How to make and paint your own garden art

Habitat bright ideas with Fleur Thorpe – DIY projects

Create an element of height in your garden with these zig-zag striped posts.

Make garden art posts

You will need

Painters tape
Measuring tape
Resene Waterborne Woodsman testpot in your choice of colour; Fleur used Resene Skywater
Pencil
Paint brush

Instructions

Step 1: Select three lengths of wood. Fleurs range in length from 140 – 160cm and is untreated Rimu salvaged when part of her house was demolished. If you want your wood to last longer outdoors, use treated wood.

Step 2: Measure down both sides of the wood making a small pencil mark at 5cm intervals.

Equipment you will need Equipment

Step 1 - Select wood Step one

Step 2 - Measure Step two

Step 3: Using painters’ tape, tape off every second interval so that the stripes are on an angle. Remember to tape off the sides to protect it from the paint.

Step 4: Using a paint brush, apply the Resene Waterborne Woodsman wood stain.

Step 3 - Tape Step three

Step 4 - Paint Step four

Step 4 - Paint Step four contd.

Step 5: When you have finished painting and while the paint is still wet, remove the tape.

Step 6: Repeat with the other two lengths of wood.

Step 5 - Remove tape Step five

Step 5 - Remove tape Step five contd.

Step 6 - Repeat with other wooden posts Step six

Step 7: When the paint is dry, depending on how long your wood is, dig a hole in your garden about 30-40cm deep and “plant” your wood. Be sure to stamp the dirt firmly around the base of the wood. For a more permanent fixing, you could use concrete.

Top tip: Let you kid’s help with this project and let them do the painting using Resene testpots. Stripes, splats, abstract and handprints can all brighten up your garden.

Styling and images by Fleur Thorpe, 2020.