by Susan Hibberd

Created on: January 01, 2011

Making a scarecrow is a great craft for kids of all ages, and a great way to use up old clothing that is lying around the home.

Scarecrows can be made at any time of the year, starting in spring, when the seeds are sown and need to be protected from birds, through the summer months when the tender green shoots look oh-so-tasty to the crows and into the winter months when Bonfire Night and the season of Guy Fawkes approaches.

Depending on the season, you will be looking around for materials to stuff your scarecrow. Wherever you live, you will have different local materials available to you, and the best materials are those which are free and biodegradable.

Natural materials

Look for dried leaves and grasses that are freely available in the hedgerows if you can.  If you don’t have access to these, then have a look in the pet shop. They will have a variety of straw and hay products available. These are great fillers for scarecrows. They are safe to use, light, and will biodegrade completely when the scarecrow is no longer wanted.

Paper and Card

Scrunched up paper is a great thing to stuff your scarecrow with. Using recycled paper is a great way to teach kids about the need to reuse items, and best of all, it is free! Simply screw up used sheets of paper and stuff your scarecrow firmly.

Cardboard boxes can be used for the larger areas of the scarecrow, such as the head and body.  If you live near a carpet factory, you might be lucky enough to find some long cardboard tubes. These are fabulous items to use for the legs of your scarecrow, as no other stuffing is required. They keep the scarecrow upright, and the trousers can flap around them in a lifelike manner.

Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles can be used in the same way as cardboard boxes, to bulk out the head and body of the scarecrow. Remember to take them to the recycling when you have finished with the scarecrow.

Bubble Wrap

Bubbly wrap is a great material to use for a scarecrow that is to be left outside for any length of time, as it will resist the rain and keep its shape. As with plastic bottles, it will need to be taken to the recycling plant at the end of its life as a scarecrow as it can’t be left in outside

These are just a few of the many materials that can be used to stuff your scarecrow. You might live near a fabric mill that has lots of offcuts, or a saw mill that will let you have sawdust. You might work on a cotton farm and or have lots of corn husks lying around. Try to use local, natural materials if possible.

Have fun!

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