Homemade Butterfly Feeders

Overview

Making a butterfly feeder is simple, fun arts-and-crafts project that can be accomplished by people of all ages. The feeder will attract butterflies to your garden. Butterflies survive well in moderately warm temperatures of 80 degrees F, or higher, but they are prefer shelter during extremely hot days. If your garden is full of fruit or flowers, it will naturally attract butterflies, but it helps to have a butterfly feeder to keep them from hovering over your fruits and flowers when you don't want them to.

Butterfly Plate Feeder

Step 1

Punch four small holes into the sides of a plastic or sturdy paper plate using a hole puncher. The lid of an ice bucket works well. Pull four shoelaces, or similar type of string, through each hole.

Step 2

Decorate the strings and plate. Glue leaves or artificial flowers to the string to make it more appealing for the butterflies.

Step 3

Tie knots on the strings at the bottom of the plate to secure them. Hang the plate on a tree branch that is near your garden. Make sure that the plate is tied tightly and won't be blown away by the wind.

Step 4

Place butterfly food onto the plate. You can also use rotten or fallen fruit from your garden.

Butterfly Jar Feeder

Step 1

Punch a hole in the lid of a small jar using a knife, or a hammer and nail. Cut a small piece off of a sponge and soak it in homemade butterfly nectar that consists of ten parts water and one part sugar.

Step 2

Slide the sponge piece into one of the holes you made so that it sticks out far enough for butterflies to feed on the juice. Fill the jar full of the sugar water before hanging it.

Step 3

Tie strings through the top of the lid and hang it on a tree branch near your garden. Refill the water as it evaporates, and as butterflies feed on the nectar.

Step 4

Decorate the jar by gluing leaves and artificial flowers on the side. The more brightly colored you make the jar, the more it will attract butterflies.