DIY Garden Decor
Ever since we started working on the big backyard makeover, I’ve been searching all over for cool-looking garden decor for a reasonable price. I can hear you saying “good luck with that”…and I have to agree, as I found out “cool-looking” and “reasonably-priced” are about as compatible as me and snakes (yikes! Just writing the word gives me the creepies)! So, as usual, I tried to use whatever we had hidden in the dark corners of our wonderful resourceful basement.
What a basement right? But seriously… you can find almost anything in our basement. I promise you, one day I will give you a tour so you can see it with your own eyes. That is of course if you can promise that you won’t be calling me a hoarder 😉
I found quite a lot of hidden treasures: a metal teapot, a broken iron base/stand of something which I couldn’t identify, some bamboo paper plate holders, and a bunch of Dollar Store garden plaques and ornaments. Other than the Dollar Store stuff, all were either Put & Take finds or given for free. Aren’t I a lucky girl? 🙂
I actually found more bits & bobs in the basement which I will also be turning into garden decor. As we are just about to complete the second area in our backyard, you’ll be seeing them in my next garden decor post. Anyway… enough of me giving spoilers… let’s see how I made this set, shall we?
I started with the Dollar Store plaques. They were cute enough, and I liked the phrases on them. Besides they were cheap enough not to be upset if they broke.
But the issue was, they didn’t have anything in the back to hang them with. See?
Then again what do you expect for a dollar? Oh well… I still love my Dollar Store!
This was the point where I realized I could use the bamboo paper plate holders to hang them. But first I wanted to darken the color of the plates to have some contrast, otherwise the grey plaques would get lost in the whole thing.
Using very little paint on a chip brush, I brushed some FolkArt Chalk Paint’s Java color on the plates. It is a very nice dark brown chalk paint. I tend to use it to darken the color of wood or wicker things. As it is chalk paint, it dries faster than any stain, and it almost looks like as if the piece was stained. In a way it is my little shortcut.
See why I wanted a little contrast? Now the plaques pop!
Next, I heated my hot glue gun on the high setting and started hot gluing the plaques on the darkened bamboo paper plate holders. As the plaques were to stay outdoors the whole summer, I decided to use quite a good amount of hot glue to set the them on the bamboo.
To hang these plates, I cut a piece of wire and wove it through the bamboo to create a hanging loop.
And that was the end of the garden plaque decor!
Let’s move on to the next one: the teapot garden decor!
Click on ‘Next’ to continue with the teapot garden decor tutorial.
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I can’t believe what a difference darkening the wicker made! I love you teapot! Your photography is awesome too!
Thank you so much, Giselle! I wish I could take the credit for the photography but Greg is the photographer in our home as he has a better eye for it 🙂
I think you are amazing even I can do some of these
That teapot is the cleverest thing ever!
Thank you so much, Mimi! 🙂
the teapot is super cute. love your interpretation of it.
b
Thank you so much!
That teapot is ADORABLE – I saw it at the LouLou Girls Fabulous Party and had to see how you made it! Excellent project!
Thank you so much Katie! 🙂
Nice job. I bet you love spending your time outdoors now.
Thank you so much! I always loved outdoors, but having a nice scenery in the background makes all the difference 😀
Love what you did with the Dollar Tree plaques as I have the same plaques!! The tea pot piece is adorable!! Great transformations and thanks for the inspiration!!
Hugs,
Deb
Thank you so much, Debbie! 🙂
What amazing and fun projects! All of them! I love how you added the beads to the pot, so creative.
Thank you so much, Valerie!
Love it all – I definitely want a tour of your basement!
Ann
https://theapplestreetcottage.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much, Ann! Oh yes…the basement 😀 I think this fall we might be able do that, because by then at least some of the stuff will be getting their re-dos and moving upstairs. In other words the basement will look a bit less messy 😀
As soon as I saw your adorable tea pot I was reminded of
Christy’s (I pinned it too). You reminded me that pin has been sitting on my board long enough unmade. Love how adorable yours turned out too and it looks great iin your pond garden!
Oh I love Christy’s version, Marie! Having a metal one in hand made the installation much easier for me, but if I could find a pretty ceramic pot I would definitely go with the way she did hers.
Handan – I just love the teapot idea. Thinking I’ll take an old watering can that I have, and apply the same process to it. I’ll be using an old metal lamp for the base. Your page has been ear-marked for sure! Thanks much for sharing…..
Oh yes! You definitely can do it with a watering can too. And using a metal lamp for the base is a very smart idea. In fact now you lit a light bulb in my head for my metal lamps in the basement 😉 Thank you, Cassie!! 😀
Can’t wait to see your new “light bulb” idea! 🙂
Such adorable ideas! Love the tea pot 🙂
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
Thank you so much, Edye!
I just love the garden teapot! So creative to add the beads to make it look like water!
Thank you so much, Emma!
I love that tea pot – and I love your creativity! Thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party!
Thank you so much, Helen! 🙂
Cute garden decor! Love the teapot and how you have the beads hanging out like dripping water. Too cute!
Thank you so much, Linda!
Your arm must be sore from patting yourself on the back! These are wonderful creations and we are so happy to have your links in our line up at Celebrate Your Story.
Thank you so much, Sandra! 🙂
love the tea pot and the wall plaques so cute thanks for sharing have a great weekend
Thank you so much, Lorraine! 🙂
I am in love with the teapot and plan on making one myself. I have a question and was wondering if you had a tutorial on how the copper spiral wind chime was made. Most of it I can figure out from the photo I was just wondering if you had any tips on bending the copper so it stays uniform all the way down. Did you wrap it around in spirals then stretch it out? I have some copper that did not work from another project and have been looking for something to do with it. Copper is kinda pricey and it is driving me crazy just sitting in my junkyard (AKA my basement). Thanks and absolutely stunning job you 2 did on your pond!
Kat – I would love to hear the “how to” as well, have a bit of copper lying around, and love this idea!
Thank you so much, Kat! As I mentioned in the post I will be sharing some more garden decor tutorials in a future post (hopefully next week). That one will have the spiral copper garden decor and some other small stuff I again made with copper tubing 😉
Once that post is out I’ll inform you via e-mail, ok?
Perfect. I couldn’t wait and gave it a go myself. I did have some trouble with it but I persevered. I would like to do another one but will wait till yours is posted to see how yours is done. I have a terrible feeling working with this copper tubing will get quite addictive. It is pricey but so worth it, unless I screw it up.
Hello Kat,
Just wanted to inform you I finally finished the coiled copper wind chime post. I apologize for the delay, but I am sure you will find that tutorial useful 🙂
Happy crafting!
As a teapot collector, I love the idea of having a teapot in my garden! So very cute, and the jewels make it perfect! I’d love for you to share your passion for DIY on Fresh Market Friday, where we select a Featured Fresh Find every week.
Thank you so much, Crystal! Also thanks so much for the invite! I will definitely attend to your party 🙂
Your Garden goodies turned out a treat! So clever!
Thank you, Sam! 🙂
The plaques look great against the dark wicker and that tea pot is wonderful! Thanks for giving such a detailed tutorial on how you made it. Pinning. Thanks for sharing at Snickerdoodle Sunday.
Thank you so much, Beverly! 🙂
Beautiful and clever in a nutshell!
Thank you, Florence! 🙂
I love this!! What a great upcycle project, and the addition of the beads “pouring” out is so cute. Thank you so much for sharing this to the Monday Mish Mash Link Party!
*Hugs*
Thank you so much, Amy! 🙂
Handan, I love both these projects, you and Greg certainly have a gorgeous garden. I love little plaques after you’ve added the bamboo plate holders, they look substantial and they pop against the dark stain. But my favorite of the two projects is the tin watering can! I love how you put it on the pedestal, leaning over, spilling out water. And the beads! I love them. It looks so cool. I bet when the sun glints off the beads it’s really cool! Thanks for sharing how to do this, I’m hoping that I can find a watering can to use in our garden soon!
Thank you so much, Nikki! We still have 2 more areas (big areas, in fact very big areas ugh!) to finish in the backyard but it is getting there finally.
The metal teapot is also my favorite! It indeed looks great with pond lights or sun shining on the beads 🙂
Thanks so much for the shout out, Handan!! Your version is absolutely adorable and that stand is too perfect!! 🙂
Hi Christy, I am so happy to see you here! Thank you so very much for your lovely comment. You have been an inspiration to me since before we started blogging, and I have your entire project gallery spread around my Pinterest boards! 🙂
Thank you once again for the visit, and I hope you have a fantastic week!
I didn’t understand how you got your pot tilted on the iron post! I do LOVE the finished project…it is absolutely adorable!
Hello Nancy,
I updated the post to clarify that part. I hope that helps 🙂
You scouted for amazing finds at the Dollar store and made them look so good in the end. I like the concept of using the plaques against the wicker. Can’t believe they cost you only a dollar. Wow! And your garden looks like a haven! Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures Handan and to Greg for taking them so well 🙂
Thank you so much, Cindy! 🙂
I loved both ideas and now want to try my hand at something! Thanks for the initiative !
Thank you so much, Norma! I am so glad you’ll be trying these projects. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them both! 🙂
Love how those plaques turned out just by darkening and gluing them to the plate holders.However keep an eye on them,as sometimes hot glue doesn’t hold up outside with the changes in the weather.A better alternative for outside gluing is GEsilicone II(2).I use this for all my outdoor gluing and it holds up for years and years.You can get it at any of the BB stores.
I have one of those old teakettles,think i’ll get some fairy lights for it.
Thanks for all the ideas and sharing your work,it’s all just great.,
Thank you so much, Kathi! 🙂
I love both of your garden art ideas, especially the teapot. Your instructions are very thorough and easy to follow, too. Since I live in Florida, however, the hot glue would never hold. The heat would soften it and the items would fall apart. I’d have to use E6000 or a waterproof epoxy.
Thank you so much, Kathy! Oh yes, hot glue isn’t the best outdoor glue option for Florida. In dryer and colder climate it holds up pretty good, but for hot climate I wouldn’t suggest it.
Good idea!
Great design! The teapot looks incredible. Love the creativity. I’m going to design this for myself for my garden decor and would recommend this to my friends too. Great post. Keep psoting.
It would pull up about the tea pot.