I made this teatime garden stake to help prop up my flopping "Bonica" rose - and just loved how it turned out - you will too!
You will need:
1) Some inexpensive teacups and saucers - I buy these mismatched plain white teacups & saucers for $.25 each at Goodwill, and decorate them with waterslide decals:
Don't buy anything nice because you WILL break a few... and they will most likely eventually break in the garden. So for a quarter you won't get too upset about it!
It's best if you can find "footed" teacups - then you can twist the wire around the foot for extra support/protection against breakage.
2) Scrap molding or wooden garden stakes - I used some pieces of an old picket fence.
3) Wire & Wire cutters (or some dollar store scissors you don't mind ruining)
4) Decals to decorate the plain white teacups & saucers
5) A drill (to drill the wood - use a small bit)
6) Delta Ceramcoat interior/exterior to topcoat the decals
7) Saucer sized plate hanger - and make sure it fits TIGHT! Otherwise your saucer will fall out in the wind/rain/etc
Decorate your Teacups
This is the fun part - start with your plain cheap teacups & saucers, and turn them into antique treasures with rose waterslide decals - just GORGEOUS!
Detailed instructions on how to Apply Decals Like a Pro are in my other guides.
IMPORTANT: Don't forget to topcoat the decals with several coats of Delta Ceramcoat or they will slip off with the first rain!
Allow to dry thoroughly. While they are drying,
Drill Holes
You'll need to drill 4 holes in your wood stakes or molding pieces. Two are to wire the top & bottom of the plate hanger onto the stake, 2 are to wire the teacup foot & handle.
Attach the plate hanger
Attach the plate hanger to the saucer, (Make sure it fits TIGHT!) then wire the plate hanger securely to the stake, at the top & bottom, passing the wire through your two holes. (this way your wire won't slip down your stake)
Attach your teacup
Wire your teacup to the other 2 holes in your stake, using one piece of wire for the foot and one for the handle, like this:
Decorate your Garden!
Use your stake as a beautiful shabby chic garden ornament - make sure you can see it from a window!
You can wire on some chandelier crystals, beads, or mirror pieces to add more sparkle
And it's fun to make some stakes with different variations - just the cup, just the saucer, the cup on top, saucer on top, creamer, sugar bowl & lid, etc.
I'm at my maximum 8 guide pictures now, but will post more later in another guide, when my garden is full of teatime treasures. Have fun creating!
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