Edible Bird Houses

[jude]

I had some 5 & 6 year olds in Sunday School that made these once. They really enjoyed building these. Oh, of course they ate as much as they put on the houses!! I think theirs weighed about 5 pounds each when they were finished. Each one was unique and they were so proud to show them off.
Jude


Build an Edible Birdhouse

Kids love to turn cardboard drink containers into edible houses for our feathered friends. They're easy to make with raisins, nuts, corn, seeds, dry cereal, graham crackers, and a recipe for special edible "mortar".

What You Will Need

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup flour, plus extra for sprinkling
2 tablespoons cornmeal (optional)
1 half-pint milk or juice carton, washed and dried
White school glue
1 large, sturdy paper plate
6 graham cracker squares
Scissors
1 ice cream cone
Assorted dry cereal
Raisins
Birdseed (sunflower, thistle, millet, corn, etc.)
Nuts (shelled or unshelled)
Hole punch
3 two-foot lengths of twine

What You Will Do

1.In a bowl, prepare mortar by mixing together peanut butter, 1/2 cup flour, and cornmeal, if desired. This mixture can be prepared ahead of time, and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a month.

2.Place a few dabs of white school glue on the bottom of a milk or juice carton and attach it firmly to a large paper plate (slightly off-center to allow room for a tree). Allow to dry for at least 10 minutes.

3.Dab a tablespoonful of mortar on the back of each of 4 graham cracker squares. Press a cracker into place on each of the 4 sides of the carton. The mortar will hold the cracker in place. For the roof, dab a tablespoon of mortar on 2 square crackers. Gently position the crackers on top of the carton, creating the peak of the roof. Hold them in place for a minute or so until they're secure. Cover the eaves at the front and back of the house with mortar to hide the carton.

4.Now your house is ready to decorate. Spread the roof with mortar. Press cereal, seeds, corn, or nuts into it, creating rows or other designs. Sprinkle flour over the finished roof to look like snow. Repeat on sides of the house, creating "doors" and "windows." If desired, add a path leading to the front door with extra mortar covered with cereal, seeds, corn, or nuts.

5.To make the tree, glue the sugar cone upside down on the paper plate. Cover cone with mortar. Press seeds, corn, nuts, raisins, dry cereal, etc., onto the mortar.

6.Punch 3 equidistant holes in the rim of the paper plate. Knot a piece of twine or ribbon around each hole.
Knot free ends into a loop.

Now you are ready to hang your edible birdhouse from a tree branch. Or, you can wrap it up in cellophane — it makes a wonderful gift for a bird-loving friend.