Using materials already on hand to make hummingbird feeders is a fun and simple craft that serves triple duty. Not only will you be helping the planet and feeding hummingbirds, you’ll also receive hours of enjoyment by watching these winged jewels flit throughout your garden or flowerbeds.

Things you need:
Wide-mouth plastic bottle with cap (Gatorade bottles work great)
A bottle cap that is slightly larger and deeper than the Gatorade bottle cap
Drill
Pliers
Paper towel
Hot glue gun with glue sticks
Red non-toxic, low VOC paint
Sandpaper
Faux flowers (or, make your own from recycled aluminum foil or foil pie pans)
20-40″ piece of 20 gauge wire

Things to do:
1. To begin, drill several small holes in a cluster through the center of the Gatorade cap, then use pliers to punch out the holes completely to form one large hole. Stuff the hole with the tip of a paper towel to form a spacer, and place the Gatorade cap inside the larger cap.
2. Next, use the hot glue gun to SLOWLY build up four plus sign” bridges that will hold the lids in place. Tip: During this stage, be sure to leave space between the lids to allow nectar to flow from the bottle into the larger lid and to prevent glue from coating the bottom of the larger lid; otherwise, you’ll fill the cavities that are needed to hold the nectar.
3. To decorate, scuff the surface of the plastic bottle with sandpaper and paint, and use hot glue to affix faux or aluminum foil flowers around the base of the larger lid. (Red dye is harmful to hummingbirds, so if you’re using fabric faux flowers, make sure the dye won’t run or bleed into the nectar.) Finally, use the length of 20 gauge wire to wrap around the bottle, and fashion a hook or loop at the other end for hanging. Now you’re ready to fill, hang, and enjoy the aerial acrobatics!

Homemade Hummer Brew
2 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
Bring water to a boil, stir in sugar until dissolved, and boil the mixture for 2 minutes. Cool completely before filling feeder, and refrigerate any leftovers.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to discovering creative uses for materials already on hand. While recycling is a noble alternative to trashing, upcycling will save even more natural resources. Not only will you avoid purchasing an item to fill a need, but you’ll also save energy that would otherwise be used at the recycling plant. Flex your creative muscles and enjoy making and sharing your eco-friendly crafts.