By contributing writer Beth
Sometimes you want crafts to be perfect. Other times you want to do them with your three year old. The latter is so much more enjoyable when the craft is supposed to be messy already. That’s why this Bird’s Nest Spring Craft was the perfect choice for me to make with my toddler.
We spent time talking about how birds spend time building their homes. They want them to be cozy and strong, so we picked out a solid bowl and some soft raffia for the main elements. They also pick things up as they go along to make their nest a pleasant place to live. So we gathered beautiful leaves and berries from our flower beds. As the birds start chirping this spring to push back winter, I hope you’ll enjoy this easy craft that will end up perfectly messy.
Supplies Needed
- tempera paint
- paint brush
- plastic eggs
- raffia
- bowl (If you use disposable bowls, you’ll want to put some rocks in the bottom to keep it from tipping over.)
- twigs, leaves, herbs, and berries from your yard
Instructions
1. Start by painting the eggs. We chose tempera paint because we knew that it would not cover the egg completely. Paint the eggs and let them dry for 5 minutes.
2. After 5 minutes, gently wrap a paper towel or cloth around the egg being careful not to wipe. You’re trying to blot away a little of the paint to create a mottled effect and show a little of the original egg color through the paint.
3. Gather the raffia into a circular bundle and place it in the bowl.
4. Decorate with twigs, leaves, berries, herbs, and any other items you find around your yard or garden. You could even integrate ribbon or fabric if you don’t have a lot of greenery around. We used some white branches left over from our winter decor project. We talked about how birds use what’s around them and they’re great at recycling!
5. Finish by placing the eggs into the nest. You might want to push out the raffia a little to make sure there is a spot for the eggs to nestle so they’re not floating on top.
My little girl loved the hands-on gathering, painting, and building that makes up this craft. It was fun to build a home and make it beautiful. I hope you enjoy this Bird Nest Craft with your little ones this spring!
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