean, empty milk or juice cartons

*Satin finish enamel paint in flat white

*Gloss enamel paint in two desired colors

*Waterbase acrylic varnish finish

*18"/46cm piece of narrow plastic cord

*7"/18cm stick or twig

*Paintbrushes

*Sandpaper

*Compass and pencil

*Craft knife

*Glue

*Hammer and nail

*Scissors

*Newspapers or drop cloth

*Clothespins

 

Optional Trims

*Round breakfast cereal

*Craft sticks

*Dollhouse shingles

*Purchased stickers

*Origami paper

*Household sponge, acrylic paints and disposable paint palette.

 

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

With sandpaper, lightly sand carton to remove wax. Glue the top opening closed; hold together with clothespins. Allow to dry.

ADULT INSTRUCTION

With hammer and nail, make two small holes in top flap for hanging loops. With pencil and compass, draw either a 1 1/2"/4cm or a 2 1/4"/16cm diameter circle centered 1 1/2"/4cm from base of carton on one side. Mark a small hole centered in the area below circle for twig placement. Mark a matching hole on opposite side. Carefully cut out circles with craft knife.

ROOF

Glue breakfast cereal in rows on both slanted sides of carton top; OR cut craft sticks in half and glue halves beside each other to cover slanted sides of carton top; OR glue dollhouse shingles in overlapping rows.

PAINTING

With paintbrush and white paint, paint entire house and roof to cover printing on carton. Allow to dry. Paint a second coat if necessary. Using paintbrush and desired colors, paint house and roof. Allow to dry and paint a second coat if necessary.

DECORATION

Peel and apply stickers as desired, OR cut shapes from origami paper and glue in rows to all sides of carton, OR traces shapes onto sponge and cut out to make stamps. Place a small amount of paint on palette, dip sponge shape into paint and stamp shapes onto all sides of carton.

FINISHING

With paintbrush, apply varnish finish to entire bird feeder for protection. Allow to dry. Thread a plastic cord through holes at top and knot ends. For perch, insert twig through small holes.