Transform Old Glassware Into Adorable Yard And Garden Decor

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You don't need to break the bank to cultivate a dreamy garden chock full of character. Whether you're looking for unique flower bed decor or you want additional lighting along your paths, you can easily transform old household trinkets into something new — like making glassware into light-up mushrooms. For this project, you'll need a glass vase, a glass bowl, spray paint, acrylic paint, clear weatherproof spray paint, masking tape, circular sponge dabbers, paint brushes, heavy-duty adhesive, and a waterproof, solar-powered yard light. Make sure the solar-powered light can fit into your vase and sit flush with its inner bottom. It should also feature a solar panel on top. Make sure the inside of your bowl is big enough to sit flush with the bottom of your vase as well. Once you have your materials together, you can get started crafting your own mushroom decor.

First, decide on a color scheme. If you're going for a classic look (similar to the Amanita muscaria), opt for a white or beige spray paint for the vase (AKA the mushroom "stem") and a red spray paint for the bowl (AKA the "mushroom cap"). Later, you can add white or beige spots to the bowl to mimic the splotches on the mushroom cap. If you want to branch out, there are a world of other mushrooms to draw inspiration from too, such as the electric blue Entoloma hochstetteri or the purple Laccaria amethystina. Once you have your colors picked out, measure the solar panel on your yard light. Tape off the bottom of your bowl and vase to match the dimensions of the solar panel. This taped-off section will allow the sun to filter through to the solar panels so your yard light can charge during the day. You will paint over it and remove it to leave behind an unpainted segment. 

With your prep work out of the way, it's time to spray paint your glassware. Set up a work area you don't mind getting paint on in a well-ventilated area. You only need to apply paint to the outside of your bowl and vase. Apply as many coats as necessary to achieve your desired opacity. Once the vase and bowl are dry, you can add details like spots or stripes with your dabber or paintbrush. Now you can cover each piece with an even coat of weatherproof, clear spray paint to help protect your work like Krylon spray gloss. Allow the glassware to dry completely, and remove the taped-off sections.

Now it's time to assemble your mushroom. Apply a weather-resistant glue (like Gorilla construction adhesive) to the top of your yard light, careful to avoid the solar panel. Insert the light into your vase and line the solar panel up with the section you taped off. Secure the light to the inner bottom of the vase. Now glue the bowl to your vase upside down to form a mushroom shape. And there you have it — a whimsical garden feature that can light up your outdoor space. Feel free to make multiple light-up mushrooms to sprinkle throughout your yard. Use a smaller or larger bowl and vase combos to create some contrast. You can opt to use solar panel fairy lights in lieu of spike yard lights to fit into smaller vases more easily.

If you'd prefer to skip installing a light, you can use a yard stake to secure your mushroom in the ground instead. Follow all of the same steps short of taping off a section for a solar panel and gluing on your light. Instead, glue your stake to the inside of your vase. The effect is just as adorable with just a little less work.