504 Main by Holly Lefevre: Angels and Monsters in the Garden (Outdoor Fun)

This is a crazy easy and super fun project that (almost) anyone can do...and it is pretty cheap (and I have shared this before here...but it is too good not to share again!). I first did this project with my son when we moved into our house 8 years ago. I had quite a few of (single) fence pickets left over from our "keep the doggie from jumping the fence project," and we knew no one in the neighborhood yet so my imagination was the source of entertainment for my son.

We loved being outside in our garden, so we grabbed our fence pickets, paint, and all sorts of other objects and goodies and made garden angels.
This is a more recent recreation of that project!
(I was not a crazy blogger back then)

Angels and Monsters in the Garden

SUPPLIES

This craft is about using what you have to make something fun with your kids...I am telling you all what I used and adding notes for substitutions when I can.

Fence Pickets, single, about $1-$2 each at the hardware store (a scrap of 2 x 4 could also work)

DecoArt's Patio Paint (Acrylic Paint can work too, it just does not last as long - (the original angel I made 6 years ago still has paint on it but it is definitely faded). The Patio Paints work really well and last a long time. I would suggest a spray sealer if you use acrylics. I specifically used: vintage rose, citrus green, orange, larkspur blue, petunia purple, azalea, marigold, white, graphite (acrylic).

Paint brushes - 1 or 2 1 1/2" or 2" size and some smaller ones for detail work.

Staple gun and/or glue and/or small nails and hammer.
Twine or ribbon and any other decoration you might want.
Outdoor Mod Podge (see below)

Wings/Skirts

Fabric* or window screen or oil cloth - any fabric that is sturdy and will hold up to the weather.
*NOTE: I "painted" my fabric with Mod Podge to give it some heft and to help it stand up to the elements.

DIY IT!

Clean picket and if desired give it a quick sanding (I did not sand it - I wanted a rugged distressed feel).
Paint each picket in a base color, covering almost all of the picket. For the angels I used Vintage Rose Patio Paint. For the Monsters, Citrus Green and Orange Patio Paint. Let dry.

Angels

Add hair detail - just select a hair color and paint some bangs and curls on the top of the picket.
Add face detail - simple eyes and a sweet little mouth in pink.

Paint the picket, starting at where the "neck" would be a fun color (the clothing).

Add buttons to the shirt.
Cut squares of either fabric or screen approximately 10" wide and 5" long (you can "play" with the measurements depending on the look you want).
Attach the skirt: I used a staple gun. In the past we have used glue, so either works...one give more instant gratification. To attach the skirt, lay the angel face down and determine waist; place skirt edge on the picket and staple on the back of the picket; flip over, bringing skirt around and do the same thing on the other side; NOW fold or gather skirt around on the front to make it fit (I added a staple or two along the waist band to make it stay). NOTE: if you use glue, weigh the wings down with a rock until dry. You can paint a skirt on too.

Finish off with a twine or ribbon belt (to hide the staples or glue...or just because)

Attach wings: Flip angle face down, find proper place for wings (about middle of back); accordion/fan fold fabric/screen; place wings on back and then point some of the folds up and some down; staple into place. NOTE: if you use glue, weigh the wings down with a rock until dry.

Flip over and done! Now here is some more about the monsters.

My son made these by himself...he was not into angels."

Monsters

Paint on crazy eyes, mouth, teeth/fangs.

If you want add some crazy screen hairdo - cut a length of screen about 5" long and 4" wide and then cut slits down into it being sure not to cut through; flip monster over and gather screen hair and staple into place.