| Author | Content |
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
November 29, 2008
06:17 PM Post #5842011
| Please feel free to add ideas if you like.
These are two bowling balls sprayed in chrome paints, I couldn't find the red, green or blue that I had in California, but did find gold and silver chrome. I'll be putting a couple more out there in different colors during the next week.
Used staked rebar and sprayed that too, then just used the holes in the Bowling ball as is and they are on the Hiway at the end of our road. I got this idea from Joseph (Gerris2), after he asked me if I was going to hang the decorated bowling balls on the Christmas tree... hahahaha... Thank you Joseph.. here they are. I had added some bows but the ones I made looked awful, so I'll be rethinking the bow idea.
This message was edited Nov 29, 2008 3:21 PM
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
November 29, 2008
06:33 PM Post #5842083
| Excellent idea and I like your tractor house sign too! |
RainbowRider
Brunswick, GA
(Zone 9a)
November 29, 2008
09:24 PM Post #5842679
| The tractor looks great, it reminds me of an Allis Chalmers i used to use. It had the same cranking method as yours. The bowling balls look great also... |
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
November 29, 2008
09:48 PM Post #5842737
| Thanks guys, yeah, we cut that tractor down from the house in Southern Cal the day before we moved to NM.
RR, I'll bet it was fun to drive (crank)... now they have these four wheelers that have attachments and I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow one a couple of months ago for the weeds, they seem to grow with or without water .. Now we want to purchase one, it was not only fun, but functional..lol I'd love to ride around the irrigation ditches here, we are surrounded by Pecan Orchards and lots of dirt roads.
Here's another view, we have the train track right in front also, the train runs about twice a day/ or night...at times. It honked at us while we were staking the rebar today.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
dahtzu
(Faye) Henderson, NC
(Zone 7b)
November 29, 2008
09:56 PM Post #5842768
| As usual Gourd, I love what you have done . That is so original. I have some rebar, but it's not as long as yours. That would be a great idea for my backyard gardens. If I did that here, and placed them at my mailbox, someone would likely steal them. I had 2 cast alunimun chairs stolen from my driveway.
AYF, Faye |
Maxine
Western, WI
(Zone 4a)
November 30, 2008
10:28 AM Post #5843784
| Gourd, how far are you from Rio Rancho out side of Albuquerque?
Maxine |
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
November 30, 2008
11:54 AM Post #5844034
| Thanks Faye, yes, you can use rebar to lift them up off the ground too, if you paint them green, you can use them in between the foliage and the rebar will be hidden. I have some that will go lower, I think they are about 3 or 4 feet tall rebar sections.
Maxine, I'm about (290 miles) 4 hours away now, I used to live on west side of town in Taylor Ranch most of my life only 10 miles from Rio Rancho. |
Allwild
East, TX
(Zone 7b)
December 03, 2008
04:03 PM Post #5855255
| This is what I have been working on today. Picking up limbs when I thought "I'm going to make a tree out of at least one of them" since I don't have an x-mas tree up yet! Found some old scraps of material, and a few other things in my scrap bin. I'm making an angel now but she won't be on the top of the tree!!
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Lulie
Northeast, OH
(Zone 5b)
December 03, 2008
11:02 PM Post #5856585
| Gourd,
Did you tie the rebar to the post? Is the rebar strong enough to hold a bowling ball if it is driven into the ground far enough? I think I will have to wait for spring and the ground to be hard. I love the idea and would like to do it now! |
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
December 04, 2008
03:35 AM Post #5857182
| allwild, very handsome tree that is and a great idea.. What kind of limbs are they?
Lulie, yes we tied the rebar to the post with wire and used some wire to tie it down to a small wooden stake in the ground. the shorter rebar don't have to be staked, you can just drive them in a couple of feet and they will be fine. These were the 8 ft rebar and they do lean some if they are not staked. I noticed that the ones that were about 3 and 4 feet did fine, I used those shorter ones to hold the balls up while I sprayed the paint on them.
You may be able to do that now if you hammer them in deeper if the ground is soft or even put gravel in a hole and then stake them in there. |
Allwild
East, TX
(Zone 7b)
December 04, 2008
02:25 PM Post #5858503
| It's a single limb, I believe from an oak, we have sooo many here! Made my angel today and put her sitting on a lower branch. Stuck the limb in a split log-guess I'll have to do something decorative with the log? 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Allwild
East, TX
(Zone 7b)
December 04, 2008
02:31 PM Post #5858530
| Full view...of my decorated branch 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
imapigeon
Gilroy (Sunset Z14), CA
(Zone 9a)
December 05, 2008
10:50 PM Post #5863324
| I SOOO want an ocotillo!! Love the one you have by your tractor sign.
Your decorated branch is just beautiful.
My DH does almost all the holiday decorating around here. This started when I got sick right after Thanksgiving for years and years. For the past 3 or 4 years I've been healthy, but I learned to just stay out of his way...he's a TOTAL madman when it comes to Halloween and Christmas decorating. He says he does Halloween for me and Christmas for himself. My role is to shift things around a bit, put ornaments on the tree, and not kvetch about anything he does. Works for me! LOL! |
dividedsky
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
December 06, 2008
11:35 PM Post #5866637
| That's pretty, allwild. I took a tree branch and did a similar thing with it: Stuck it upright in a candle with some container wax and use it to hang my necklaces on to keep them from getting tangled. |
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
December 08, 2008
02:56 PM Post #5871278
| Very nice branches... I need to get our mulberry tree pruned, I wonder if I could use one of those branches?
Ima, thank you... I love the Ocotillo's also.
I got some Elf hats for those bowling balls, but it has been raining and hailing tthis morning... I'll put those on this week, maybe a Santa hat? (thanks again Joseph for the hat idea)
|
Allwild
East, TX
(Zone 7b)
December 11, 2008
08:58 PM Post #5883135
| Gourd just want you to know that I am LOL at myself right now! Guess you really were looking for ideas for your beautiful ocotillos! Not Christmas decorations. And I show up with a Charlie-Brown tree...did it inspire you at all? LOL. Thank you-all for the compliments. And I like the necklace idea too!!
Anyway, I think they look great just the way they are and don't need any embellishment. Like the hat idea though.
|
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
December 12, 2008
11:02 PM Post #5886621
| allwild, you posted exactly the right thing. I really was hoping everyone would post decorating ideas. I loved your Charlie brown tree, that is what i need to make.
I just finished a small star ornament made out of stained glass and just need to polish it a little then need a place to hang it..
The hats will go on the bowling balls most likely on Sunday, I've been gone for two days and then they predict high winds here for Saturday. |
dividedsky
Indianapolis, IN
(Zone 5b)
December 13, 2008
12:06 PM Post #5887744
| Does anyone have ideas for tree toppers that I could make? I don't like any of the ones in stores at the moment.
Unfortunately, I don't have any ideas to contribute to this thread. But I can announce that I picked up a couple of large, shatterproof Christmas decorating balls at wmart, and I intend to make my own gazing balls out of them. I think they'll be easier for me to work with than heavy bowling balls, so I can't wait to get started! |
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
December 13, 2008
12:10 PM Post #5887757
| oooh, good tip there,
also save all your bells if you get some, those plastic bells can be used as molds for concrete items.. These are the bells I collected last year from thrift stores. These are about 7 inches tall, I really want to find a big one, I think Lowes had some this year.
edited to say they may be more like 9" tall.
This message was edited Dec 13, 2008 9:13 AM
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
December 13, 2008
12:12 PM Post #5887764
| These are the ones I made out of concrete using the plastic bells as forms. I haven't painted them yet, but should have made a couple for Christmas this year. They are still curing outside. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
imapigeon
Gilroy (Sunset Z14), CA
(Zone 9a)
December 13, 2008
09:43 PM Post #5889200
| I don't even bother to "do something" with mine----I just tuck pretty plastic Christmas balls, and (my favorites) the "disco ball" ornaments in my garden, in my containers, etc., etc., etc.!! |
thobbs
De Soto, MO
July 14, 2009
12:56 PM Post #6818468
| Any suggestions where I can get a sign like yours? |
