Crafts

Baby-food Jar Gardens

Homemade playdough is the best for this because
it dries a lot faster than the kind you can buy in
stores, plus it's cheaper. You can let the kids
choose what color of dough they want on the bottom
by dividing the batch.

Parental supervision is recommended.

This project is rated VERY EASY to do.

What You Need:

• Baby-food jar with lid
• Small dried or silk flowers
• Rolling pin
• Craft or hot glue
• Homemade (or store bought) playdough

Play dough recipe:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 tsp. oil
• food coloring

How To Make It:

Playdough - Mix all ingredients, adding food
coloring last. Stir over medium heat until
blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or
airtight container when cooled.

Making the 'garden' - Roll out playdough with a
rolling pin. Use the mouth of the jar as a cookie
cutter (if you use the lid, you can't close the
jar). Hot glue (adults only) the play dough into
the lid and wait about 10 seconds. Have the kids
stick flowers into the dough. Leave lids on a
cookie sheet to dry over night.

When the playdough is dry, screw on the lid carefully.

You can write a name on the jar with glitter or
decorate any way you want.

Bird Biscuit

This project is rated EASY to do.


What You Need:

• Flat wooden heart
• Non-toxic glue
• Birdseed
• Drill
• Approximately 4 feet of 1/4 inch wide ribbon
• Bowl

How To Make It:

Drill one small hole in each side of the heart
same distance from the top so that the heart is
not lopsided.

Cover the wooden heart completely in non-toxic glue
and then place the heart in a bowl of bird seed.
Cover the entire area of the heart with the birdseed
making sure no bald spots are left anywhere on the
heart.

Let the glue dry and touch up any spots where the
birdseed may have fallen off, etc.
Cut two lengths of ribbon each 2 feet long and run
one length of ribbon through each hole.
Tie all ends of the ribbons together in a bow or
knot.

Hang bird biscuit in a tree or somewhere birds have
easy access to it.

Notes:

Be sure to use non-toxic glue as the birds very
well may end up eating it.
Any wooden shape would be great to use!
Have fun!