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28 Charming Recycled Garden Junk Ideas

Published on April 8, 2019Last updated October 22, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

This post contains affiliate links.
Read full disclosure statement here.

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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.

Garden junk art.

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.

Etsy shopping link.

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.


Garden art created from old kitchen items.

Related: 20 Creative Ways to Repurpose Kitchen Junk into Garden Decor


1Cat

This is one of my all-time favorites! I would love to have a giant version of this in my garden.

Garden junk cat by ReidHorse on Etsy.

Visit ReidHorse Etsy Shop

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.

Garden junk scorpion by TinKanDesigns on Etsy.

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.

Visit TinkanDesigns Etsy Shop

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.

Nevastarr garden junk.

Visit NevaStarr Etsy Shop

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.

Garden junk crab.

Visit IgalUpcycledCreation Etsy Shop

Want More Garden Art Ideas?

Watering can planted with flowers.
  • 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.

Garden junk bird.

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.

Garden junk dog.

Visit FairyJunkMother Etsy Shop

7Grasshopper

Are you a fan of steampunk art like I am? This guy is seriously beautiful.

Garden junk grasshopper.

Visit TinkanDesigns Etsy Shop


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.

Garden junk bike art.

Visit HappySpokes Etsy Shop

9Lock Man

I just love goofy little things like this. If this was mine, he’d live on my desk.

Garden junk lock man.

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.

Garden junk 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.

Garden junk snake.

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.

Garden junk tulip.

Visit Creationswelded Etsy Shop

13Dog

With a few tweaks, something like this would make a fun mail box.

Garden junk dog.

Visit AdamsCraftyCreations Etsy Shop

14Wind Chimes

I think if you have one of these wind chimes, you need several! They look great all together.

Garden junk wind chimes.

Visit RecycledParts4Art Etsy Shop

15Bug

This Etsy shop has lots of sweet critters. I’d love a giant version of it in my garden.

Garden junk bug.

Visit TinkanDesigns Etsy Shop

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.

Garden junk rake shelf.

Visit ReidHorse Etsy Shop

17Owl

Here’s a little project you could make with a good adhesive. Adorable!

Garden junk owl.

Visit MetalZone Etsy Shop

18Octopus and Fish

The top part that looks like an octopus is genius.

Garden junk fishes.

Visit NevaStarr Etsy Shop

19Grasshopper

Another fun way to reuse basic hardware.

Garden junk grasshopper.

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.

Garden junk wind chimes.

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.

Garden art horseshoe tulip.

Visit IronWoodCreationsCo Etsy Shop

22Hummingbird

A favourite bird. This one has nuts, bolts, and knife ends.

Garden junk hummingbird.

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.

Garden junk dragonfly.

Visit RobotFactoryCrafts Etsy Shop

24Funnel Boy

Cute alert. He’s goofy and slightly robot-like and perfect.

Garden junk boy.

Visit FairyJunkMother Etsy Shop

25Grasshopper

The photo isn’t great but it’s a really sweet grasshopper. Love the big green eyes.

Garden junk grasshoppers.

Visit RomascoCreations Etsy Shop

26Steampunk Couple

I think these two are made for each other.

Garden junk couple.

Visit RobotFactoryCrafts Etsy Shop

27Pelican

So well done! The broken scissors work perfectly.

Garden junk pelican.

Visit IgalUpcycledCreation Etsy Shop

28Chimney Sweep

He’s ready to clean! Love the cleaning tool in his hand.

Garden junk man.

Visit IgalUpcycledCreation Etsy Shop

29Bird

Lots of recognizable parts on this one. The clip makes a great beak.

Garden junk bird.

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 ♛

28 Charming Recycled Garden Junk Ideas
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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
Join me as I share creative + frugal home & garden ideas with a dash of humor.
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