All the Buzz: Bee-Themed DIYs & Backyard Projects 

While some people find bees to be pests, others value their role in nature and find them as cute as can BEE! Bees do so much more than make honey—they pollinate our gardens, support food systems, and keep ecosystems thriving. Whether you’re decorating your home with charming bee decor, crafting with kids, or looking for meaningful ways to help pollinators, enjoy these DIY projects inspired by bees! 

DIY Bee Ornament

1. Open the ornament and pour some Mod Podge/Polycrylic inside. Swirl the adhesive inside of the ornament so that a thin layer coats the inside. Pour access liquid out into a cup or back into its original container. Note: You do not want to have too much adhesive inside or else it will collect and cause a drip effect.
   
2. Pour glitter into the ornament and shake until the inside is fully coated with glitter. Dump any access glitter out.
   
3. Use the vellum paper to make wings by drawing your own set of wings or printing on the paper. Cut out the wings and attach to the top with hot glue.
   
4. Use a pipe cleaner and pom pons to create antennae. Tuck the antennae underneath 2 of the tabs from the top of the ornament. Secure with hot glue.
   
5. Use paint or paint pens to design your bee friend!

At Bronner’s, everyone knows it’s Christmas all year-round here… but you don’t need it to be Christmas to decorate with ornaments. We offer thousands of different ornaments to fit any theme in all four seasons. If you aren’t the artsy type, check out some of our bee themed ornaments: 
Bee Happy Gnome Glass Ornament (1261390) Out of Stock
Personalized Home is Where My Honey Bee (1200412)
Egyptian Museum Glass Bumblebee Ornament (1240363)
Bee Sweet 2.75″ Glass Ornament (1263040)

Build Your Own Bee Habitat

If you enjoy bees for more than just their cuteness, this next project is a great way to help keep the bee population thriving. Not all bees live in hives—many are solitary and need safe places to nest. A bee habitat (often called a bee hotel) provides shelter and supports pollination right in your backyard.  

1. Drill several 3-6 inch deep holes into the wood slab in various sizes.  
2. If you are using a small wooden box, pack the paper straws or bamboo into the box so that they don’t move. Trim to match the depth of the box. You may also use grass between the straws to help fill out the box.
3.  Place the habitats 3-6 feet off the ground and protected from rain. Preferably somewhere near flowering plants and away from foot traffic.

This provides a safe shelter for many different species of bees. You will know if the habitats are being used when the holes are filled in. In late summer/early fall, bees will lay eggs within the tunnels, then plug the holes to keep the eggs warm and protected through the winter. The eggs will hatch in the spring, and the bees will emerge.  

Design a Bee Watering Station

Bees need water—but open water can be dangerous as they can easily be swept up by waves or ripples. This safe watering station gives them a place to land and sip. This is a simple and fun project that can be enjoyed by children, adults AND BEEs! 

1. Flip the pot upside down.
2. Place the saucer on top of the pot .
3. Fill the dish with marbles, pebbles, or stones.
4. Add water just below the tops of the pebbles.
5. Place in your garden or in a sunny outdoor area. Refresh the water every few days.

Hopefully these DIY projects have you buzzing about BEEs and the importance of their role in the environment. With your home a little more BEE friendly, remember… be good to bugs!