Handmade Yard Art

With the right embellishments, bird houses serve as colorful yard art.

Do-it-yourself gurus can tackle lawn decor without purchasing expensive, mass-produced lawn ornaments. Handmade yard art personalizes a lawn or garden, letting the creator determine what colors, materials and looks work best with their yard's overall style.

Types

There are many types of yard art, since anything artistic that is put outdoors falls under this name: Statues, birdhouses, fencing, garden gnomes, mosaics are just a few examples. Handmade yard art can be functional or purely decorative. While garden statues serve only as ornamental pieces, for example, decorative birdhouses are both functional and attractive.

Materials

Homemade yard art can be crafted from materials readily available around the house or at local stores. Some birdhouses, for example, are made from common gourds that have been cleaned, drilled, and painted. Ideally, materials for yard art are weather resistant and robust enough to withstand the seasons of your climate.

Cost

Since the maker has a choice over which materials to use, handmade yard art can be considerably cheaper than store bought art. The cost is usually limited to materials and the maker's time.

Benefits

The greatest benefit of making your own yard art is the ability to make each piece fit within the overall look of a garden. Having a consistent motif throughout a yard solidifies the mood it evokes, such as whimsical or elegant. Hand crafting yard art to a certain motif ensures that mood is carried out throughout the yard.

References

• "Fine Gardening": Ornaments in the Garden; Eve Thyrum
• Craft Stylish: How to Make a Gourd Birdhouse