Make Your Own Yogurt Container Chia Pet

We've all seen those chunky ceramic or clay Chia pets, but why buy something new when you can recycle? Individual yogurt cups that would otherwise be tossed in the garbage can be a great base for your new Chia pet.

To begin with, you'll need at least one individual size yogurt cup, contact paper, googly eyes, pipe cleaners and a hot glue gun, as well as grass seed and potting soil. If you aren't up to getting a whole big bag of potting soil, some regular dirt dug up from your back yard or the park will do just fine.

Start by creating your Chia character. Cut the contact paper into a strip that is the same width as the yogurt cup is high and long enough to wrap all the way around, with a small overlap. Peel off the backing paper and stick the contact paper onto the cup. If you are going for a little person, something in a skin tone would be appropriate.

With the skin in place, use a permanent marker to draw on a face and glue on the googly eyes. Make arms with the pipe cleaners by folding each in half and bending the ends to form a short "L". The bent bit should be about ½" long. This will be glued to the container. Bend the arm at the elbow and double over ½" of the folded end to form a hand. Glue the arm to the container and repeat the process for the other side.

The Chia doesn't have to be a person, you can create animals, dinosaurs, just about anything your mind can come up with. Try painting the cup green and drawing on scary teeth and add monster eyes for an alien Chia. Mini pompoms can work as goofy noses or animal snouts, too. Add construction paper wings for birds or flying critters.

Once your character is created, you need to fill the cup with soil. Leave a ½" space at the top of the container. Sprinkle the surface liberally with grass seeds and spread a thin layer of dirt over this. Add a little water, gently and place your pet in a sunny window to grow.

Within 2-3 weeks, your Chia pet should have some green hair growing. You may have to trim it after another few weeks. These pets look great lined up in a window and are perfect projects for school classes, as well as at home. Also, why not try growing something besides grass? Try some parsley or chives for an edible Chia, or a low growing flower such as the forget-me-not. There's no reason you can't create a whole assortment of fun Chias for your windows!