From YLE’s “Crafty Chic”- Fun Kids Garden Project

YARD BIRD GARDEN PROTECTORS & MORE

This past weekend, we spent part of Valentine’s Day at K’s daycare planting a community garden.  In the spirit of kid fun, we thought that craft time is always a a fun way to get your kids excited for any new venture.  Get them excited and part of the gardening process by doing this craft together and then after the fun dirt digging and planting is done, they can insert these fun creations to keep the birds away.

With spring just around the corner and gardeners gearing up for planting season, these garden protectors are just the thing to keep those birds away from the new little sprouts in your garden beds.  Step by step instructions make this project a breeze. There are a lot more pattern’s available in the book that the birds and hearts came from. See below.

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Balsa wood, medium thickness

• Permanent colored pens- Red, Yellow, Green, Orange & Black.

• Hot glue gun & glue sticks

• Wooden skewers, 1 for each garden protector

• Tin foil

• Scissors

• Printer, to print out patterns

• Optional: Indoor/outdoor varnish and brush

WHERE TO GET IT

Patterns are from “Lori Gardener’s  Garden of Friends” book, by Provo Craft. All the materials are from our local craft store, Micheal’s.

INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE IT

1. Print out patterns, cut to separate.

2. Transfer the patterns, using graphite paper and a pencil, to the balsa wood . Cut out two designs each from the wood. One will remain blank, one will have the pattern.

3. Retrace the lines in black pen. Color in designs with colored pens.

4. Cut 5 tin foil strips, using your scissors or paper cutter, and glue them to the blank piece of balsa wood at the bottom. Glue the wood skewer on top of the foil.

5. Glue the balsa wood with the colored pattern, onto the back piece over wood skewer and foil.

6. Optional: brush on indoor/outdoor varnish, to protect them from the elements.