Making Yard Art

Acrylic Sheeting

• Enjoy the trickling sounds of a small waterfall in your yard or garden. You can make your waterfall any size you like, as long as you have a container that will hold it. A sealed copper planter or an old wash basin will work as the reservoir for your water fall, as well as become an attractive part of your yard art. Cover the acrylic sheeting with river rock, using a waterproof adhesive like Liquid Nails, for a natural, decorative touch, or use colorful glass cabochons for a mosaic feel. Surround your waterfall pump with rocks or bricks to anchor the planter or container before placing the decorated acrylic sheeting into the reservoir. Prop your waterfall against a tree or fence post in your yard, or stand it against the side of the house. Solar waterfall pumps are an option for this project if you don't have easy access to electricity in your yard.

Chandelier

• Find an old chandelier at a yard sale or your local thrift store to create beautiful, functional art for your yard. Remove the bulbs from electric chandeliers and replace them with candles for outdoor lighting. If your chandelier already has crystals, remove them before you spray paint the surface. Select the color that works best with your yard's décor. Black and other dark colors highlight the crystals, even during the daytime, better than silver or other metallic colors. If you chandelier does not have crystals, purchase a selection from an online supplier and attach them to the painted chandelier with craft wire to match. Hang the chandelier as yard art from the center of an arbor or garden arch, or from the branches of a tree.

Copper Tubing

• Soft copper tubing is a wonderful material to use for many yard-art projects. The tubing bends easily and ages beautifully, making it the perfect choice for free-form yard art. Bend the tubing into swirls and attach it to the side of an old wagon to make a decorative planter. You can nail straight through the tubing, making it easy to attach to any kind of wooden object. Create a free-standing sculpture with a copper-pipe frame, copper-tubing sun-and-star shapes and dangling crystals, old tools or stained glass pieces for a fun and whimsical piece of yard art.