DIY Stunning Garden Stakes That Bedazzle Your Garden And Catch The Sun

Back in the 1980s, people were bedazzling anything made from fabric, from denim jackets to sports caps to sneakers. And now, the trend for sparkles is back, but instead of adding shine to clothing, people are using this once-considered-outdated design tip for beaded curtains in their homes, lighting (think nostalgic crystal chandeliers), and even garden decor. Yup, you really can bedazzle the heck out of your flower beds with just a solid steel rod and some glass beads, vases, and drawer pulls. Slip them over or wrap them around the rod, securing them with glue, and then drive your glittery creation into the ground. All that's left is to sit back and enjoy how the late afternoon sun shines through them, sending crystalline rainbows across your practically paved patio or lush green lawn.

Start by sourcing a 10-pack uxcell 304 Solid Round Stainless Steel Rods for less than $7. If you're a crafter, you might already have glass (or even transparent plastic) beads in the house. As long as the hole is larger than the width of the rod, they'll work for this project. If you need to buy beads, look for assorted kits like this Craftdady 200-Piece Mixed Shapes and Colors Lampwork Glass Beads for about $15. Knobs make perfect rod toppers — get a set of 10 NORTHERN BROTHERS Diamond Shaped Crystal Glass and Bronze Pulls for about $14. The only tools you need are a hot glue gun and glue sticks, or E6000, and maybe some tweezers or pliers if you struggle to pick up small beads with your hands.

Ready to assemble this unique flower bed decor idea to make your lawn stand out? Here's how: If you're a planner, you'll want to decide on the number of sparkly stakes you want to make and lay them out on your worktable. Then, sort through your beads and lay them out next to the stakes in the order you want them to thread them on- alternate colors, sizes, and styles for interest. Once you're happy with your design, take a photo (just in case you knock or move something). Of course, if you're more of a spontaneous crafter, you can pick each bead out of the pile as you work. Either way, it's time to get started on the first stake.

Squeeze a little glue into the screw hole of the drawer knob and push one end of the metal rod into it. Hold the pull there until it's dry to the touch, then start threading on your beads one at a time, following your predetermined layout or choosing beads as you go. Probably the most challenging part of this project is balancing the weight of the beads and topper against the length of the exposed rod, which you need to stick the stake into the soil. Leave too little, and your stake will topple over. About three inches from the end you plan to bury should be enough — or another way to look at it is leaving approximately one-third of the metal stake free of beads. Secure the final bead in place with a few drops of glue, and you're done!

Topper alternatives to the sparkly diamond include antique ceramic knobs, large glass bird beads, or garden-themed metal pulls — think butterflies or roses. If you're really creative, upcycle thrifted glassware into beautiful bespoke DIY garden decor by glueing, say, a vintage teacup saucer to the stake as a topper. You could also use a slightly more flexible wire rod and make a simple curl at one end using your needle-nosed pliers. Go a step further and turn your stakes into plant markers by slipping a cardboard or plastic sign into the curl. You could also use beads with letters to achieve the same effect: DAHI Round Acrylic White and Gold Alphabet Beads cost just over $8.

Don't have a lot of time? Use stakes that already have toppers or threaded rods that you can screw the drawer pull onto for greater security. The good thing about this is that you can screw on a nut to stop your beads slipping. Add some personality to your sparkly garden stakes with charms, like these KitBeads Antique Silver Garden Theme Charms for about $12, or catch both the sun and the wind by threading on some vibnumom Mixed Sized Rustic Jingle Bells, also about $12 a set. Affix them using jump rings and barrel spacers with a loop or bend the stake to form a candy cane-like shape, then hang a bell on the end in place of the drawer pull. Use green-hued beads and add branches with flexible wire to make cute cactus stakes for your potted succulent collection.