This is a wonderful craft to get the little ones involved with to treat our special feathered friends as the weather gets colder. They are made simply by combining gelatin and pre-mixed birdseed and are completely safe for the birds to snack on as food become scarce this time of year.
We have a lot of fun creating new shapes for each holiday simply by picking up plastic or tin molds from our local thrift store. {you can usually find them anywhere from 50 cents up to a dollar} A couple weeks ago I found this cute round cake pan and thought it would be perfect to create a wreath.{These also make great inexpensive gifts for the avid bird watcher on your gift list too!}
You will need a small bag of pre-mixed birdseed, Knox Original Unflavored Gelatin, A Mold (tin or plastic), and ribbon or a piece of fabric for the hanger.Begin by mixing two envelopes of Knox Gelatin (approximately 4 tablespoons) to 1 Cup of water. {you made need to double or triple the recipe depending on the size of your mold} Simmer on low until the gelatin has completely dissolved.Stir in 2 Cups of Birdseed to the gelatin mixture until completely mixed.
Spray your mold with a coat of non-stick baking spray and scoop in birdseed mixture pressing lightly to pack down. Chill for at least 2 Hours in the fridge.
To remove, turn the mold upside down and apply a little pressure until the treat is released. For a larger sized mold, you may need to run a butter knife around the edges to help release.
The hardened gelatin will hold all the birdseed in place.
To completely cure – leave the wreath to sit and dry out for at least 48 hours – up to a week.
Hang with a ribbon or cut piece of fabric as shown above.
Don’t forget about our special feathered friends as the weather gets colder.
This basic recipe can be used to create an unlimited amount of birdseed treats.
Here are a few different shapes we have created throughout the past year:
Valentine Hearts {found here}, Easter Eggs {found here} and a different variation of the recipe to make Mini Trees {found here}.
Hope you have a wonderful Friday!! Enjoy!
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That is SO cool!
What a cute idea! I have some Christmas tree-shaped molds that I am going to try this idea with. What a cute way to decorate an outdoor space. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, I have never seen this before! It is SOOOO gorgeous. I have some molds, I am absolutely doing this – I love that it’s such a different wreath idea (not that I’m sick of wreaths yet…) Thanks, Stephanie Lynn!
Great idea! We have an abundance of birds in the yard and they would certainly be thankful for this! And since it’s not so hot anymore now, the gelatin may not melt on me either! Thanks for sharing!
will the gelatin melt and the form fall apart in warm weather???
If the gelatin is not left to harden and ‘cure’ there is a chance it will melt in warmer weather and direct sunlight.
I LOVE this!! I am definitely going to do it! The birds will be so happy! lol
Thanks for sharing!
Lou Cinda 🙂
what a great idea! My kids are going to love making this!
Love this idea! But wondering, will it fall apart if the gelatin melts?
Cindy http://designlove-cynthia.blogspot.com/
xo
It stays together pretty well even in the rain.
I have the same questiona as Cynthia — love the idea — how long will it hold up??? Would make a great gift for kids to make the grandparents
An easy craft for small kids is to collect pine cones and have them put peanut butter on all the tips and grooves and have them roll them in bird seed. Perfect craft from age 4 to 8. No cooking needed. You can use garden gloves so they wont get poked. A string, ribbon or even dental floss or pipe cleaners can be used to hang them . Many fun colors. A great project . They will be so proud.
This is such a neat idea. I will enjoy making this with my children too!
Fabulous!
Love your site!
OMGosh! I just ran across your site by way of…i cant remember (stories of A-Z, maybe), ANYWHOO…You are amazing!!! Gorgeous things! I have an Interior Design Business and Blog…would love for you to stop by! Your stuff is BEYOND BEAUTIFUL! Im doing 14 days of Christmas Trees…Todays is one of my Favs i have done for clients AND I have a GIVEAWAY!
*ENTER PAMPERING Give-Away Here *
xoxokara
What a wonderful idea! I have a grandmother who loves watching birds and I usually give her a birdhouse or a birdfeeder for Christmas each year. I like this idea better because my two boys can help make it!
Those are so pretty. We’ve done something like that with ice, but of course, that only works when it’s freezing out. Great idea!
Lovely. Now if I can only keep the squirrels away!
I think I’ll try one out of corn to keep the squirrels happy!
you are simply amazing!
this is incredible. decorating has gone to the birds!!! for sure!!! lol.
beautiful.
have a super weekend!
kellie
What a cool idea! I added your link party button to the bottom of my blog!
bloggingbypictures.blogspot.com
I love this idea! I think that my boys will especially love this 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I want to make some of these. So cute! Thanks for sharing. Love & blessings from NC!
This is so wonderful. You always have the best ideas.
My kids are going to love this project! We always feed the birds in the fall and winter. My boys love pressing their little noses to the window and watching the birds eat their handmade gifts.
I L.O.V.E. this idea! I can’t wait to make one!
I’m just loving this idea! Now that my cat isn’t much a huntress anymore, I think I may try it!
Love this one too. I am featuring it sunday at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com.
Brilliant Stephanie! Posted on Craft Gossip today 🙂 http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/birdseed-wreath/
What a great idea! 🙂
I will be making one of these. It will look great in one of trees and feed my feathered friends too, score!
I just went all copy cat and made one (linked back to you) — thank you so much for posting!
http://sewmanydreams.blogspot.com/2010/11/wreath-fit-for-birds.html
I can just imagine the birds flocking around this wreath for a snack.
Do you know how it would hold up in the rain?
Cindy
http://www.sidetrackedartist.blogspot.com
Featuring your project on my favorite finds today!!! This is a great gift idea!
I made some before, each year for Christmas but I don’t put “gelatine” in it. I put “tallow” (I’m not sure for this word, in french we talk about “suif”) and peanut butter in my recipe.
Are you sure gelatine is OK for the birds?
have a nice day
I would love to make these are Christmas gifts, but am concerned about falling apart during shipping…and about the gelatin melting if things heat up.
Would love to hear if anyone has any experience with this situation.
This is such a great idea. I’m thinking it will look nice hanging outside on Thanksgiving. We can all feast!
Thanks for sharing great ideas! MJ
Thanks for sharing this great idea! I’ll be making lots of these this winter.
I made 2 of these, and both have fallen apart. One had been sitting in the kitchen (after 2 hours in the fridge) and the other in an unheated garage. Did I not dissolve the gelatin enough?
What a super idea! I feed the birds on the deck outside my living room window, and this is a perfect way to decorate that area for the holidays!
I made one of these with my kids last week. It looks really pretty in the tree…we have yet to see any birds go near it yet…but we’ll keep watching. You can see it here http://helpinglittlehands.blogspot.com/2010/12/felt-forests-and-birdie-wreaths.html
I am so in love with your site! Such beautiful and original projects. I Made this last nigt to send to my parents as a christmas gift and it was so easy I think im going to make one for the neighbors too. I am also going to be posting this on my blog and will post your link. Thanks!
http://www.Mischeifandmayhem.blogspot.com
What a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
How clever! I cannot wait to make this!
xo
Annalee
http://ramblingsofagypsynomad.blogspot.com
I too think that in summer the gelatine would melt.you can also use a flour and water glue. To combine the seeds and it will take both heat and cold.
Summer at Christmas in Australia.
Happy new year to all.
You have saved me a fortune!! My little parrot loves the commercial seed sticks but I can’t afford $2.50 a day!! Now he can have one every day (homemade of course!).
My son has recently become obsessed with our birds! We bought a new bird/suet feeder tonight, but when it runs out, we’ll be making these instead! Awesome!!!
I made these today and it all melted apart after being outside :'( any suggestions?
I would use shortening inside the mold instead of gelatin -my dad is a bird lover and that is what he does: the birds love it! It is not going to melt easily. Besides, I don’t know if gelatin is completely safe to eat for birds? I mean, it’s a by-product of the beef industry…
I made one of these over the weekend as a trial run for Christmas presents. When I woke up the next morning, the wreath was in 3 pieces on the ground. I do not think the gelatin will hold up outside. I am going to try again with lard, which is more traditional. I love the idea of making the seed into a wreath, so I am going to try again.
I wonder if you can do this with different types of seed – usually leave seeds out for the deer and squirrels and sometimes bears in the winter.
A friend of mine makes these. She fills the molds half way and lays yarn or twine around the inside of the mold and then fills the mold. This keeps the wreath from falling apart as the birds eat it. She hasn’t had probles with the mold falling apart. Maybe she uses a different recipe?
Love this idea! I think I will try it using coconut oil 🙂
Mine fell apart after one day of being outside. Wondering what I did wrong! I used the recipe she listed, let it sit in the fridge for 2+ hours and then sit on the counter for 2 more days to harden. Any thoughts?
The temperature and humidity can play a role…
You can try the adjustments to the recipe below – it produces a sturdier mixture once dried.
Reduce the water to 1/2 cup
Add in 3/4 cup of flour and
2 tablespoons of cornstarch
I also have a recipe that says to let wreath harden in a warm, dry place for three weeks – works every time
Do you use the same gelatin?
I live in Florida and would love to make these but don’t want to give a broken gift 🙁
Do you use the same gelatin?
Stephanie, tried your suggestions an it worked perfectly! Much better concoction! Thanks!
Just stopping by to let you know I featured this project on this round-up
http://diycraftyprojects.com/2012/12/50-beautiful-christmas-wreath-ideas-and-insperation-collection.html 🙂
Feel free to grab a featured button from my side bar.
What a neat idea! Love it, thanks for sharing!
what kind of pan did you use for the big one
I used your recipe but put the mixture in large cookie cutters. They turned out great, but yesterday disaster hit! lol They dropped off the tree branches during a rainstorm. The twine is still there, the shapes are still good – just lying on the ground. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Love this idea. Can’t wait to do it. But where did you get a wreath mold? I’m coming up empty, except for jellow molds and I want it larger than that.
Thank you
Hi Charity, This mold is actually a cake mold. Keep you eye out at your local thrift stores – that is where I found this one.
Thank you Sgephanie for the bird seed wreath, I will give it a go.
Do I cure it for 48 hours to 1 week in the fridge or out of the fridge? I’ve already removed it from the bundt pan after 2 hours & it’s sturdy. Thanks!
Hi Melissa, If it is hot or humid, store the wreath in the fridge – until you are ready to use. The cooler temperatures will keep it nice and firm.