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Birdseed Ornaments

February 03, 2020

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Birdseed Ornaments – Easy to make ornaments made with birdseed and simple ingredients from your pantry! 

birdseed ornament

This post may include affiliate links. Please see my disclosure.

If you live in the Midwest, this time of year can be the worst. The skies are gray and cloudy, the trees are bare and the snow is dingy and dirty.

Besides the deer, the one sign of life we see active in our backyard are the birds. Not the robins, mind you – they won’t be back for a few more months yet – but we do have finishes, chickadees, cardinals and sparrows that stick around.

So, today, we’re going to show a little love to our bird friends and make some birdseed ornaments. I decided heart-shaped ornaments were appropriate because we’re so close to Valentine’s Day, but any cookie cutter shapes will do.

These ornaments are really simple to make and the birds will appreciate a little extra treat to get them through the rest of the winter. So, let’s make some ornaments!

HOW TO MAKE BIRDSEED ORNAMENTS

To make birdseed ornaments, you’ll need:

  • Birdseed
  • Unflavored gelatin
  • Corn syrup
  • Water
  • Cookie cutters
  • Drinking straws (cut into four pieces)
  • Twine

To begin making the ornaments, you’re going to want to start with the gelatin mixture. Add 1/4 cup cold water to a bowl and then pour the package of gelatin on top of the water.

pouring gelatin into water in red mixing bowl

When you add the boiling water to the bowl, make sure to stir until all of the gelatin is dissolved.

Adding water to a red mixing bowl

Add the corn syrup to the gelatin mixture and mix well.

Adding corn syrup to red mixing bowl

Add in the birdseed and mix until well-combined.

Adding birdseed to a bowl

WHAT KIND OF BIRDSEED SHOULD I USE?

To ensure the ornaments don’t fall apart easily, make sure to use a mixture with mostly small seeds. I used a birder’s blend which does have safflower and sunflower seeds. The ornaments worked because I packed them tightly. 

If you’re going to be making these ornaments with children, I would opt for a blend like this songbird mix which doesn’t contain any large seeds at all.


After the mixture is well-combined, place the bowl in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to allow the birdseed mixture to thicken and set.

Birdseed mixture in a red mixing bowl

Place the cookie cutters onto a lined baking sheet and use the back of a spoon to press the birdseed firmly into the cookie cutters until they are filled all the way to the top.

Pressing birdseed into cookie cutter

DO I NEED TO GREASE THE COOKIE CUTTERS BEFORE ADDING THE SEED?

No, you don’t need to grease the cookie cutters, but it might be a good idea if you’re making ornaments with angles or points, like stars.

Adding a little nonstick spray before adding the seed will make it easier to remove the ornaments from the cutters when they’re dry.


After the birdseed is packed into the cutters, place pieces of the drinking straw through the tops of each of the shapes, leaving ample space between the hole and the edge of the shape to ensure there’s enough strength there when you add the twine and go to hang the ornament later.

Piece of pink straw in a heart-shaped birdseed ornament

HOW MANY ORNAMENTS WILL ONE RECIPE MAKE?

Depending on how large of cookie cutters you use, the recipe should make 3-4 ornaments.


Refrigerate the ornaments overnight and gently pull the pieces of straw out of the ornaments.

Hand holding birdseed ornament in cookie cutter

Gently pull the sides of the cookie cutters away from the birdseed and push the ornaments out of the cutters.

holding birdseed ornament with cookie cutter

Cut off pieces of twine and loop them through the holes in the ornaments. Tie the two loose ends together to create a “hanger.”

Birdseed ornaments and twine

CAN I DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE RECIPE TO MAKE MORE ORNAMENTS?

I wouldn’t. I would make one batch at a time.

The birdseed should be a bit wet and sticky when you press it into the cookie cutters so I would recommend making the ornaments in batches rather than making a huge batch and some of the mixture drying out while you’re filling the cookie cutters.

Up close shot of birdseed ornament

WILL BIRDSEED ORNAMENTS HOLD UP IN THE SUMMER?

Cookie cutter birdseed ornaments work the best in the winter when it’s cold outside. They are sure to hold their shape.

They should even be able to withstand the spring, but I would think if the temperature went beyond 60º Fahrenheit or the ornament was hanging right in the sun, it may be enough to melt the gelatin.

Heart-shaped birdseed ornament hanging from tree post

LOOKING FOR MORE FUN FAMILY DIY ACTIVITIES?

  • Scented Sidewalk Chalk
  • Easy Lollipops
  • Conversation Heart Soap
  • Galaxy Jar
  • Water Bead Stress Ball
  • Glitter Friendship Bracelets

Birdseed ornament hanging from a tree

Yield: 3-4 Ornaments

Birdseed Ornaments

Birdseed ornaments and twine

Easy-to-make ornaments made with birdseed and simple ingredients from your pantry!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day 15 minutes
Difficulty Easy

Materials

  • 3/4 to 1 cup birdseed
  • 1 package unflavored gelatin
  • 2 tablespoons corn syrup
  • 1/2 cup water, divided
  • Drinking straws (cut into four pieces)
  • Twine

Tools

  • Cookie cutters
  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Add 1/4 cup cold water to a bowl.
  2. Pour the package of gelatin on top of the water.
  3. Add 1/4 cup boiling water to the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin is dissolved.
  4. Add the corn syrup and stir until dissolved.
  5. Add the birdseed and combine.
  6. Refrigerate the birdseed mixture for 15 minutes.
  7. Place cookie cutters onto a lined baking sheet and use the back of a spoon to press birdseed firmly into the cookie cutters until filled all the way to the top.
  8. Place the pieces of drinking straw through the tops of each of the shapes leaving ample space between the hole and the edge of the shape.
  9. Refrigerate the ornaments overnight.
  10. Pull the pieces of straw out.
  11. Gently pull the sides of the cookie cutters away from the ornaments and push the ornaments out of the cutters.
  12. Cut off a piece of twine, loop it through the hole in the ornament and then tie the two ends together to create a "hanger."
  13. Hang the ornaments from tree branches in your yard.

Notes

The larger the cookie cutter, the closer the hanging hole should be to the center of the cookie cutter. Depending on how large of cookie cutters you use, the recipe should make 3-4 ornaments.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Ann Clark Cookie Cutters 4-Piece Heart Cookie Cutter Set with Recipe Booklet, 2.75", 3.25", 3.75", 4"
    Ann Clark Cookie Cutters 4-Piece Heart Cookie Cutter Set with Recipe Booklet, 2.75", 3.25", 3.75", 4"
  • Karo Light Corn Syrup, 16 fl oz
    Karo Light Corn Syrup, 16 fl oz
  • Knox Original Unflavored Gelatine Dessert Mix (32 Packets)
    Knox Original Unflavored Gelatine Dessert Mix (32 Packets)
  • Lyric 2647469 Finch Small Songbird Wild Bird Mix, 5 lb
    Lyric 2647469 Finch Small Songbird Wild Bird Mix, 5 lb
Project Type: DIY / Category: DIY

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Hi, I'm Sara!

I’m a Mid-Western girl with a Type A personality who lives to entertain. I believe it’s the special touches that make all the difference when it comes to family, home and a happy life. Read more

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