Whimsical Garden Decor: Re Purposed Bird Feeders

This summer I got together with great friends a time or two to make some fun things.

Some of our projects took longer than we expected so when I saw these light covers at the thrift shop, I scooped them up for a fast and easy project.

I bought this little set of 6 cups and saucers with a similar project in mind.

 

I bought  a sheet of rubber at the hardware store along with rings and nut caps

I also got some copper pipe and a great new ratcheting pipe cutter.

It was one afternoon we actually finished 3 pieces each and it was easy.

Here is my bird feeder.

Supposedly, since these are tempered glass to withstand the heat temperatures from the light bulbs, they are fairly durable for weather fluctuations.

I did not get a chance to take a picture of the little green cup and saucer feeder.

And these pictures were taken about a month ago and the flowers have died back quite a bit.

It has been dry here.

We have not mowed the grass since the middle of August.

I love how this little project turned out.  

The best part was time with friends.

I also loved that these already had holes.

All we had to do was cut a little piece of rubber to cushion the hardware and screw them together.

I had the chain already too.

What fun things did you add to your garden this summer?

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Outdoor Candle Holder DIY Makeover

A couple years ago, I bought this candle holder at the thrift store.

I knew I would do something with it for an outside DIY project, but I did not know what.

I recently decided it was time.

I gave it a couple light coats of pretty spray paint.

I often use an old bucket turned upside down out in the grass to elevate the item I am painting.

Next I took a solar light from the store.

I removed the base and the clear plastic.

I covered the lightbulb with painter's tape.

And I cut a piece of painter's tape to fit on the solar panel on the top.

I gave the solar light a  couple of light coats of spray paint as well.

I used some electrical tape to wrap the solar light so it would fit snugly into the candle holder.

Then I scuffed it gently with some sandpaper to give it the look of wear.

I was not crazy about it all black or all painted, but I do like the scuffed look.

All done.

Now I need to find where to put it....

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Recycled Materials Become Garden Decor

Are you thinking of warmer and greener days yet?

My favorite time to create is in the summer.

  I love to create outside in the sunshine.

I am planning my projects for warmer days.

I thought I would share a recap of some of my garden projects from last summer.

All of these are up cycled  from recycled materials.

I made a couple wind chimes.

This one looked great on my front porch.

Marbles, forks, beads, a flower frog, fishing line, and some plastic baubles all came together...

Reminds me of raindrops...

This fun and whimsical wind chime started with a lampshade skeleton.

You can read more about creating it here.

I sold this to a girl at my fall show last year.

She said it was sure to make her the favorite daughter since it perfectly matched her mother's style.

I hope it did...

I really enjoyed making it.

I am already planning another series of mosaic projects.

Last summer my daughter and I made a bunch of fun projects.

You can find the final post here.

Many of these were gifts to family and friends.

Everyone that received one seemed to genuinely love and appreciate them.

The one above went to my in-laws.

The tiles were retrieved by my father in law several years ago at an auction.

He chuckled at the memories.

This fun little bird was a ceramic bird from the dollar store.

She has found lots of homes around the garden every season.

I move her every so often.

This started with a gazing ball my friend gave me.

These glass mushrooms are sprinkled throughout the garden.

At a party we had, I had to smile at a friend who picked it up, examined it and showed it to his girlfriend...

The rebar keeps them upright and in place.

The tutorial for making them is here.

Chicken wire and a tomato cage became fun dress forms for the garden.

The post is here.

I love this one with the tutu.

This other gal got a raggedy strip skirt.

I plan to make a couple more variations of her for this year.

Wouldn't she make a pretty alternative to the typical garden scarecrow?

This gets me thinking about what to do this summer.

I hope you saw something that inspired you as well...

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