If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know I recently welcomed two new Jack Russell terrors into our family. Yes, “terrors,” not terriers, as these two little pups have kept me on my toes with their mischievous ways! One of their recent destructive moments led to a creative solution for an ongoing garden problem. Let me share how I turned a ruined futon into a stylish and functional plant stand for my garden corner.
A few months ago, I shared a Shou Sugi Ban wall hanging, and the response was huge. So many people asked how the colours were achieved. In this tutorial, Colouring Shou Sugi Ban: 8 Tested Ways to Add Vibrant Colour to Burnt Timber, you’ll see exactly how to prepare the wood, apply colour without blotches, and seal it so the grain glows. I also compare different products side by side, so you can pick the look you love.
I usually have no trouble keeping my garden in shape, but this border has been a pain for years. With all the rain here in Australia, the flower beds have been overrun with weeds and grass. Every year I strip this bed back, and every year it all returns. So this year I’m trying a different approach—a low-maintenance flower bed using bicycle tyres and hollow logs as planters.
It’s time again for this month’s International Blogger Challenge (IBC), and the theme is “Beads Galore.” Our task is to create a project using beads in any way we like. I decided to make a beaded wall hanging. What seemed like a simple challenge turned into a series of mishaps, with everything that could go wrong, going wrong. More about the IBC at the bottom of this post.
Assemblage art is all about taking ordinary or discarded objects and transforming them into layered, imaginative creations. When I found an old teapot at the back of my cupboard—bought at a car boot sale over 20 years ago—I knew it was the perfect base for a new project. Rather than throw it away, I decided to upcycle it into steampunk assemblage art.
Halloween is the perfect time to get creative with spooky DIY decorations, and this cement grim reaper Halloween decoration is a showstopper. Made from cement, chicken wire, and an old towel, this eerie figure looks like it stepped straight out of a haunted graveyard. I chose to make a Grim Reaper because Halloween is just around the corner, and people are always looking for unique DIY Halloween décor ideas. This project uses the cement-and-towel method, which is not only great for making a creepy Grim Reaper but can also be adapted to create cement planters and other fun projects.
Late last year, we welcomed two mischievous Jack Russell terrier puppies into our family, and they’ve kept us on our toes ever since. Their cheeky new trick is pushing my 14-year-old dog out of her bed so they can claim it for themselves. That sparked my idea for this project—a cosy hobbit-style dog house, designed especially for them.
I love finding ways to turn old and weathered timber into something beautiful, and this DIY wooden suncatcher with coloured epoxy resin is one of my favourite recycled garden décor projects. What started as a battered piece of wood under my sister’s carport turned into a glowing suncatcher that catches the light most magically. Instead of turning the wood into a sign, which is the usual go-to for reclaimed timber, I wanted something more unique. The idea of drilling holes and filling them with resin came to me, and the result was a one-of-a-kind garden sculpture.
I wanted a planter that didn’t require watering and my dogs couldn’t wreck, so I made this Upcycled Chocolate Tin Handbag Planter with Secret Storage. It hangs like a handbag, looks chic with embossed faux leather and steampunk details, and hides a secret compartment inside. I used recycled materials wherever possible, artificial succulents for zero maintenance, and quick-drying UV resin so the whole project stays fast and fun.
