Deer topiary and tin cans

[daffodil]

Anyone know how to turn chicken wire into a deer topiary? Also any ideas on what to make of cans (from canned veggies and such) I'd like to decorate my willow tree somehow with them. I want to go with the colors gold, silver, white.
edit: One other thing I forgot. If I make paper mache things and then cover them with exterior paint will they hold up in the rainy and snowy weather?

[NCLee]

See my reply in the other thread for some of the things you mentioned.

Re: Tin cans
Drill or punch a hole in the bottom. Make a loop of cord and put both ends through the hole. Tie off so the knot is inside the can. Paint the cans and hang from your tree like Christmas ornaments. I'd use 15 oz or smaller for this.

For #10 cans one idea is to make a lantern. Use a church-key type bottle opener to punch a series of holes around the bottom and top. Then use a punch and a pattern, to make decorative holes around the center part of the can. Put a candle holder inside. Either set on a stable spot or add a wire hanger. Practice all safety precautions when using one of these.

If you have the items to build the structure, you can make a scarecrow from them. #10 for the head and a painted face. 16 oz cans for the arms and legs, for example.

Painted/decorated cans can be attached to posts, shed walls, fence, etc for hanging plants. Drill drainage holes in the bottom. Use screws to attach, then fill with soil and plants. Depending on the metal, they'll last a couple of years. During the winter fill with evergreen branches or plant ivy. During the summer plant trailing annuals in some so you have year round appeal.

Cut out the bottom and top. Open the side along the seam. Flatten out. You now have flat sheets of metal that can be used for a variety of projects.

Cut out the bottom and top. Then flatten. Make a wind chime or mobile. It probably won't sound all that great, but you'll have movement in the wind. Use fishing line to attach to your support piece. Cut out a few animal shapes, stars, etc. from the flat sheets to add variety to mobiles. Edit: The lids and bottoms will give you circles. Just be careful as these are sharp.

Hope some of these ideas will spark an idea or two that you can use.

Lee

[daffodil]

See my reply in the other thread for some of the things you mentioned.

Re: Tin cans
Drill or punch a hole in the bottom. Make a loop of cord and put both ends through the hole. Tie off so the knot is inside the can. Paint the cans and hang from your tree like Christmas ornaments. I'd use 15 oz or smaller for this.

For #10 cans one idea is to make a lantern. Use a church-key type bottle opener to punch a series of holes around the bottom and top. Then use a punch and a pattern, to make decorative holes around the center part of the can. Put a candle holder inside. Either set on a stable spot or add a wire hanger. Practice all safety precautions when using one of these.

If you have the items to build the structure, you can make a scarecrow from them. #10 for the head and a painted face. 16 oz cans for the arms and legs, for example.

Painted/decorated cans can be attached to posts, shed walls, fence, etc for hanging plants. Drill drainage holes in the bottom. Use screws to attach, then fill with soil and plants. Depending on the metal, they'll last a couple of years. During the winter fill with evergreen branches or plant ivy. During the summer plant trailing annuals in some so you have year round appeal.

Cut out the bottom and top. Open the side along the seam. Flatten out. You now have flat sheets of metal that can be used for a variety of projects.

Cut out the bottom and top. Then flatten. Make a wind chime or mobile. It probably won't sound all that great, but you'll have movement in the wind. Use fishing line to attach to your support piece. Cut out a few animal shapes, stars, etc. from the flat sheets to add variety to mobiles. Edit: The lids and bottoms will give you circles. Just be careful as these are sharp.

Hope some of these ideas will spark an idea or two that you can use.

Lee

Thanks! I'm going to try a few of these! I like the ornament idea! And I might try angels instead of scarecrows. I like the planter thing too! :)