How to Make a Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder

by Tonya Staab
Published: Last Updated on

Kids are going to love making a popsicle stick bird feeder for the garden. We show you how to host a craft party for kids at home too.

Disclosure: This project has been compensated as part of a craft recipe project using Elmer’s #collectivebias #xtremeschoolglue #gluenglitter

I was recently asked to host an Elmer’s X-TREME craft party at my house. My mission, was to build birdhouses using wood, and after I accepted my mission, I was advised that a mystery product also needed to be used, and I could choose glitter or buttons.

Pre-party I attempted to build a birdhouse for the first time out of popsicle sticks and an hour later still not being finished I realized that this plan had disaster written all over it.  After all, I had invited four and five-year-old children over. Short attention spans coupled with fiddly work was not going to be a good mix for them. So a quick revision of my plan and 30-minutes later and I made a popsicle stick bird feeder instead.

popsicle stick bird feeder
A popsicle stick bird feeder with craft kids for kids to make their own.

So once our plan was in place, Marisol and I hit the ground running for craft supplies and food for our party.

Make a popsicle stick bird feeder

After lunch and playing outside, we settled indoors to do the craft project. We extended our dining room table and placed a plastic tablecloth down to protect it. I hung the bird feeder that I had previously made from the light above the table, and then lined up lots of craft kit boxes for the kids that contained all of the supplies they would need to make their project.

A popsicle stick bird feeder craft kit for kids.
Popsicle stick bird feeder craft kit for kids.

Supplies

  • 50 popsicle sticks
  • 1 large craft stick (tongue depressor)
  • 1 bag of bird seed
  • Outdoor paint
  • 2 long pieces of hemp cord to hang their bird feeder
  • Elmer’s X-TREME glue
  • 2 glitter glue sticks

Instructions

a collage of instructions to make a popsicle stick bird feeder
Instructions to make a popsicle stick bird feeder.
  1. Line up 12 popsicle sticks. Glue 2 sticks across them. Turn it over.
  2. Do a second row of popsicle sticks going in the opposite direction to strengthen the base (I actually did this at the end because it was a last minute decision, but doing it at the beginning will give it more support as you build).
  3. Alternate popsicle sticks around the frame once.
  4. Glue down to the tongue depressor.
  5. Continue alternating popsicle sticks around the outside until you have 6 rows, gluing each popsicle stick down as you go.  Set aside to dry.
  6. Let the kids paint their bird feeder, and set aside to dry.
  7. Parents: using a hot glue gun, attach the hemp cord to the underside of the bird feeder.
  8. Thread the cord underneath the top round of popsicle sticks (as shown above) and again, glue using a hot glue gun.
kids making popsicle stick bird feeders at a craft party
A craft party for kids to make popsicle stick bird feeders.

The kids took their bird feeders home to paint them and fill them with seed. Marisol and Flynn finished theirs after the party but they are yet to be hung outside. First I need to track down that outdoor varnish.

a craft party for kids

Craft party food

We decided to use the orange, white, and blue Elmer’s color scheme for the food.

  • Peach Parfaits: 1 large tub of vanilla yogurt mixed with 1 tub of cool whip, alternate in a cup with peaches and top with granola.
  • Jelly Oranges: Cook jelly according to the package directions. Slice an orange in half and remove the inside. Fill with the jelly liquid. Refrigerate until set. Take a sharp knife and slice through the center again.
  • Cupcakes: Mini chocolate cupcakes with orange and blue icing piped on.
  • Blueberry muffins
  • Sandwiches: Cheese (cut with cookie cutters) for the kids, and roast beef, cheese and mango chutney for the adults.
  • Jars filled with clementines, goldfish, Sun Chips, and blueberries (I put re-useable ice-cubes under the blueberries to keep them cold).
  • Beverages: Orange juice, mango juice, a pitcher of iced water with orange slices, and mimosa’s for the mums.
orange and blue party food including cupcakes, jelly orange slices, goldfish, fruit, and muffins.
Orange and blue party food including cupcakes and jelly orange slices.
orange and blue party ideas
Orange and blue party food and party supplies.

Are you looking for more fun nature craft ideas for birds? Take a look at these:

Please pin this post for later:

Popsicle stick bird feeder Pinterest image

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27 comments

Gwen June 17, 2011 - 6:12 pm

Very, very, very cool! Super fly! 😉 This is just perfect for me to make next week with my kiddos!
Thanks so much!

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Brandi June 17, 2011 - 6:16 pm

I like this a lot! I think I’ll make these with a group of my summer camp kids!

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[email protected] June 17, 2011 - 10:31 pm

We had a great time! You are one hot, crafty Mama!The kids finished their feeders after naps, I’ll send you pics once they are hung up!

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Ali June 17, 2011 - 6:32 pm

What a fun craft…great job with the craft AND the awesome looking food! a

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Amy @ Dealusional June 18, 2011 - 4:27 am

Those are the cutest little bird feeders ever! And the blue & orange food is amazing. Great job, as always, Tonya!

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Lolo June 19, 2011 - 3:03 pm

Looks like an awesome party!

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Courtney Velasquez June 20, 2011 - 2:14 pm

You are so creative! Great project to add to my Popsicle Crafts Pinterest board!

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Tonya Staab June 24, 2011 - 8:14 pm

Thank you Lolo, it was a great time, albeit a little crazy (and loud) with all the kids crafting together 🙂

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Tonya Staab June 24, 2011 - 8:19 pm

Thanks Amy, the kids love them … although mummy still hasn't tracked down her outdoor sealer to protect them.  I must get onto that.

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Tonya Staab June 24, 2011 - 8:20 pm

Yay, I'm so glad you all came over, I loved catching up with everyone again, I missed you all while I was away.  I'd love to see the pics of the finished feeders when you get a chance.

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Kathy Murphy July 1, 2011 - 12:44 pm

Awesome craft – great pictures. Looks like a fun party.

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Melissa February 9, 2012 - 7:15 am

What a great party!! I love the attention to detail! The orange boats are adorable! Great job!

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Cari February 21, 2012 - 11:44 am

I love those bird feeders! Thanks so much for sharing. That is such a simple idea and I love the price tag. 🙂 It looks like you had a great party.

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Erin February 6, 2013 - 11:14 am

Can you explain the role of the larger younger depressor to me? I don’t get it…

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Erin February 6, 2013 - 11:15 am

That should have said tongue depressor not younger. Sorry.

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Tonya Staab February 7, 2013 - 9:50 am

It's just an extra little perch for them to land on, but I thought it would be better to be wider than as narrow as the regular craft sticks.  I noticed if we had a few birds flying around the bird feeder that some would stand out on the perch before pushing their way into the seed :).

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Ana Montoya June 20, 2013 - 9:27 am

Wonderful idea, I will include it for our summer camp here at the museum!! We are zero budget and offer free classes…. so this is perfect !!!!! Thank you!

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Amanda May 26, 2014 - 6:25 am

Hi Tonya. Just wanted to let you know that I featured this post on my Facebook page during April and people loved it. It made it into the top 20 for the month, of which I always do a round up. So today I’ve featured you on my blog as well (link below). Thanks for such an awesome post! http://craftsbyamanda.com/2014/05/great-craft-ideas-may-2014.html

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Erin Ellis July 8, 2014 - 6:06 am

The bird feeders are so cute, and I love the jelly oranges!

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Bekki@a better way to homeschool October 18, 2014 - 8:40 am

Such a cute and simple craft. I have 5 boys. Boys love to do crafts. My boys are very male, full of testosterone, and very anti-pink. They are archery shooting type men in training. Think brave heart and gladiator.
To help them cross over into the craft/creative zone I have to be creative myself. Hide the link and glitter, replace normal art supplies with sticks, stones, and natural colored supplies… Then they are all in!

Very cute bird feeder!

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Kerrin Grosvenor February 26, 2015 - 7:40 pm

Hello! I’m contacting you on behalf of Feeding the Future, an Australian food security guild. I would like to use your photos in a resource kit for kids, encouraging them to spend more time in the garden.

If we credit your website, would this be okay with you? This is such a great activity!

You can see more information on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TasmaniaFeedingTheFuture

Regards,

Kerrin Grosvenor

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Annie October 21, 2021 - 11:39 am

The plan for the bird feeder is very good. For the health of the birds I would not paint or glue glitter on the structure. Natural wood is best. If a child wants to use paint or glitter, then a wonderful teachable moment about healthy birds is presented.

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Marian Weber April 8, 2016 - 6:04 am

Tonya I love this X-Treme bird feeders idea to do with the grand kids. They love to watch the birds eating out of our feeders. I am looking for projects to do with them for summer to keep them busy and this is surly one of them.Simple but cute. I am also going to pass this on to teachers for a student project. Does the outdoor paint hurt the birds if not sealed? Did you find any outdoor varnish that works? Thanks for great idea.

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Art Loves Money January 24, 2017 - 12:26 pm

It is look like that it was a awesome party.

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Alyssa February 17, 2017 - 1:28 pm

This is a wonderful idea. I am featuring this on my blog with a link and photo if you don’t mind.

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Love Quotes For Wife June 12, 2017 - 2:05 am

Love Quotes For Wife

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Jessie July 9, 2017 - 8:40 pm

I don’t really understand how to put the hemp cord so that it hangs correctly and doesn’t spill…

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