In today’s post, I’ll show you how to recycle cardboard boxes into a textured cardboard wall hanging that adds style and character to your home decor. Using simple techniques and supplies you likely already have in your craft stash, you can create a stunning, modern piece of art with minimal effort. This method is not only easy but also a budget-friendly way to transform everyday materials into a unique, eye-catching design.
Looking for a creative way to upcycle old jewellery and add a touch of charm to your garden? These DIY beaded garden stakes, made with recycled jewellery and charms, are the perfect project! Not only do they make an eye-catching addition to flower beds and plant pots, but the beads beautifully reflect sunlight. These unique garden decorations also make fantastic gifts for garden lovers. I loved how mine turned out so much that I couldn’t resist sourcing more materials online to create a garden collection and gift to friends and family!
Read more: Beaded Garden Stakes
The possibilities for creating these beaded garden stakes are endless! I started by rummaging through my jewellery stash, much of it gifted by friends and family over the years. My local charity shop also sets aside broken jewellery and odd bits for me, knowing I love incorporating them into my Mixed media art projects.
I’ve used everything from wooden bead bracelets and broken brooches to single earrings and glass pieces from a shattered chandelier. For an extra creative touch, you can even make your charms using silicone moulds and resin. I’ll show you how to do this later in this tutorial!
Today, we’re excited to join the Do It Over Designers Blog Hop, hosted by Ann of The Apple Street Cottage. In this collaborative event, a group of bloggers transforms old or unused items into something fresh and new. Whether these treasures come from closets, barns, garages, yard sales, or thrift stores, we breathe new life into them. Be sure to explore the other creative projects linked at the end of this post!
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To begin, I cut my threaded rod into 35cm lengths using a grinder and filed down the ends to remove any sharp edges, ensuring they were safe to handle. After completing my first garden stake, I discovered that pre-cut threaded rods in various sizes are available on Amazon. This is a great alternative for anyone who isn’t comfortable using power tools or wants to save time.
After some quick planning, I decided to add 20 beads to each stake, ensuring there was enough exposed threaded rod at the bottom to anchor it firmly into the soil.
Next, I attached the glass door knob to the top of the rod. Using a pair of pliers to hold the rod steady, I carefully tightened the door knob securely in place.
For my first garden stakes, I used beads recycled from old Lovelinks and Pandora-style bracelets that were all the rage a few years ago. However, be sure to double-check your stash before using the beads—some might be original and quite valuable! I discovered a few branded with the 925 silver stamp, indicating they weren’t cheap. It seems the charity shop that donated the beads didn’t sort for these hidden treasures, so it’s worth taking a closer look.
Start by sliding a few beads onto the stake beneath the glass door knob, followed by a spacer bead. These spacers will serve as attachment points for the charms you’ll add later. I chose to add two spacer beads to each garden stake, but you can customize this step based on your style and preference.
To attach charms to the spacer beads, use a pair of pliers to gently open the metal rings. This method worked perfectly for me because I have chunky fingers!
I replaced the original charms with ones from my mixed media art stash, along with repurposed pieces like old earrings, broken brooches, and glass beads from a shattered chandelier. These unique additions gave each garden stake a one-of-a-kind look.
Add the remaining beads to the garden stake and secure them in place with a nut. Be careful not to tighten the nut too much, as this could crush or shatter the glass beads. Just tighten it enough to hold the beads securely without damaging them.
My Completed beaded garden stakes.
I loved these beaded garden stakes, but I wanted to take the idea a step further. I decided to experiment with creating custom embellishments using silicone moulds and epoxy resin, adding mica powders to give them a beautiful shimmer. This way, they would reflect the sunlight even more, making an even bigger statement in the garden. Because I am a huge Steampunk fan I chose to use this steampunk dragonfly for my beaded garden stakes.
I used polyurethane casting resin for my first attempt because it set in under 10 minutes. While it worked in terms of speed, the colours didn’t come through as I had hoped. This resin turns white as it sets, which distorts the colours and affects the overall look.
For my second attempt, I brushed a layer of mica powder into the surface of the mould before adding the polyurethane resin.
While this improved the result, it still wasn’t quite the look I was aiming for.
I decided to try a different approach and picked up a clear resin kit from Kmart for $12. I added some glitter and mica powder, and the result was much closer to what I had envisioned. However, the downside was that the resin took 24 hours to fully cure.
I began by marking where I wanted the bead with the dragonfly to sit, making sure to leave enough space above for the other beads to fit in. It’s important to measure carefully, as failing to do so could create a gap between the beads and ruin the overall look. My initial plan was for the resin to attach to the textured bead, allowing me to simply slide it onto the threaded rod. However, this didn’t go as expected. The resin also adhered to the threaded rod, which made the bead more secure, but it also prevented me from being able to move the dragonfly around.
Although this last attempt gave me the look I was aiming for, I did lose some of the definition of the dragonfly. To restore the details, I rubbed silver wax paste over the surface, which really brought the intricate design back to life.
Decorative beaded garden stakes are versatile and can add charm and personality to various areas around your home. Here are some great places to use them:
Flower Beds – Add a pop of color and sparkle among your flowers and plants.
Potted Plants – Insert them into indoor or outdoor planters for a stylish touch.
Herb Gardens – Use them to label herbs or simply decorate your kitchen garden.
Garden Borders – Line them along pathways or borders for a whimsical look.
Patios and Balconies – Place them in potted plants to enhance your outdoor seating areas.
Planters Indoors – Brighten up your indoor greenery with a decorative stake.
Succulent Arrangements – Add height and interest to a succulent display.
Window Boxes – Make your window gardens more unique and eye-catching.
Terrariums – Use small stakes to add detail to terrarium arrangements.
Special Occasions – Use them to decorate plants for weddings, birthdays, or seasonal holidays.
As I mentioned, this is the ‘Do It Over’ Designers Blog Hop, and there are some great projects to explore! Be sure to check out the links below for some inspiring ideas.
If you’re interested in any of the items used in this project, we’d appreciate it if you used our affiliate links. Clicking these links earns us a small commission at no extra cost to you, helping us create more inspiring and exciting projects to share. We’d also love to hear your thoughts—feel free to leave a comment or share this post!
A year ago, I became a Nana for the first time and have thoroughly enjoyed crafting personalized items for my grandson’s nursery. When my daughter sought a shelf to complement the Australian native animal theme of the room, she struggled to find one that suited her needs. In response, I decided to create a custom shelf myself. To keep costs low, I repurposed an old toddler play table I had on hand. This approach proved ideal, as the table’s white-painted surface, already suitable for children, eliminated the need for additional sanding or painting. This was the Koala Nursery shelf and how I made it.
Today, I’d like to share my experience using the xTool P2 laser conveyor system for a project. I chose a simple design because I didn’t want anything too intricate that would take a long time to cut. After some searching online for a design I thought this laser-cut silhouette wall art “Tree Lovers” would look amazing on my bedroom wall.
Today I will be testing laser engraving wine barrel staves using the xTool P2 Co2 laser’s game-changing feature “curved surface”. I have done a number of projects using wine barrels over the last few years, from making coffee tables to outdoor tables with built-in wine buckets. I also have a lot of loose wine barrel staves which I now see as an opportunity to engrave names or quotes on staves for bar decorations in the future. Through this experiment I hope to gain a better understanding of the ease and possibilities of this feature for future projects.
If you have been looking for ways to add a touch of modern charm to your living space without spending a lot of money, then you are in the right place. In this blog post, we will explore crafting stunning large wall art using geometric shapes, made possible with the incredible precision of the xTool P2 laser cutting machine.Our focus will be on embracing the beauty of circles and half circles to craft boho-inspired, modern wall art that not only captivates the eye but also fits snugly into your budget. Get ready to unleash your artistic spirit and transform your space with unique, with this DIY laser cut Boho wall art.
Artistic expression knows no bounds in our world today. Technology and creativity have combined to create a revolutionary form of wall art – unique, multilayered masterpieces crafted with precision and finesse using the xTool P2 Co2 laser cutting machine. This cutting-edge tool transforms walls into vibrant canvases and opens up a new world of creativity that transcends traditional artistic boundaries. This was the first project I cut using the xTool P2 Co2 laser and it turned out perfectly. For someone who has never used a laser machine in the past, this shows how easy to use this laser machine is.
Just before Christmas, I received the xTool P2 laser for review. Now that the review is over, I’m free to let my creativity run wild. This laser cutter and engraver is so great that I’m constantly looking around my home for items to use with it. Recently, I found a wooden TV dinner tray that I decided to use with the machine. With my new Steampunk TV Tray, I can now enjoy my dinner on the couch without having to balance it on my lap.
Are you like me, someone who is sitting on the fence when it comes to deciding whether investing in a laser cutter is a good idea or not? There are so many questions that come to mind, such as whether it’s worth the money, how easy it is to use the software, and whether it’s possible to make money with the laser. In today’s post, I will share my thoughts and experiences using the xTool P2 CO2 laser.
I am a huge steampunk fan and never miss an opportunity to create something new with a steampunk theme. With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to create a wooden steampunk Christmas tree using recycled items from my workshop and craft room. The steampunk genre is not one you would usually associate with Christmas because it has a more industrial theme and metallic colours. But with my love of woodwork combined with my love of mixed media art, I will share how to create a stunning wooden steampunk Christmas tree.
If you are looking for a quick and easy project for Halloween this one is for you. I am sharing how I made this simple DIY skull bottle using easy-to-find items. This is also a great project for beginners who would like to get into doing mixed media art. My idea for this project was to use a ceramic bottle and decorate it to look like my skull bottle was wearing clothes.
Have you ever had buyer’s remorse? This project is the result of one of mine. I made my Son an outdoor bar table from some recycled decking planks and fencing posts a few months ago. But unfortunately, I did not have enough wood left over to make some bar stools to go with the table. I went online and spent $400 on these bar stools and instantly hated them once they were built. They looked so rubbish next to the table. I could not send them back because the postage costs were so high so had no choice but to keep them. So I did the next best thing and gave the bar stools a makeover to match the table.
With Halloween just around the corner, it is time for all the creepy and spooky projects. We no longer celebrate Halloween as our kids are all grown, but they are still one of my favourite holidays to create for. I just pass them on to friends and family who do. This simple skull wall sconce was simple to make and was completed within an hour.