DIY Yard Decor: Garden Accents

Every garden needs a few accents. Weather it is just one birdbath, or a lot of little statuary, and other things, it is always fun to add things to your garden. Although it is a little cold in some parts of the country right now, I thought this would be the perfect time to write this article, because it will give you plenty of time to start crafting these projects! This article will give you ideas, as well as the instructions on how to complete the projects mentioned.

One of the easiest things you can add to your garden is a bird bath. Not only will it add to your garden, but it will also bring some wonderful visitors to your yard. The easiest and cheapest bird bath that you can make is out of terra cotta pots. These pots are inexpensive, and can be found just about anywhere. You will need three different sized pots, and a big saucer for this project. The first pot you want to choose needs to be a decent size. This will be the bottom pot on your birdbath's base. You will need to flip the pot upside down, so that the pots bottom is facing up. Then pick another pot that is the next size smaller then the first one, flip it upside down, and place it on top of the first pot. Choose one more pot, the next size down, flip, and place on top of the second pot. These three pots will complete the base. All the pots should stack nicely on top of each other, and they should fit snug as well. For the bath, you will want to choose a decent size terra cotta saucer. Make sure that it looks proportionate when put on top of the base that you just put together. This part will need to be glued, so you will want to use a weather proof, or outdoor glue, (or at least one that is water proof) . For an added touch you can paint, or stencil designs, and pictures onto you bird bath. Be sure to choose an outdoor, NON TOXIC paint, so you don't bring harm to any animals. You can put other materials together as well, and try to make a birdbath out of them too. For example, I found two big vases at a thrift store. I filled each vase half way with rocks to give it a little more 'strength'. Then I used hot glue to adhere them to each other. For the bath I found a big glass bowl, and just used my hot glue to attach it the top vase. When you are looking for things to use as a bath, you want to choose something shallow. If you can't find something shallow, or you found something a little deeper, but really works, you can add things to the bowl, such as rocks, and maybe a small plastic yard ornament, like a frog, or turtle. This will give the birds something to perch on.

Another great way to add some interest to your yard, is with small decorative bird houses. These can be found at craft stores, such as Michael's. They make a wide variety of different wooden decorative birdhouses, so you can choose one, or many. You can use outdoor acrylic craft paint to paint these, and you may also want to add embellishments such as beads, marbles, or wooden cutouts. Paint your decorative houses, and add your embellishments. Then you will want to paint a coat of clear polyurethane over the houses, including going right over the embellishments. This will make them last a little longer, and protect them from the elements better. Then just nail them up to a garden fence, or set them on a patio table for all to enjoy.

Another fun, and functional way to add a decorative element to your yard and gardens with birdseed spheres. Although this decoration will need to be replaced on occasion, they are fairly simple and inexpensive to make. You will need the following materials to make these: 2 rectangular pans or trays with sides, a couple smaller bags of birdseed, (any birdseed mix will do), a butter knife, 6 and 8 inch plastic foam spheres,. (1 of each), creamy peanut butter, waxed paper, and 2 urns, (one about 10 inches tall, the other one 8 inches tall). First you will need to fill one of the pans with enough seed to cover the bottom. Use the butter knife to spread the peanut butter onto the spheres, until they are completely covered. Roll the covered spheres, one at a time, in the seed filled pan, using your hands to press the seed firmly into place. Continue rolling and patting until the surface is completely covered. Place your completed spheres in the other pan, lined with wax paper. Refrigerate for eight hours, or until set. Remove the spheres form the refrigerator and set them in your urns. Set outside for a beautiful display, as well as a great treat for your feathered friends.

Outdoor wall art is another way to bring interest to your yard and garden. It can also personalize your outdoor living space. You will need the following materials to make your outdoor art work: plywood, primer, paint, a photo on image transfer paper, made to size, (which you will need to have done at a copy shop), and gloss acrylic medium. You will first need to choose which photos you wish to make into art: your favorite pet, or perhaps your favorite flower photos, will work great. After you choose the photos, you will need to take them to a copy shop, and have them print the photos onto image transfer paper, as well as blow them up to the size you want. Next you will need to cut your plywood to size, prime it, and paint it. Remember, whatever color you choose to paint it, will be showing through the image. When your wood is ready, you will need to coat the face of your image with your gloss acrylic medium. Let it dry, and then repeat. You also need to coat the face of the wood one time with the acrylic medium and let that dry too. Next, affix the image face down onto the wood, using more acrylic medium. Let the dry for at least two hours. To reveal your image, wash away the transfer paper with water and a woven cotton cloth. About once a year you will want to re coat your piece with another coat of acrylic gloss medium. Then just hang your masterpieces up on a garden fence, or bare outside wall for all to admire.

This last project can be used either indoors or out. It would look great ion a patio table, or even nestled among some flowers, if you have outside outlets available to you, otherwise this will have to go in the house. The materials needed for this project are: a submersible fountain pump with two feet of tubing, a square galvanized tub, several small terras cottas pots, (the size that will fit in the bottom of the galvanized buckets, and also as many that will fit in there without going over the length of the bucket too), a mixture of large and small decorative rocks, a galvanized bucket, drill with metal drill bit, a file, and a small gazing ball. You will first need to place the pump with the tubing attached in the tub. Fill the bottom with upside down clay pots. Place a layer of rocks on the pots. Make sure the tubing is positioned where you want the galvanized bucket to be, and then run the power cord out of the tub. Drill a hole near the edge of the buckets bottom, and file it down to make sure there are no sharp points. You also want to make sure the hole is just big enough to run your tubing out of it. Now run your tubing from the pump through the hole, making sure that it will extend back above the top of the bucket. Keep the tubing in place while filling the rest of the tub and bucket with rocks. Set the gazing ball in the bucket, and run the tubing behind it. Now all you need to do is add water and plug it in.

All of these projects will add to your yard and garden. They will bring some extra color ans whimsy to any yard!