Create Your Own Wildlife Tree!
Creating your own wildlife tree with these fun and easy to make ornaments is a great way to spend time with the children in your family and teach them a little something at the same time! Once hung, these ornaments will bring the birds right into your backyard, giving you even more teaching moments! We have numbered each image above and have instructions along with items needed below. Enjoy!
1. Cranberry-Raisin Icicles
Items needed: Needles with large eye, unscented wax floss, golden raisins, regular raisins, cranberries, other dried fruits as desired (such as applies, cranberries, etc.), raffia or twine
Cut floss to desired length. Thread needle with floss and tie large knot at the bottom to hold fruit in place. Start stringing raisins and other items creating your own design. When finished, cut thread and tie another knot at the top. Tie raffia onto floss under the knot to keep it in place. Loop raffia and tie from tree.
2. Citrus Cups
Items needed: Oranges, raffia or twine, and bird seed
Cut the oranges in half, remove the fruit, making sure that the orange rind does not break. Then poke four holes at equal distances apart near the cut side of the rind. Use raffia or twine to string through holes so that orange can hang from tree. Hang it, fill it with bird seed and enjoy!
3. Cranberry Wreaths
Items needed: Cranberries, wire, raffia or twine
Cut wire to desired length and string cranberries. When wire is full, bend into wreath shape (or whatever shape your creative mind thinks up!) and twist wire to close loop. Use raffia or twine to hang from tree.
4. Peanut Butter Pine Cones
Items needed: 1 cup peanut butter, 3/4 cup shortening, 1 to 1 3/4 cup corn meal, raffia or twine, and bird seed
Melt peanut butter and shortening together in microwave, mix well. Stir in 1 cup of cornmeal, then wait 5 minutes. If the mixture has not firmed up, add more corn meal until the consistency is that of peanut butter. This allows it to be easily spread. Press or smear mixture onto pine cones then roll in bird seed until covered. Tie raffia or twine to pine cone, hang from tree, and enjoy!