Repurposed Strainer and Jello Mold Flower
I love making garden flowers out of repurposed things that I find at thrift stores or garage sales.
When something looks like a good garden art flower candidate, and is a dollar or less, it comes home with me.
For my flower I'm using a $1 silver metal strainer, a $1 copper bundt cake pan, a 25 cent red glass candleholder, a stainless steel spoon from my stash, and some GOOP adhesive that I had on hand.
Just for fun I spray painted the bottom of the strainer red. I like my flowers to look good from all sides.
You can use either Marine Goop or E6000 glue, whichever you have access to.
When making flowers like this always remember to add the glue to the highest point. For the copper jello mold that’s the bumps around the outside.
I placed the jello mold into the center of the strainer, wiggling it a bit to get good contact, and then glued the red glass candle holder into the center of the mold.
Then I let that cure for 24 hours.
I took the stainless steel spoon outside and had an stress release therapy session. lol.
Sorry spoon, but I really did need you to be flat.
After bending the spoon, I glued it onto the back of the strainer holding it in place with painter’s tape.
Again I let the glue cure for 24 hours.
Here you can see how the spoon sits nice and snug in the pipe.
This is a cooper pipe that I spray painted green ages ago and also used for my repurposed steamer/strainer flowers.
Here’s a side view.
The red back of the strainer is not totally necessary, but it adds another dimension and it ties in with the red candle holder in the center.
TIP: If you have cold and snowy winters like I do you should store any flowers that are glued together safely out of the elements. This will help the glue hold for years to come. Regular rain is fine during the warmer months but ice, snow, and freezing temps put a lot of stress on the glue.
It’s hard to see it in the picture but the light comes through the petal-shaped holes of the strainer so beautifully, and the glass candle holder shimmers inside the copper jello mold.
When putting things together for a flower like this I’m always looking at the interplay of the pieces, and what they bring to each other.
The great thing about making flowers like this, is what you can create is only limited by your imagination. By using odds and ends, every flower can be a unique piece of garden art.
It only took about 10 minutes to put this together, not including drying time.
If you enjoyed this project you can find more repurposed flower projects on my blog here.
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Nmr65128676 on Feb 17, 2024
Things like this are so much fun to make... going to thrift stores looking for pieces and enjoying our efforts afterwards! Nice Tuula...
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Tuula - Color Me Thrifty on Feb 17, 2024
Thanks very much! The thrifting is definitely part of the fun.
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Susan Grekso on Feb 24, 2024
Adorable
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Tuula - Color Me Thrifty on Feb 24, 2024
Thanks Susan!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
How did you get the strainer handled off?
Any idea how to hook a solar light so the red candle jar will glow?
I don’t really have a question. I just wanted to tell you I think it is gorgeous!! I a wonderful way to reuse something that would normally be hidden in a box or thrown away. Kiddos to you!!