Got a little more time on your hands these days? (This year, for many of us, the answer is yes.)
Why not put away the to-do list and make art for the pure joy of it? Fun hobby aside, making art is good for your health, too: research shows that creating art not only helps relieve stress, but also can provide powerful cognitive benefits.
As the weather cools down and the patio beckons, add some fun to your outdoor space with these DIY garden art projects.
All of these 9 garden art projects are sustainable—you can use items you’ve sourced from your attic, thrift shops, garage sales, Facebook Marketplace, or Goodwill.
Pick your favorite art project, and then let’s get crafty!
1. UPCYCLE AN OLD WOODEN CHAIR.
Make it a plant stand.
Repurpose an old wooden chair as a rustic plant stand on your deck or patio. Freshen it up by painting it with bright pops of color.
Convert it into a planter itself.
Let’s take it up a notch. Make the chair the planter itself. Click here to see this cute chair that this blogger repurposed into a planter for bright yellow mums.
2. ADD CHARM WITH A QUAINT RED WAGON.
This DIY project is as simple as sourcing a quaint red wagon. Fill it with pretty potted flowers, and you’ve got a simple, inexpensive way to add charm to your garden.
3. REPURPOSE A CLASSIC METAL WATERING CAN.
Plot twist: make the watering can the planter itself (and then place it on top of your upcycled wooden chair plant stand). Plant an ivy to a classic metal watering can—this way it will spill out over the side as it grows, adding a bit of whimsy to your outdoor space. Place some rocks at the bottom of the can and be mindful not to overwater your plant, since your watering can planter won’t have a drainage hole.
See the instructions for creating a watering can planter here.
4. CREATE A HANGING PLANTER LIKE NO OTHER USING A BIRDCAGE.
How cute is this?! Take a look at this too-adorable birdcage planter and the instructions for making your own, as well as recommendations for which plants work best. Watch out, though: guests who catch sight of this ethereal DIY planter might want you to make them one.
You won’t need many materials to create your own: just a birdcage (which you can source from a thrift shop or Facebook Market), cage liner, planting soil, and the plants of your choice.
5. GET CRAFTY WITH MOSAICS.
Making mosaics is a fun activity, no matter your age! From stepping stones to garden pots, benches to bird baths, your mosaic options are as big as you can dream them.
We also love how sustainable this craft is. You can use old ceramics or plates that have been collecting dust in your attic for the last decade. Even if you don’t have ceramics you’re ready to break into pieces, you can source these materials from thrift stores.
Check out this easy online workshop from Start in Art to learn how to make your own beautiful mosaics.
6. MAKE A DIY BOTTLE TREE.
Add a touch of color to your yard decor with a beautiful bottle tree.
This is another inexpensive craft; there are few items that you’ll need to purchase to create it— just a post and screws to secure the bottles onto the post.
This post shows you how to make your own and take inspiration from the several different designs!
Our Aunt Eloise is a master at creating beautiful bottle trees. She also took the concept a step further with her latest art piece: this color bottle wall!
7. FRAME YOUR FLOWERS.
Frame your flowers—literally—by hanging a wooden frame around your hanging plant for an easy touch of aesthetic.
Get inspiration for your own framed flowers from Organized Clutter.
8. BUILD A VERTICAL PALLET PLANTER.
If you’ve scrolled through Pinterest or flipped through a home garden magazine, you may have caught sight of this creative twist on gardening: the Vertical Pallet Garden.
Not only is a vertical pallet garden a whimsical way to spruce up your space, it also cuts down on time spent weeding (yes!) and can make gardening a possibility in even the most compact of outdoor spaces.
Check out our post to see how to create your own vertical pallet planter.
9. UPCYCLE A BICYCLE.
(Sorry, we couldn’t say no to the “cycle” wordplay.)
From rustic to vintage to modern to whimsical, there are so many artistic directions you can go with a bicycle flower planter. But there’s only one reaction to this creative use of an old bicycle: absolute delight.
Say hello to inspiration with this collection of bicycle planters.
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