• Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
Birds and other creatures usually find the food they need. But you can provide a “snack” with these home made feeders.
You’ll Need:
- 1 pinecone
- 1 cup of chucky peanut butter
- 1 bag of bird seed
- 1 roll of ribbon or string
- 1 spoon
Steps:
1. Tie a length of ribbon/string to the base of the pinecone.
2. Using the spoon, spread peanut butter over the entire pinecone.
3. Roll the peanut butter covered pinecone in the bird seed. Cover the entire pinecone with seed.
4. Hang the feeder from a tree with a ribbon. Place the feeder somewhere close to a window so you can enjoy the feeder when the birds are eating your craft!!!
Once you have made your feeder, take a picture of your feeder and the birds that are eating it. Then send it to me at abrentzel@pheasantsforever.org for everyone else to see!!!
• Thursday, March 12th, 2009
Paper binoculars for kids are perfect for backyard explorers and nature-lovers. Create this paper craft with a few supplies and a wild imagination.
What You’ll Need:
2 toilet paper tubes
2 large wooden beads
Black acrylic paint
Thin yellow tape
1 yard black cording
Tools:
Paintbrush
Craft glue
Paper punch
Step 1: Paint both tubes and the wooden beads black. Let dry, then run a strip of colored tape around both ends of each tube.
Step 2: Line up the tubes, and glue the beads between them. Let dry.
Step 3: Punch a hole in each side of the binoculars, close to one end. String the cord through one hole, tie a knot on the inside to hold in place, and string through the other hole. Knot this end on the inside as well.
Now you’re ready for a backyard safari!
You can also have the kids color their own binoculars, some like them camoflauged, or pink. Its totally up to you!!
Once the craft is complete take a picture and send it in so others can see it!!
• Sunday, March 08th, 2009
What kind of wild, imaginary animals can you make out of pine cones? Try our pine cone creatures craft and find out!
What You’ll Need:
Pine cone
Decorations
Craft glue
For each creature, you’ll need one large pine cone. You’ll also need an assortment of decorations (old buttons, scrap cloth, pipe cleaners, real or plastic flowers.)
What I noticed is that feathers work really well. Also the google eyes are a nice add on. Beads work well for shoes or other decorations.
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Use these decorations to turn the pine cone into an imaginary animal. Pipe cleaners work well for creating legs. When you’re done, give your creature a name, and make up a story about them.
Well after you have created your pine cone creature take a picture and post it on the web site for others to see what your imagination has to offer!! The more creative the better!!!
• Sunday, March 01st, 2009
This is a unique and fun way for kids to create their own world under the sea. 
What you’ll need:
2 paper plates
Silver craft paint
8 pieces of ring shaped cereal
Fish-shaped crackers
Silk plant leaves
Sea shells
Sand
White craft glue
Blue cellophane
Wax paper
Scissors
How to make it:
Take both paper plates and set them on the table. One should be right side up and the other should be upside down.
On the plate that is right side up, draw your sea floor about 1/3 up the center of the plate.
Line the floor area with white glue, use an old paintbrush or your finger to spread the glue out evenly.
Cover the wet glue with sand and set aside to dry.
On the upside down plate, draw a circle where you will cut out your porthole in the center of the plate.
Glue ring shaped cereal pieces around the circle; these are the bolts on the porthole. Let dry.
Paint the cereal pieces and the paper plate from the outer edge to your penciled lines. Don’t worry about painting over the lines a little, as you will be cutting it out. Set aside to dry.
Take the paper plate with the sand on it and hold it over a sheet of wax paper. Turn the plate sideways and gently tap it to loosen any excess sand. The sand should end up on the wax paper and you can save that for another project.
Glue sea life onto the plate with the sand floor. Glue on shells, silk leaves, and fish shaped crackers. Let dry.
Take the silver painted plate and cut out the center circle to create your porthole window. Place it gently over the top of the other plate to see if you are happy with its size and viewing area. Increase size of the hole if you like.
Turn silver plate upside down.
Cut a piece of blue cellophane large enough to cover the hole on the plate and glue in place. Let dry.
Place porthole plate over the top of the sea life plate and glue together. Let dry.
You can add a hanger to the project if you like, simply glue some string or yarn between the two plates at the top during step 13.
With the craft I’ve had kids make space portholes, and other neat ideas, you dont have to make it just an aquarium view!!
Tips:
You can simplify the supplies in this project by using construction paper to make fish, plants and even shells.
Make your fish scene more cartoonish by adding wiggle eyes to the fish.
If you don’t have blue cellophane, use clear plastic wrap and paint the background of the seal life plate blue before adding sand and sea creatures.
Once the craft is complete take a picture and send it into the web site so everyone can see you new porthole!!
