Crafting a Bird Nest

This weekend I was printing some little bird images from the most wonderful garden school bundle I purchased for the girls. As I was gluing pictures to cardboard to create a bird themed memory game, the tiny little slivers of cardboard scraps building up on the table looked ever so much like I nest, and so I made up my mind that we ought not let that idea go to waste. And with that, it only took but a moment to gather supplies and create our little work of wonder.

First, a miniature grapevine wreath. (A found a whole bag full at the local thrift for only a dollar!)

Next, the cardboard drink carrier from our recent to go coffee order.

Couple those supplies with the glue, scissors and cardboard which were already in use, and thats really all we needed. * *Note the cardboard had already been up cycled once as coloring mat. It makes me terribly happy when things don’t go to waste, but bring everlasting opportunities for play and creativity.

Materials:
- Cardboard drink carrier
- Mini grapevine wreath
- Recycled Cardboard
- Glue
- Scizzors

Directions:
1. Trim around one cup of a cardboard drink carrier. Make the circle about the same size as your wreath.
2. Cut three slits in the circle and overlap the flaps to fit just inside the wreath. Glue the overlapping flaps together.
3. Cut tiny shreds of cardboard and glue them inside and around the drink carrier.

And for a little added sweetness, I hand stitched together a few tiny bird eggs from scrap fabric. But honestly, it would have been much easier to felt them if I had had the materials on hand (just an idea, in case you’re thinking your nest may be in want of a few little eggs).

If you don’t have a grapevine wreath around and want another idea, I pulled out some Biodegradable GreenWrap from a shipping box and thought that could also be a great substitute. I’d love to know if you try this, and if you used any substitute materials. I’d be just thrilled to see and hear about it.

All in all, look around, have fun, keep an open mind, let the children get their hands on it, and experience the joy and wonder in it all, together.