How to Make Fun Cork and Bead Toys for Cats and Birds
Last Updated on November 10, 2022 by lydiaf1963
Have fun making simple cork and bead toys for the cats and birds in your life. This is a great project for giving to local shelters…or in my case, my sister’s menagerie.
Crafting for Charity
There are many crafters in my situation who love to make things, but for whatever reason, don’t keep everything they make. Crafting for charity is one way to ensure the pretty things we make find a good home. I have been inspired by Dana of Create to Donate, the Spirit of Christmas and my stash to make something for needy kitties.
Before donating to a shelter, I practiced by making a set of toys for my sister’s collection of animals.
My sister is the family “cat lady.” Her group currently stands at 5 outside cats, 2 indoor cats and a cranky Hahn’s Macaw named Monty (lovely plumage) who screams at all of them. They need something to play with. A while back I made some crocheted cat toys for my sister’s cats but they are at the end of their usefulness.
Let’s make cork and bead toys!
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
- twine
- wooden beads
- corks, recycle your own or purchase them
- other fun things to tie on like feathers, bells, pieces of leather, etc
- drill with 1/4″ bit
- piece of wire to use as a needle
- scissors
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Boil the corks in an ample amount of water for 3 to 5 minutes. This will disinfect and plump them up.
- Use a drill with a 1/4″ bit to create a hole in the center of the cork.
- Make a beading “needle” with a doubled over piece of wire.
- Cut a generous length of twine and thread it onto the needle.
- Thread the beads and corks onto the twine in a manner that pleases you then tie knots and trim the excess twine.
- If you want, cut the corks into smaller pieces, add feathers, or pieces of wood or leather.
It took a while for the animals to warm up to the toys, but they seem to be enjoying them at the moment.
Now I have to order more wine to rebuild my cork collection!
Where to donate?
You may already have a shelter in mind, or you may know someone who would welcome the gift of animal toys. If you’re at a loss as to where to donate, try a web search for “Animal Shelters near me” and visit the websites to see what their needs are.
The theme for this month’s Pinterest challenge is Christmas. While I’m suggesting you make these cork and bead toys to give as Christmas presents, the reality is many shelters and rescues have year round needs. If you’re reading this in May or June, please don’t hesitate to donate.
For more Pinterest inspired projects from this month’s Pinterest Challenge hosts, check out the links below ↓
My Pinterventures • Cookies Coffee and Crafts
Slices of Life • Sew Crafty Crochet • Our Sutton Place
Purple Hues and Me • Sum of their Stories
Life Beyond Kitchen • Mom Home Guide • Our Good Life • Love My Little Cottage
Decorate & More with Tip • Modern on Monticello
Now, let’s see what the other hosts have created ⇓⇓
What a great idea to make animal toys and donate them. These look super easy to make and the cats look like they love them.
This is such a cute idea. I love the idea of making toys to donate to animal shelters. Pinned.
Cute toys and great idea! These would be a cool gift idea for my mom’s cat. Last year, I knitted him a scarf… He wasn’t too fond of it. I’m sure he’d love toys like these better! lol Pinning!
lol I’m sure loved the scarf when he didn’t have to wear it!
What a good idea!
I don’t know why I never thought about donating handmade toys to animal shelters. Such a great idea! Thanks for sharing this.
Such a simple but clever idea. We had a cat when I was growing up and this is exactly the sort of thing she would have loved to play with.
My sister reports she’s found the toys outside, so the cats are playing with them. They’re having fun with them, for sure. Thanks for dropping by, Julie!