Birdseed Wedding Favor Hearts: Eco, Easy and Inexpensive DIY

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Christina

If you don’t like the idea of spending a bundle on favors, or if you are opting for favor donations instead, birdseed wedding favor hearts are a sweet, simple, eco-friendly way to thank your guests – and the birds:)

Birdseed wedding favor hearts are so easy to DIY, my second grader can make them. And they’re incredibly inexpensive.

Here’s the DIY:

Birdseed Wedding Favor Hearts

(Makes approximately 21 two-inch hearts)

3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2.5 teaspoons)
3 tbsp corn syrup
4 cups birdseed

You will also need:

large mixing bowl
heart shaped cookie cutter
nonstick spray
chopstick or bamboo skewer for making a hole in the ornament
parchment paper
cookie sheet
jute or raffia
card stock
rubber stamp
ink
rounded corner punch
hole punch

Mix flour, water, gelatin and corn syrup. Add birdseed and stir well.

Spray the inside of a heart cookie cutter with vegetable cooking spray. (You could also wipe it down with veg. oil.)

Place cookie cutter on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Spoon mixture inside of cookie cutter, pressing mixture firmly with greased fingers. (The more you press it down, the less shedding of seeds you will have.)

Using a chopstick or bamboo skewer, make a hole near the top of the heart.

Remove chopstick.

Carefully pull cookie cutter away from birdseed heart. Repeat until all the mixture is used up. (You should spray the cookie cutter after every six hearts, that way it won’t stick.)

Let dry 6-8 hours. (I let mine sit overnight.) Cut 10-12 inches of jute for each heart. String jute through heart and add a tag. I created my thank you tags by using a rubber stamp, card stock and a rounded corner punch. Tie the jute in a knot after you have added the tag. (You can tuck the knot inside the hole so it doesn’t show.) You can hang these from branches at your wedding, or place inside bags or boxes.

Note: A couple of brides left comments stating that they made the favor hearts a couple of weeks prior to their wedding, and they molded. If you are making these before your wedding, don’t make them more than a few days ahead just to be safe.

Don’t want to make them yourself? Check out our sponsor, Little Things.

Filed Under: DIY Favors & Gifts, DIY Wedding | 53 Comments

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Comments

Posted by Kirby on April 4th, 2011 at 8:59am

Such a great idea! Especially for those doing simple outdoor weddings coming up. I'll will definitely be passing along this DIY project.

xo
Posted by Helby on April 13th, 2011 at 10:16am

This is such a great idea! I'm saving this one.
Posted by Lane' on April 22nd, 2011 at 4:15am

This may sound strange, but do you know how long they last? I love these and they look easy enough I'd make them, but I'd want to make them well in advance of our wedding this summer (August). I didn't know if I could make them say in June if they'd still be "good"?

Thank you!!
Posted by Christina on April 22nd, 2011 at 9:56pm

Hi Lane. I'm really not sure how long they would last. My guess is that they would probably dry out if left that long... or perhaps you could store them in ziploc bags. It would be worth some experimentation.
Posted by Ashley on May 19th, 2011 at 12:19pm

This is a really great tutorial! I'm getting married this July and I've already started making them. My first batch is looking a little bit dried out right now and I made them 2 weeks ago. Also 3 or 4 of the hearts are pretty moldy on one side! I kept them in a Tupperware container on top of my fridge for some time, so maybe it was too warm?

I suggest making sure they are in a very dry place and keep flipping them every so often to keep mold from growing. I've packaged the others in sealed, clear plastic bags, so I'm hoping this will keep them "fresh" until the wedding!

I would also love to do this with a group of kids as a craft (at the Boys and Girls Club) - I think they would dig it!
Posted by Christina on May 21st, 2011 at 11:01am

Thanks for the tips Ashley!
Posted by Marsha on June 2nd, 2011 at 12:44pm

I'm making these for my church ladies group w/ the verse from Matthew 6:26.
Posted by Christina on June 2nd, 2011 at 1:01pm

Hi Marsha,
I wouldn't make them too far ahead because they could dry out. You could try storing them in a sealed container. I made these and put them outside the next day for the birds, so I don't know how long they would last.
Posted by Patti on August 22nd, 2011 at 11:04am

These would be great to decorate a tree outside at Christmas. We always look for holiday ideas for the yard, and the kids could help with these!
Posted by Christina on August 22nd, 2011 at 1:58pm

Yes, they would be perfect for the holidays! But they won't last long... at least if they're as hungry as the birds in my neighbourhood!:)
Posted by susy on September 27th, 2011 at 1:34pm

This would be a great idea to make with the kids for Christmas. Then they could make handmade gifts for family & friends - how fun would that be?
Posted by Daisy on October 18th, 2011 at 6:55am

Hi. This was so easy but mine came out like if I'd dusted them in flour. I followed the recipe. Any suggestions? I'd love to try them again. Thanks!
Posted by Brandie on April 27th, 2012 at 8:44am

Thanks for this perfect idea! Where did you find your stamp? Thanks again :)
Posted by Christina on April 27th, 2012 at 11:27am

I bought the stamp at Michaels. Glad you like the project!
Posted by Jessica on May 1st, 2012 at 12:31pm

These are so cute! But I wish I read the comments. We made them for my grandparent's 50th anniversary about a month in advance, bagged them in plastic, put them in a box, and left them in my basement laundry room assuming it was cooler so they'd be fine. So glad I checked on them, they all went super moldy (so moldy there's heat coming off them). At least we still have a week til the party and they were so simple to make we will just remake them this week. They come out so wonderfully though and we made 4" hearts instead of 2", which we loved!
Posted by Christina on May 1st, 2012 at 12:49pm

Sorry to hear that Jessica! It's probably best to make them closer to the date.
Posted by Alicia on May 9th, 2012 at 3:57pm

I am in love with this! Thank you so much for posting, I will be using this as my wedding favor!
Posted by Meghan on May 20th, 2012 at 11:38pm

I'll echo the sentiment that mine molded :( My wedding is in two weeks, and I made these about 3 weeks ago, put them in a large storage container, layered between wax paper. I started stringing them up tonight, and they had molded :( We love the idea so much that we'll be doing them again two days before the wedding, but MAN. What a bummer. Didn't really see myself having to do this two days before the wedding. I think the fact that they could mold should be stated in the instructions. Mine were not completely closed up, and were not in a warm space, and still molded. Oh well - learned my lesson! Off to make more!
Posted by Christina on May 21st, 2012 at 9:16am

Sorry to hear that Meghan! I just added the info to the post.
Posted by Erica on May 21st, 2012 at 10:21pm

Would it prevent mold to put them in a fridge several weeks in advance? Has anyone tried this?
Posted by S on May 22nd, 2012 at 10:39am

I made these for my June wedding and after 2 weeks they were moldy. Very disappointed.
Posted by Israel Heilmann on June 5th, 2012 at 10:58am

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Posted by K Gravert on June 5th, 2012 at 8:08pm

I just made 60 for shower favors - a baby shower w/ a wilderness theme. I used standard plastic cookie cutters (butterfly, duck, bear, squirrel) -- I put the hole in the center or strongest area. However, I'm still having troubles with breakage as I'm running the jute through. I did only let them dry 2 hours (I'm in Colorado where it is dry) and thought that was long enough for the jute part then I was going to let them dry overnight. But perhaps not. Thoughts?
Posted by Jill on June 16th, 2012 at 6:30pm

I am making these for a friends wedding this coming Saturday. If I make these tomorrow or Monday will I still have a molding problem? Thank you!
Posted by Laurie on June 19th, 2012 at 4:14pm

Can they be frozen after making them to keep them fresh? Anyone tried that?
Posted by Christina on June 19th, 2012 at 6:14pm

Good idea Laurie. If anyone tries it, do let us know!
Posted by Jan on June 24th, 2012 at 8:22pm

I made these for Vacation Bible School "thank you" gifts ... very cute and eco-friendly. However, I had some of the same "mold" problems. The way I solved it was to let them dry a day or so, then put them in a low oven (about 180 degrees) for a few hours. I made them about a week before I needed them, and they turned out great!
Posted by Christina on June 25th, 2012 at 10:33pm

Great tip Jan!
Posted by Alli on July 11th, 2012 at 4:16pm

Great tutorial, thanks! I am making these for my sister's wedding favors. I figured out a way to mix the ingredients so that the flour doesn't get lumpy and figured I'd share... I whisk the water and corn syrup, then whisk in the gelatin, then slowly whisk in the flour. That made a nice, smooth mixture instead of all the lumps I got when I added the water to the dry ingredients. Then I added the bird seed and stirred with a spoon. They are turning out perfect!
Posted by Christina on July 17th, 2012 at 12:28pm

Thanks for sharing Alli!
Posted by June Decker on July 24th, 2012 at 10:54pm

We need these favors by August 4th...made 1 recipe today...have drying in the garage where it is fairly
hot. Now want to know ASAP if anyone has frozen them and how they turned out. Really want to get
them done sooner than 3 days out! HELP!
Gramma June
Posted by Milo's Mom on August 30th, 2012 at 11:54am

I made these several weeks ago. I baked them at a low heat for about an hour, let them dry out for a day, and then froze them. Now I'm finishing them and they're holding up nicely. They do appear to have some white film on some areas, but I think that's just the gelatin or flour.
Posted by Laura on September 5th, 2012 at 2:59pm

Has anyone received complaints from guests about the favors getting moldy? Or do you think most guests put them outside ASAP?
Posted by eve on October 20th, 2012 at 12:22am

If they mold are they even safe to feed to the birds we want to feed them not kill them???
Posted by Myk on November 14th, 2012 at 12:41am

I've made these with just two ingredients--the unflavored gelatin and birdseed. I would think that with the flour & corn syrup that's where the mold is coming into play. I made them with a few of the kids I worked with and they turned out pretty good. They went outside a few days after we made them, and it was winter time so we didn't have them long enough to observe if they got moldy or not but I bet omitting the flour and corn syrup might lessen the chance of mold.
Posted by Elies on December 23rd, 2012 at 3:25am

I've made these for Christmas and they were absolutely gorgeous. But I made them a week in advance and am now very sad to discover the molding problem. :(
Luckily I have enough birdseed to make plenty more! But I'm a little hesitant now I know they mold.. I've been looking for alternatives that don't mold, but none are quite as gorgeous as these little beauties.
Still, they're fun to make and it's a great DIY!
Posted by Sue P. on January 17th, 2013 at 1:59pm

Can these be frozen if made in advance?
Posted by Christina on January 17th, 2013 at 2:01pm

Sue, it's worth a try!! Let me know how they turn out.
Posted by Jeff on January 25th, 2013 at 7:14pm

Has anyone tried making these with quick mixing flour to keep it from having the residual white film?
Posted by Jeff on January 25th, 2013 at 7:15pm

has anyone tried making these with quick mixing flour to elimate the residual white film?
Posted by Christina on January 26th, 2013 at 10:04pm

No Jeff, I haven't. In fact, I don't even know what quick mixing flour is. If you try it, let us know how they turn out.
Posted by LINDA CHRISTMAN on March 8th, 2013 at 12:37am

HI MY DAUGHTER IS GETTING MARRIED THE FIRST OF MAY I REALLY NEED TO MAKE IN ADVANCE AS I CAN. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW SOON I CAN ? I HAVE READ ALL THE COMMENTS ON THIS SITE SO I AM SCARED OF THE MOLD AND THE WHITE FILM AND ALL OF THE STORIES BUT WOULD REALLY LIKE TO MAKE THESE WITH A FISH COOKIE CUTTER WE LIVE IN FLORIDA AND MY DAUGHTER AND NEW HUBBY TO BE FISH ALL THE TIME. I SEE SOME ONE SAID THEY ONLY MIXED THE GELTIAN AND BIRDSEED AND THEN SOMEONE SAID THEY PUT THEM IN OVEN AND SOMEONE WAS GOING TO FREEZE THEM. I AM REALLY CONFUSED BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY SO I REALLY NEED THIS DIY IDEA AND I LIKE IT A LOT PLEASE PLEASE HELP
Posted by WeyMama on March 12th, 2013 at 6:57pm

I'm not sure whether this would solve the molding problem or not, but I've done a similar project making vegan suet for Solstice and Christmas with just oats, birdseed, and peanut butter. Mixed it, molded it, and froze it for a week or two. Personally, I can't see corn syrup and gelatin being terribly healthy for birds, and as someone else mentioned, those are likely to be what's contributing to the mold. Whereas a jar of peanut butter (even the natural, organic stuff we buy) will sit unrefrigerated for a good long time without growing mold. Just some thoughts. I will definitely use a cookie cutter the next time, though. The heart I shaped by hand broke easily since it was not as compacted as the large ball I also made.
Posted by Megan on March 13th, 2013 at 9:55am

Has anybody tried vacuum sealing? Going to try these this week. I think by totally drying out the favor via cooking, then vacuum sealing after they cool might work to avoid molding. Any thoughts?
Posted by Denelle on March 15th, 2013 at 1:37pm

Weymama,
Did the oats, seeds, and peanut butter take away from the beauty of the one made with gelatin?
Posted by Denelle on March 15th, 2013 at 1:40pm

also what is the purpose of the flour? I
Posted by Shannon on March 29th, 2013 at 9:53am

I made a version of these for my wedding last month and thought I'd share for others!. I did not put flour or corn syrup, just birdseed, gelatin, and water. I made them one week before the wedding, let them dry overnight on the counter in a single layer. After drying overnight I put them in a dehydrator for about 6 hours. They have to be dry before going into the dehydrator. I let them sit out for another few days just to be sure then I wrapped them in favor bags. I made just over 100 and have about 20 left. They are now 6 weeks old and they still do not have any mold.
Posted by Christina on March 29th, 2013 at 11:55am

Great info Shannon! Thanks so much for sharing this with everyone!
Posted by Erin on April 2nd, 2013 at 9:50am

I made these favors for my upcoming May wedding back in February 2013. They're still fine, I had no trouble with mold. Don't wrap them in anything and you'll be fine. Make sure they're thoroughly dry before adding the string, and I made sure to flip them over probably every six hours so that they dried really well after reading the molding stories. It's been two months and they still look great!
Posted by Christina on April 2nd, 2013 at 11:01am

Thanks for letting us know they turned out so well, Erin!
Posted by Nikki on April 3rd, 2013 at 4:44pm

So Erin how did you store them if you didn't wrap them up? And you used the flour and corn syrup and everything?
Posted by Erin on April 4th, 2013 at 9:14am

I used all of the ingredients. I kept them on several cookie sheets (I made 90 of them) and I laid them out in our extra bedroom. Each morning and each evening I went in and turned them all to make sure they dried evenly. They're still on the cookie sheets they're just stacked now and they have the rope and tag on them now. They look as good as they did the day I made them. I think they're going to be quite the hit next month at my wedding :)
Posted by Holli on May 22nd, 2013 at 1:57pm

I am trying this right now, and the mixture before the seeds is extremely thick. I'm having a hard time getting the bird seed to mix well.... And I've only added 2 cups so far. I did subsitute the gelatine with fruit pectin. Could that be the problem? Suggestions anyone?