Save Old K-Cups To DIY Mini Bird Feeders For Your Yard And Garden

Attracting birds to your yard is a great method of insect control, as our feathered friends eat mosquitos, spiders, and other creepy crawlies that may lurk in your yard. While birds like an insect buffet, they also appreciate a trip to the occasional bird feeder. If you're an avid Keurig user, you probably have a stack of K-cup trash. Yet, with a little time and some common materials, you can reuse K-cups into something new, an excellent way to recycle an item otherwise destined for the trash.

Feeding wild birds is helpful during their most active times, in extreme weather, and during their migration. Making a DIY bird feeder with things around the house is an easy and fun craft for all ages, plus helps expand the lifespan of your coffee pod, as the single-use aspect of a K-cup is a frequent downside to owning a Keurig. Here's how you can make a fun feeder and attract a variety of birds to your garden or yard.

You will need at least three clean K-cups for this project, though you could use more if you like. You will also need three popsicle sticks, a pair of scissors, glue, and something to hang your feeder with, such as yarn or string. Optional is anything you want to decorate the final result, such as stickers or markers, for your little artists to add to the project. Once you have your materials gathered, use the scissors to make a hole in the bottom of each K-Cup. You will be threading your yarn or string through these, so make it big enough to accommodate that. Measure and mark 1 inch of the sticks, then tie the string or twine there twice to secure it. 

To hang the birdfeeder from a tree, cross the popsicle sticks so they're overlapping at the ends, and attach them together with glue. Cut the yarn or string again, this time with enough to wrap around the glued sticks at the center to give it more strength; a good length is between 2 to 3 feet, however, adjust as needed. Thread the string through the holes in the cups, then glue the cups to the sticks. Lift the cups by pulling the yarn, and tying it with a knot. Fill with birdseed, then hang it from your tree, placing it on a branch so birds have more room to eat. Enjoy your new bird feeder!