Turn Scalloped Garden Edgers Into Playful Caterpillars That Add Instant Whimsy

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When you're designing a space for plants that you and your child can grow together, the vibe should be bright and fun to inspire a lifelong love of gardening. Or maybe you just want to fill your whole home, including the outdoor spaces, with whimsy. Making each component special, down to the decorations that adorn your flower beds, is one way to tap into this sense of magic and charm for both kids and kids at heart. This DIY, which turns basic garden edgers into lighthearted art, can also be a fun project for you and your kids. Create colorful caterpillar characters to spark joy in your flower beds whenever you see them. While @samcampp on TikTok depicts Eric Carle's classic character, the "Very Hungry Caterpillar," you can bring to life other iconic examples like the blue caterpillar from "Alice in Wonderland" or the lime green caterpillar Heimlich from Disney Pixar's "A Bug's Life."

Before you start, gather the supplies you will need to bring your caterpillars to life. You will need garden edgers, specifically ones with scalloped edges like these River Red Straight Scallop Concrete Edgers from Home Depot. These edgers are 12 inches long, so consider how long a caterpillar you want to create when purchasing them. This simple project also requires a durable outdoor paint. You can also apply a sealant after painting to help keep the design weatherproof. Don't forget to have wire on hand to add details like antennae or flowers.

Start by adding a layer of white paint to each edger. Painting the red brick edgers white is a good way to make the colors bright and vibrant. After that, transforming concrete garden edgers into brightly-colored caterpillars begins with the most important piece — its head! Mark out each segment of the caterpillar using one hump of the scalloped edger. The start of your edging should be the head of the caterpillar, which you can paint a different color to stand out. Also, include a face to bring your caterpillar character to life. Antennae, made from copper wire and glued to the back of the head, provide the finishing touch. Consider adding details like green grass or small flowers to create the illusion of your caterpillar crawling through the garden.

Your garden beds should match the playfulness of your edging. Think about cultivating fun flowers and plants that also have quaint qualities that look like they could have come straight out of a picture book story. Corncockle (Agrostemma githago) is the fairy-like flower that deserves a spot in your garden, especially in the same garden bed as your caterpillar edgers. The 'Bianca' variety features dainty white flowers that attract incredible amounts of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Elements like concrete edgers are also a cottage garden essential that help create a beautiful oasis, so consider planting an informal garden with perennials like giant hyssop (Agastache sp.) and black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia hirta).