The Marsha Chronicles: How to sex up your garden

After blissfully spending the jubilee weekend not crafting, I am now concentrating on summer. Having actually managed to sex up my garden with bluebell blue fence panels (get me) and some colourful accessories and after informing my nearest and dearest that my birthday wish this year is a garden bench, I am now hunting for ideas to make my own stuff for outside. So, here are the highlights from my hunt for summer...

1. Candles in Seashells

Now theres a way to make use of the gazillions of seashells your children will bring you this summer - make a candle out of them. Don't they look fabulous?

http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/easy-summer-crafts-0609#slide-20

2. Flower Pot Wind Chimes
okay, there are a lot of craft ideas out there with flower pots. Some are cute, most look slightly dodgy but this one actually looks quite stylish. The only thing I would change in the instructions is using glass stain paint to paint the dangly plastic things. Glass stain paints are rather expensive, I would probably use acrylic paint (which as also waterproof).

http://www.allcrafts.net/fjs.htm?url=www.ilovetocraft.com/claypot/wind-chimes.shtml

3. A rocky village
Do you remember painting stones in school? This ups the anti a bit and inspires to create a rocky village in your garden. I will have to make some of these and add maybe some painted stone ladybugs, bumblebees, mushrooms and snails...

http://www.allcrafts.net/fjs.htm?url=www.craftygardener.ca/garden22.html

4. Garden Stone Mosaic
Now there is something I haven't tried yet. Mosaics give that classy, ancient luxury note and these balls would look really good just in that corner behind the apple tree. The instructions look easy enough. I think as long as you remember to draw your desired pattern onto the entired ball before you start, you will be alright. And use lots of sealant if you plan on keeping these babies outside.

http://www.favecrafts.com/Decorating-Ideas/Garden-Stone-Mosaic/ct/1

5. Tealight Lantern
Great way to re- and upcycle your jam jars. Lovely idea and the instructions show good technique on how to wrap the wire round the jar but they don't mention that you also need to get a candle in the jar. Also, they don't give ideas on how to decorate your jars. So, get your creative hats on and make it your personalised lantern...

http://www.favecrafts.com/Garden-and-Outdoor/Tea-Light-Lantern/ct/1

6. Seat cushions
Well, you can't do a pattern selection for your garden without a pattern for seat cushions, right? Especially in the UK where so called summer still features chilly nights. You need something to keep your backside warm... there are thousands of patterns for seat cushions. I liked this one because they look contemporary and using different fabric for each chair gives it that bohemian feel.

https://sew4home.com/projects/pillows-cushions/patio-party-sitting-pretty-chair-cushions

Laminated Picnic Blanket with Carrying Case by Amy Butler

7. Picnic blanket with carrying case
Amy Butler design, comprehensive pattern with the carrying case included. Oh yeah!

http://www.examiner.com/article/free-sewing-pattern-picnic-blanket-by-amy-butler

8. Anarchists Night Light
It has lights.
Bright lights.
Brighter that bright.
In the night.
The lights.
Are bright.

And dangerous.
Because this might be a fire hazard.
We don’t know.

Another idea from my favourite craft site of all times - The Anticraft. The place where you can get knitting patterns for Condoms and tumors.

http://theanticraft.com/archive/lugh07/litebrite.htm