How to create your own edible ornaments

[HOW TO…]

This year, share the holiday spirit by feeding birds and squirrels in your yard. Edible ornaments also look decorative hanging in a tree or on a fence. You will be entertained, and the hungry critters will appreciate your generosity.

HOLIDAY PINECONES

You need: One large pinecone, peanut butter, wild birdseed, a ribbon

Smear peanut butter all over the pinecone and roll in a paper plate full of birdseed.

Tie a festive bow on the top and hang from a tree outside.

COOKIE-CUTTER TOAST

You need: Toasted bread, cookie cutters, peanut butter, wild birdseed, string

Use the cookie cutter to cut out a snowman, Christmas tree, candy cane, or other holiday shape in the toast.

Cover the pieces with peanut butter, then press into a paper plate full of birdseed. Hang with string.

You can also use half a bagel — just spread the peanut butter on the flat side, press into birdseed and hang.

CEREAL GARLANDS

You need: Sewing needle, string, various types of cereal

Use any cereal that doesn’t crumble when you push a needle through it. Cheerios are easy because they already have a hole. Pretzels are a good choice as well.

I combined Cheerios with the green and red pieces from Captain Crunch cereal.

Use the needle to string cereal in your desired pattern.

When the garland is as long as you’d like, tie the end of the string and hang it in your yard.