Design Happens

Mondays were made for MacGyvering! Since it’s summer, I figured that featuring some kind of natural element would be in order. These cool projects I spotted (primarily on Pinterest) all involve rocks you can find in your backyard, or bring home from a trip to a nearby beach, lake, creek or river. I’m not talking about pet rocks, although your kids might get a kick out of using this Rockin’ Pig as a doorstop or paperweight. Take a look at these stone-cold awesome ideas.

Green living guru Danny Seo shared these rock picture “frames” on his blog, Daily Danny. All you need are rocks and florist wire. Seriously! Maybe I’m partial to Danny’s work because I, too, am from Bucks County, PA (whut whut!), but I think this gallery would be ideal for displaying vacation snaps and postcards in a rustic home. You can check out more of Danny’s ideas on his blog or buy his book, Upcycling, which includes this project.

I’m including these adorable vegetable garden markers from Repeat Crafter Me in my roundup, in case you missed them on our blog when Farima first featured them as a Daily Delight. I love both the fact that they’re a seamless fit for a garden and the creative way the shapes of the stones lend themselves to veggie likenesses.

Have I mentioned I am in the midst of planning my wedding? Eeps! I’ve got an eye on my budget, which is why these nifty rock escort cards from the Barr Mansion Wedding by Francis Joseph Photography via Style Me Pretty are extra appealing to me right now. Plus, if you’re going for that organic vibe, it doesn’t get much more earthy than a rock!

How sleek and practical is this rock runner from Love U Madly? I feel like it belongs in a Zen garden or a fancy spa where you’d get a soothing facial and sip detoxifying tea. Man, that sounds so relaxing. I should probably make one of these so I can have that feeling every day. Check out the blog to get all the instructions.

Photo: Allan Mandell

This last one looks like a doozy, but I couldn’t leave it out because it’s so impressive. This pebble mosaic patio from Fine Gardening is based on a classic Persian rug design. You’d need a lot of rocks and a lot of patience to achieve the look, but the results are worth the effort.

Which of these rock crafts rocked your world? And is there some object you’d love to see featured in this column next week? Leave your suggestions in the comments!