3 Ways to Make a Scarecrow
Introduction:
A scarecrow is not only a great way to keep birds away from your garden and protect your crops, but it can also be a fun and creative addition to your outdoor space. There are many ways to make a scarecrow, and you can use materials you already have lying around. In this article, we will discuss three different approaches to creating your own scarecrow.
1. Classic Straw-Stuffed Scarecrow:
Materials:
– Old clothes (shirt, pants or overalls, gloves)
– Straw or hay
– Twine or rope
– Wooden sticks or poles (one long, one shorter)
– Old pillowcase or cloth for the head
– Marker for drawing face
Instructions:
a) Secure the poles together in a cross shape using twine or rope. The longer pole will act as the scarecrow’s body,and the shorter one as arms.
b) Dress the scarecrow by putting the shirt and pants on the appropriate parts of the pole. Use more twine to secure clothing to poles if necessary.
c) Stuff the clothes with straw until they are full and shaped like a human body. Secure openings with twine.
d) Place an old pillowcase or cloth over the top of the longer pole as the head; stuff it with straw and tie off at the neck.
e) Draw a face on the cloth with markers; get creative with expressions!
f) Place gloves on the ends of the shorter pole as hands.
2. DIY PVC Pipe Scarecrow:
Materials:
– PVC pipes (assorted lengths)
– Pipe elbows/connectors
– Old clothes
– Twine or zip ties
– Newspaper or plastic bags for stuffing
– Garden stake
– Mask or painted balloon for head
Instructions:
a) Assemble PVC pipes into a body shape using elbows/connectors; secure with pipe cement if necessary.
b) Dress the scarecrow with old clothing, using twine or zip ties to attach clothing to PVC pipe frame.
c) Stuff newspaper or plastic bags into clothes to give it a human-like shape.
d) Attach the PVC pipe body to a garden stake for stability in the ground.
e) Place a mask or painted balloon onto the top of the PVC frame for a head.
3. Recycled Bottle Scarecrow:
Materials:
– Plastic bottles (2-liter size)
– Duct tape
– Old clothes
– String for securing clothing
– Bag of shredded paper (for stuffing)
– Stick or broom handle for support
Instructions:
a) Connect plastic bottles end-to-end using duct tape, creating a long “body” and shorter “arms”.
b) Attach arms to the body, again using duct tape.
c) Dress scarecrow in old clothes. Tie off any openings with string to secure clothes in place.
d) Stuff shredded paper into clothes for added fullness.
e) Slide stick or broom handle through neck hole of shirt and into one of the bottles for stability.
f) Set completed scarecrow in garden, securing stick or broom handle into ground as needed.
Conclusion:
With these three different methods, you can create unique and effective scarecrows to help keep your garden safe from unwanted visitors. Whether you choose a traditional straw-stuffed design or explore other options like using PVC pipes or recycled materials, you’ll have fun adding character and charm to your outdoor space.