Don't Throw Out Old Yard Signs & Use Them To Make Beautiful Garden Art

Whether you're supporting a political cause, advertising a garage sale, or celebrating an achievement, yard signs can be a fun and important way to share a message. Once the event passes or the sign begins to wear, though, you are left with an outdated display that disrupts the look of your lawn. Instead of tossing the sign, you can recycle it. Yard signs are often made of corrugated plastic, a durable and recyclable material. Just make sure the plastic is accepted at your local recycling center, as some don't accept corrugated plastics. Or you can repurpose old yard signs to create handy storage. Once the sign is taken care of, you will be left with the metal frame that sticks into the ground and holds the sign up. This metal is often recyclable as well, but it is also a highly versatile piece of metal that is great for outdoor use and can easily be repurposed to create beautiful garden art.

If you want to put a maximalist spin on your garden, then your yard sign is the perfect place to start. It is a blank canvas that you can use to hang a variety of decor from to create an aesthetic feature piece for your garden. All you need are beads and twine to tie around the metal frame. Of course, you can customize the colors, shapes, and sizes of the beads. You can also swap beads and twine for various types of string and decorative baubles for a more personal look.

It is incredibly simple to turn your old sign frame into lovely artwork. For the basic design, you'll create beaded strands that you tie along the top horizontal piece of the metal frame, allowing them to dangle and move in the breeze. First, gather your materials and make a plan for the layout of your decor piece. Measure the height of your yard sign frame to get an idea of how long you want your beaded twine pieces to be. Experiment with different lengths and numbers of strings hanging down from the top bar, adding more for a denser, bolder look and using fewer for a more delicate and subtle style. 

Also, carefully consider your beads. Finding a good color scheme and combination of bead sizes and shapes will make a major difference in the overall effect of your project. Once you have an idea of the design you want to attempt, all you need to do is string your beads onto the twine, tie all of your beaded twine pieces onto the top bar of the sign, wrap the top bar in twine for a more finished look, and stand the sign frame in your yard.

While stringing the beads, it is a good idea to add a knot between each of the beads. This not only gives you more control of spacing between the beads by allowing you to work in negative space, but it also keeps the beads more contained if the twine breaks, meaning you will not have to search around your garden for small beads if something happens to your art. 

While beads and twine create a fun and artsy look, you can tailor this DIY project to fit any aesthetic. For a coastal style, you can string seashells onto the twine, and for a more modern vibe, you can use glass beads or glass pieces after carefully cleaning and smoothing them. Ribbon can also be an adorable addition to this DIY. String the beads onto ribbon or tie little bows on the hanging pieces for a cute touch. You can also mix ribbons in between the strands of beads for varying textures. If ribbon and twine are not your style, you can use fishing line or wire for a subtle, nearly invisible way to display your beads and baubles. Other durable types of string will work, too.

This project is one of many savvy ways to incorporate art into your yard, and you get to repurpose part of an item you would otherwise throw away. The result is gorgeous, highly customizable, and relatively durable. It can provide a perfect pop of color in front of a bush or tree, truly enhancing your garden space. The metal sign frame is meant to be outside, and if you choose your string and baubles carefully, they may also be able to withstand the weather. In extreme weather, however, you should bring your artwork indoors to prevent damage to the materials and the hassle of trying to untangle the hanging strings.