These projects can be great fun for both you and your kids. Be creative. Look around you. Learn about nature, care for our feathered friends and bring a little of the outdoors inside this winter.
Personalized Jigsaw Puzzles – A favorite activity
Bird Feeders
Supplies:
- 1 pinecone or bagel
- lard or peanut butter
- birdseed
- string or ribbon for hanging
Instructions:
1. Spread lard or peanut butter on the pinecone or bagel.
2. Roll the pinecone or bagel in the birdseed until it is completely covered.
3. Tie string or ribbon around the top of the pinecone or through the hole of the bagel to hang on a tree branch or fence.
4. Watch for the birds to come. Observe as they enjoy their treat.
Icy Sun Catcher
This is from the Kathy Ross book Crafts to Make in the Winter.
Supplies:
- Old Shoe Lace
- Water
- 9″ Disposable Pie Tin
- Natural materials such as pinecones, pine needles, twigs etc.
Instructions:
1. Fold the shoelace in half and place the two ends across the center of the pie tin.
2. Place an arrangement of natural materials in the tin.
3. Fill the tin with water and leave it outside to freeze.
4. When the water has frozen, remove the ice from the tin.
5. Hang the ice circle from a tree in a sunny place so you can see it from your window.
Stick Picture Frame
Supplies:
- 12 Sticks
- Glue Gun
- Twine
Instructions:
1. Gather sticks from your backyard or nearby woods. Look for straight sticks from 1/4″ to 1/2″ thick.
2. Remove any leaves or branches. Break (6) of the sticks into 11″ length and break the other (6) sticks into 9″ lengths.
3. Arrange the sticks to form your picture frame. Cross and overlap them at the corners.
4. Tack the sticks in place with a glue gun.
5. Wrap the four corners with twine and glue ends in place on the back.
6. Trim your photo to fit the opening of the frame.
7. Glue photo to back of frame at corners.
8. To hang frame, cut and glue a 6″ piece of twine to the back.
Snowflakes
Supplies:
- Paper, pencil and scissors
Instructions:
1. Trace a circle on the paper and cut out.
2. Fold the circle in half.
3. Then fold the circle into thirds.
4. Then fold down the middle.
5. Cut little pieces out of the sides.
6. Unfold and hang up.
Attach colored paper to the back for added color.
Walking Sticks
Supplies:
- Forked Twig
- 2 12-inch black or brown pipe cleaners
- 2 tiny eyes
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
1. Trim a thin forked twig so that each of the forks are one inch long and the main stem is five inches long. The twig will be the body and the forked ends will be the antennae.
2. Cut your pipe cleaner into (3) six inch pieces. Wrap the center of each piece around the twig and bend so the insect will stand.
3. Glue the two eyes on each side of the antennae.
Have you ever seen a real walking stick?
Rock Creatures
Supplies:
- Rocks or pebbles (cleaned)
- Glue gun
- Paint
- Brushes
- Eyes, pipe cleaners, ribbon, markers, yarn etc
- Acrylic varnish or other shiny finish (optional)
Instructions:
1. Using a few rocks and pebbles make an animal shape. Be creative!
2. Glue the rocks together and cool.
3. Paint the rocks. Let it dry.
4. Add eyes and other features using markers. Apply the acrylic varnish if you want a shiny finish.
5. Glue on eyes, pipe cleaners, ribbons, yarn etc
Email us your project ideas!
They don’t have to be just winter crafts. We are compiling projects for all seasons. Thanks for your input!
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