bamboo canes :: moss :: dry leaves :: logs :: pebbles :: slates :: twigs :: feathers :: pinecones :: bark :: grasses such as pampas :: shredded paper

We used paper tubes and flower pots to make small chambers, which meant every child could make their own and add it to the insect hotel.
 And here’s the finished bug hotel. Five star, don’t you think? We placed it outside in a sheltered spot, ready and waiting for its first guests to check in.

More School Gardening Club ideas

If you like our bug hotel you might also like our quirky eco planters and garden journals.

For today’s Creative Chistmas activity I’m sharing an idea to make a Christmas Tree for the feathered friends in your garden. Christmas is a time of year when we can really encourage children to think of others and give gifts to those they love. How about spending some time with your kids, giving thanks for the natural world and helping them put together a Christmas feast for the birds?

Here are four easy ideas you can use to make a bird feeder – and if you make them all, you can hang them together on a tree outside to make an Christmas tree that gives your feathered friends a festive feast.

How to make a bird feeeder: popcorn chain

Stringing up some popcorn chains to wind around your tree will make it look just like you’ve added some bird-friendly tinsel. All you need to do is pop some corn kernels (with no added salt or sugar) and then use a needle to put them on to some thread.

You can make your chain as long as you like to fit your tree. Leave some lengths of thread at either end so you can tie it in place. You’re even allowed to eat a few pieces of popcorn as you work!

How to make a bird feeder: cafe bar

To make a cafe bar bird feeder you need to use a small plastic pot. Use a craft knife to make a small hole in the bottom then find two sticks to make perches – twigs, lollipop sticks or kebab skewers all work well. Cross them over and secure with a little sticky tape. Use some string to thread through the hole in your pot, around the sticks and back through the hole again. This holds the sticks in place and gives you a handle at the top of your feeder to tie to the tree.
Make your bird feed by mixing one part lard with two parts bird seed. You can also add in raisins, peanuts or grated cheese. You can use a spoon or get stuck in and squish it all together with your hands. Do not melt the lard (or it will run out through the hole in your plastic pot) but have it at room temperature so it’s easy to combine with the seeds.

Pack the seed mix into your plastic pot and press it down well. Let it chill and harden in the fridge for an hour or so.
Once the seed mix is solid you can pop off the plastic pot and then use the string handle to hang it up – a seed cafe ready for the birds to visit.

How to make a bird feeder: pine cone

You can use this same bird seed mix to make a fircone feeder too. Just tie some of your string to the top of the fircone and use your fingers to squish the seed mix into all the nooks and crannies.

How to make a bird feeder: raisin kebab

This one was B’s invention: a kebab stick threaded with juicy raisins, with some string tied at the top to hang it from your tree.

Decorate your Christmas tree bird feeder

Once you’ve made a variety of bird feeders you can head out into the garden to deck your outside Christmas tree. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a fir tree that you use – the bird feeders transform bare branches really nicely. If you can, pick a tree that you can see clearly from where your children play, then they can watch the birds come and feed and know they’ve shown their feathered friends some Christmas kindness.

For more Christmas Advent activities

Be sure to visit the Creative Christmas Countdown each day in December as there are lots more ideas to come!

You can also visit our Christmas archive for paper plate angels, model Christmas villages, snow playdough and more. And join NurtureStore on Facebook for lots more ideas throughout the week.

happily shared with the outdoor play party

Salt dough candle holder Diwali craft

We started by mixing up a batch of our easy salt dough recipe. One cup water, two cups flour and two cups salt and you’re done. (You can download this recipe, and more play dough recipes and ideas,  in our Let’s Play Dough ebook.)

Then we took a ball of salt dough each to make our candle holders. The children used their thumbs to press out a hollow in the centre of their candle holder, making sure it was the right size to fit our tea candles.

We pressed some sequins into the dough of some of our candle holders, and then baked them all at Gas 1/2, 120C, 250F  for about 3 hours. Using a fish slice makes it easier to pick up them up and place them on the baking tray.

Once the salt dough candle holders were cool we painted a layer of glitter paint over the surface of the sequined ones, to add some more shimmer and help hold the sequins in place.

On our other salt dough candle holders we painted a layer of gold paint and sprinkled on gold glitter while the paint was still wet.

More Diwali crafts and activities

:: why not try making traditional  rangoli patterns with your children using beans and lentils?

:: or combine crafts, decorations and food to host your own Diwali party 

happily shared with monday madness and made by little hands fun sparks