Windmill from reused materials

Here is a garden windmill a friend of mine created entirely from scratch without spending anything or even using a blueprint (she's amazing that way). She used what she had on hand and used free "throw away" house materials at a building/home improvement store.  The blades on the windmill are composed of an old counter top (formica) that was going to be thrown out. She cut the formica in the shape of blades and then painted them in a cute design. The structure is made of wood scraps and there is a plastic lattice used on the sides of the base for plants to grow on. Check it out!

Stepping Stone Transformation

Before

After

All you need is mastic, grout and broken tile (or flat pieces of broken pottery) to make a mosaic on an old stepping stone.

Create a little vegetable garden spot

First step: Find a space in your yard that gets full-sun. While soil is important, adequate sun exposure is absolutely necessary for gardening; most vegetables WILL NOT grow without sun.

Second Step: Dig out plants/shrubs that are in the way of your garden nook. You need as much space as possible for the veggies without intrusive shrubs hindering their growth or deflecting sun-light. For this project, I had to dig out a large shrub.

Third Step: Create a little path to your garden that serves as a border as well.


Before pictures

After Pictures

Garden area is to the right of the path, beside house.

Blank spot in yard turned into rock sculpture and rock garden!

Before pic

Lay down your weed-block and begin :)

After pics

One of my friends calls my creation "Very Zen". I'm not sure...

Garden Path!

Slate used for path: Goldrush
Purchased: Lowe's Hardware and Garden
Price: anywhere from $3-$9 for 21" pieces.
Extras: Creeping mint smells nice and is a lovely, compact ground-cover that grows between the stones. Mounds of Scottish moss flank the sides of the path.

Before pics

After pics

From Craptastic Plastic to Fantastic Tile and Mastic!

I had been wanting to take this old, stained outdoor table to the dump but I had a better idea!

Transformation of an old wooden table

I purchased this scratched up wooden table at an estate sale for $5.00. I tiled the top with shiny, fun glass tile.