Love garden junk? These creations provide great recycled art ideas for your garden or home. They are all from Etsy shops, so you can buy what you love or make your own.
I also have DIY instructions here for making garden junk owls, cats, and more.
Delightful Garden Junk Ideas
Garden junk is a broad and brilliant category. It can mean anything repurposed to decorate or enhance a garden or an artistic expression of something found in a garden.
This could be unusual planting containers, old signs, rusty chains or tools, or the re-imagined critters and quirky decor ideas I have shared here.
I am a life-long garden junk fan. My favourites are the pieces that take ordinary kitchen utensils or workshop tools and re-imagine them as something new.
As you browse the ideas, have a look at what they’ve used for the various parts. It’s a great way to grab ideas for your own unique creations.
Shopping Tip
- Pay attention to the size of the item, and, if it’s not listed, ask the seller before purchasing. Sometimes items seem much larger than they actually are!
These one-of-a-kind garden junk ideas come from Etsy shops and may have already sold by the time you view them.
I am an Etsy affiliate and I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you choose to purchase something.
I have listed all of the individual links below. You can also see everything on this favorites list at Etsy.
Related: 20 Garden Junk Ideas Hiding in Your Kitchen
1Cat
This is one of my all-time favorites! I would love to have a giant version of this in my garden.
2 Scorpion
The term garden junk evolved, because, historically, long before trash collection and landfills existed, the garden was the place where people tossed their old junk.
For my own garden art/junk, I’ll put anything outside I don’t mind wearing away with the weather—usually metal, wood, stone, or heavy glass. A quirky treasure like this scorpion would reside in my house.
3Baby Sharks
This is just plain cute. You’ve probably seen spoon fish (there are some further down the page), but these knife sharks are extra delightful.
4 Crab
This guy is so funny. One tip: if you want to make something with eyes, look for dolls at the thrift shop. The old plastic type often have realistic looking eyes like these ones.
Visit IgalUpcycledCreation Etsy Shop
Want More Garden Art Ideas?
- Watering Can Art | Faux spilling water
- Garden Art Flowers | DIY flower projects
5Bird
This guy is just plain majestic. Something like this is best welded and there’s some sculpting involved.
Visit OutOfMyMindMetalWork Etsy Shop
6Dog
This little guy is made from things I often see in the kitchen utensil basket at the thrift shop. Notice what his legs are made of? Door stoppers and springs.
Visit FairyJunkMother Etsy Shop
7Grasshopper
Are you a fan of steampunk art like I am? This guy is seriously beautiful.
See all of these items here at Etsy
8Bike Chainrings
Bike chainrings (the part that the chain engages with) are useful for all sorts of garden art. These ones are made into stained-glass decor.
9Lock Man
I just love goofy little things like this. If this was mine, he’d live on my desk.
Visit AdamsCraftyCreations Etsy Shop
10Butterfly
If you ever see a box of old horseshoes for a low price, nab them! Here they’ve used four horseshoes and rebar to create the butterfly.
Visit Creationswelded Etsy Shop
11Snake
I don’t have snakes in my garden but if I did, I’d like it to be this one.
Visit TheHealingHippies Etsy Shop
12Tulip Flower
This little work of art uses spoons and a fork with a marble in the middle. While large metal projects require welding, you might be able to make smaller ones using a good adhesive. I use GE II Silicone Sealant for most outdoor projects.
Visit Creationswelded Etsy Shop
13Dog
With a few tweaks, something like this would make a fun mail box.
Visit AdamsCraftyCreations Etsy Shop
14Wind Chimes
I think if you have one of these wind chimes, you need several! They look great all together.
Visit RecycledParts4Art Etsy Shop
15Bug
This Etsy shop has lots of sweet critters. I’d love a giant version of it in my garden.
16Rake Shelf
I watch for broken garden tools at the roadside for exactly this type of thing. Old metal rake heads make great shelves and wall hangers.
17Owl
Here’s a little project you could make with a good adhesive. Adorable!
18Octopus and Fish
The top part that looks like an octopus is genius.
19Grasshopper
Another fun way to reuse basic hardware.
Visit Creationswelded Etsy Shop
20Key Wind Chimes
If you’re like me and hang onto old keys for absolutely no logical reason, this could be a way to give them a new life.
Visit VintageShopCreations Etsy Shop
21Tulip
More horseshoes! They have endless possibilities for repurposed art. The big decision is whether to paint them or let them get rusty.
Visit IronWoodCreationsCo Etsy Shop
22Hummingbird
A favourite bird. This one has nuts, bolts, and knife ends.
Visit Creationswelded Etsy Shop
23Dragonfly
There are a couple things I love about this one. The big bug eyes with sieves, the bulbous body sections, and the way the wings are helicopter-ish.
Visit RobotFactoryCrafts Etsy Shop
24Funnel Boy
Cute alert. He’s goofy and slightly robot-like and perfect.
Visit FairyJunkMother Etsy Shop
25Grasshopper
The photo isn’t great but it’s a really sweet grasshopper. Love the big green eyes.
Visit RomascoCreations Etsy Shop
26Steampunk Couple
I think these two are made for each other.
Visit RobotFactoryCrafts Etsy Shop
27Pelican
So well done! The broken scissors work perfectly.
Visit IgalUpcycledCreation Etsy Shop
28Chimney Sweep
He’s ready to clean! Love the cleaning tool in his hand.
Visit IgalUpcycledCreation Etsy Shop
29Bird
Lots of recognizable parts on this one. The clip makes a great beak.
Visit IgalUpcycledCreation Etsy Shop
I hope you’ve found lots of ideas. Be sure to visit the shops. Many of these sellers have many other similar items.
See all of these items here at Etsy
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛