Saturday, November 13, 2010

A Pumpkin Bird Feeder Project and a craft book for the kids



Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all having a great weekend!
I wanted to share my favorite kid's craft book with all of you today.
I bought this book, What Shall We do Today, at Lowe's last year for my kids.
It is one of those books that is filled with fun seasonal projects for the kids to do, and doesn't require you to have to run to the Craft Store for every project...

I wanted to share one of the pumpkin projects from the book with you.



All you need is a pumpkin, twine, bird seed, and a few pumpkin carving tools.



Cut the pumpkin in half and scrape out all of the seeds.


Fill it with bird seed....





We left this one sitting out on the table.


We hung this one in the tree.


The girls braided 3 pieces of twine together.
You tie two strands of braided twine around the tree and then add half of a pumpkin.


Fill it with bird seed.


And then you have a bird feeder.



This is a picture of last years bird feeder.


It really is a fun simple project to do with the kids.
The book is great for kids who love to be creative....
My daughter Bethany would love to do craft projects all day long...
I wanted to share another project my daughter Bethany just finished.
She recently saw the giraffe ornament at Anthropogie, and decided she wanted to
try and make her own.


Bethany formed a giraffe out of modeling clay,
and then glued strips of paper onto the mold.
She tore some pages out of a vintage book and then cut the pages into strips.


I thought it turned out so cute.

Bethany even made a collar for our corgi out of grain sack scraps the other day.
She sewed a large pearl button onto the collar to keep it fastened around her neck.
It is too cute.
I'll take a picture of it soon and share it with you.
Hope you all enjoy your weekend!
Take Care,
Maria

50 comments:

Kelley said...

Hi Maria, what a great idea!

I would think the birds might like to eat the pumpkin too!
: ) kelley

Finding Home said...

Love the pumpkin bird feeder idea. Around these parts (Hudson Valley, NY) we could not put that out for several more weeks unless we actually wanted all the bears who would come for such a lovely buffet - bird seed AND a pumpkin! It would be quite the lovely feast!
Thanks for sharing such a great idea.

Take care,
Laura

Anonymous said...

very inspiring post Maria. Isn't it funny how a blog can change your opinion? At first I didn't think anything of those anthro ornaments and now suddenly I can't live without them. ha!

I want to buy that book for nattie for christmas! I'm excited about it!

ChRiS said...

i love this birdfeeder...i hear it will last through winter do you think so? your daughter has some talent!!

Gabi said...

I just ordered it at amazon because I´m so fascinated.
Have a good time, and many Thanks
Love
Gabi

Janine Claire Robinson said...

That is such a beautiful idea. My girls would love to make something like that. I wish I had seen this last week. Would you believe my eldest had to make a bird feeder for school this week! Well ... now we have another one to try out. Thanks for a beautiful post.

{oc cottage} said...

What a cool feeder! LOVE this idea!

m ^..^

Leo said...

Such an interesting bird feeder. Love it.

Anonymous said...

I love this idea, Maria! You know how I love simple things... this is perfectly simple and adorable!! Your pictures are beautiful... love those huge trees... beautiful property!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
xoxo,
Jo :)

A Room For Everyone said...

The giraffe is absolutely gorgeous, well done Bethany! I like the bird feeder too, I've been filling our old antique one every day as the birds here have been feeding their little babies..Have a lovely Sunday..Rachaelxx

Judith said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Elyse said...

hi maria,

i am loving the projects, your daughter's creative initiative, and of course, your always dreamy pics!

happy weekend ~

xo
elyse

Christine@Sally,Ry,andLaLa said...

love this post! thanks for the inspiration!

Anonymous said...

hello Maria,

you blog is very wunderful.

greatings send you Conny

paige said...

is that bethany in her cute grey sweater? she is a rockstar! i love the giraffe & can't wait to see what she whipped up for doggy.
love the bird feeder. our squirrels would love it ! ha!

Pétales de fée said...

Très bonne idée cette mangeoire toute biologique pour nos oiseaux préférés !
Bisous

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

What a great idea! A pumpkin birdfeeder makes happy birds and happy, crafty kids! Great book to encourage creativity.

hugs
Sissie

Anonymous said...

Just found your blog and am now following. You had me at the lovely header photo! That pumpkin feeder is a great idea for kids and seems like it didn't take long for the birdies to find. xo

Life love, clutter and other beautiful things. said...

Great ideas! That giraffe is lovely xox

Coastal California said...

This just sings to me...honestly! I love the creativity & ability to create something useful! It's on my list....wish list that is! I think I'll post it too (blog-swiping, no-I'll add a link :)....It is a dreamy way to keep kids creating & busy. Share more!!
I love love love your blog, I started following a while ago & love your style, large family & creativity. We have a few things in common, Cali, 5 kiddos, lovey dovey hubby, and that store to wander thru in Mill Valley. Just went there couple weeks ago. I posted it on my food blog b/c it was sort of "work" related. Thanks again for all the inspiration & "its nice to meet you" :)
Have a splendid weekend....
~Ada in Coastal Cali
ourheartsarefullwith5tolove.blogspot.com
lifeasachefswife.blogspot.com

NanaDiana said...

I am going to have to pick that book up for my granddaughters. The oldest one LOVES any kind of hands on crafts. She is learning to sew and is just loving it. She would love this book. The pumpkin feeder is great. Do you freeze there? I don't know how long one would hold up in our frozen weather..without getting all mushy. Hugs-Diana

Robin Johnson said...

Sounds like a great book that my three girls would LOVE!

Thanks for the suggestion!

Razmataz said...

Maria, your daughter did a lovley job on her giraffe. And the girls birdfeeder is so sweet and simple. So lovley for kids to make their own things.

LuLu said...

thank you so much for showing this book... oh it's just perfect to give my children. the giraffe is so darling,
xo,
LuLu

ruby said...

Love the pumpkin bird feeder. What a neat idea. and the giraffe your daughter made, awesome job!

High Street Cottage said...

I love the feeder, I posted about birds on my blog the other day too. The photo of the adorable bird perched on the feeder is too cute. do the birds also eat at the pumpkin or no? Great project, thanks for sharing. tami

Karena said...

This is so great and to bring out the creativity in children is so positive!

Come enter my new giveaway from Empress of the Eye!
xoxo
Karena

Art by Karena

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Maria,

I love the pumpkin bird feeder...and I think Bethany needs to be selling giraffe's to Anthropologie. :0) It turned out just adorable!

Have a wonderful weekend,
Stephanie ♥

Between You and Me said...

Maria!
I'm ALWAYS looking for great books for my kids...can't wait to get this one!!!

We homeschool...so these kind of crafty books are great to pull out when they finish their schoolwork and claim boredom!!!

Thanks!!!!

I love the giraffe and the bird-feeders!!!

Celeste said...

How neat!

Ness Lockyer said...

I love the Giraffe! We are always looking for new things to do with our boys...might give these a go.
Thanks Maria,
Ness xx

Unknown said...

Hi Maria! I saw that book last year and thought it looked really neat! This is a very cute idea...I think all of our birds have flown south already though :)) Just kidding, there might still be a few around! Your pictures are lovely!!!

I've got to finishing cooking, chat later...

Have a great day ~

xo

:) T

Anne Lorys said...

What a cute idea! I'll bet they love the pumpkin as well as the seeds. :-)

Happy Sunday!
Hugs,
Anne

Lynda @ Happenstance Home said...

Great ideas - Love your daughters ornament!

Meg said...

Your daughter is SO COOL.

Roberta said...

Bethany is such a creative gal. Cute, and I have a daughter Bethany too Maria! The birds in your backyard are dining in style. Looks like something I may have to do for my feathered guests! xo

Claudia said...

Hello,
Thank you for sharing this book. Great idea for my nieces and Nephews at Christmas time. Love the pumpkin bird feeder.

Claudia

Onna said...

Excellent ideas :) I just love to visit here and see what new you`ve been up to.

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

Darling ideas and photos, Maria. My daughter's the same way and has that creative gene & can keep herself busy for days. Bethany's giraffe is beautiful!!
xo~Tracie

Stacey said...

Wow what a beautiful and simple idea. Oh I wish I had seen this earlier today, we have everything on hand and a day off. Looks and sounds like Bethany has her mama's decorating gene's! Hugs, Stacey

laura said...

well I have a big old pumpkin sitting on my living room floor.. now I know what to do...love your daughters giraffe.... apple doesn't fall far from the tree. xoxo Laura

Parisienne Farmgirl said...

OK, that is THE coolest thing I have seen all week but around here it would be like a squirrel orgy. Yuck. I wish I could do that - we have the best window for bird watching but it always turns into rodent watching.

LOVE the new header!

Little Emma English Home said...

You always have the loveliest ideas really! Sorry for not mailing you yet, I'm going trough a hard time!! I will soon, promised!

Have a lovely week,
Zaira

Anonymous said...

I LOVE that bird feeder that would be so cute in my yard!
That way maybe the birds would eat that instead of all the feed I put out for my chickens!

And the giraffe - I want one!!! That turned out so cute!

Jane @ Jane's Junk and Treasures said...

Hey why did that come out anonymous!
Sorry that was me Jane!

Holly @ Roller Coaster Life said...

I think Bethany could start selling this!! They are great! I will take 2 thanks! =)

Awesome job!!

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Now, that little giraffe is just precious! Something to keep forever... and I adore that kind of art.

Warm blessings,
Spencer

Anonymous said...

You have a lovely blog! I love this bird feeder. I will definitely be linking back to this diy project.

"Cottage By The Sea" said...

I'm off to make the bird feeder! This makes my heart sing today.

Julie said...

This is such a creative idea! I can't wait to find a spare pumpkin in my house to turn into a bird feeder. I featured the idea on my blog's "Best of Halloween Decor" list today: http://doordiy.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/most-wonderful-time-of-the-year/. I love seeing how other people decorate for one of my favorite holidays of the year! Thanks for sharing!