DIY Glass Candlestick Totem Yard Art

Create a one-of-a-kind DIY glass candlestick totem yard art that uses recycled, glass candlesticks and plates that will grace your garden for years to come.

3-Season DIY Glass Candlestick Totem Yard Art

I love the idea of garden art. So when I visited family down south a few years ago, I was so surprised to find these beauties (see pics below). They are DIY glass garden totems made by my stepmom June.

What makes them so unique is that they are upcycled from old candlesticks, bud vases and glass plates and more. Many of these objects were either packed away and forgotten or bought very (very) cheap from thrift shops.

To assemble them is relatively easy. My dad made a jig with a stake to hold the totem upright, although you could easily “plant” a round metal stake into a pot of soil and assemble away.

Make sure that all the glass objects are clean. That is because you will be using permanent adhesive and you want to make sure that each piece sticks well.

And, speaking of gluing, allow your totem to “cure” or dry completely. This will ensure that your piece will last for years to come.

RELATED: Upcycled Garden Rake Wine Rack

Finally, because these totems are glass, you don’t want to leave them outside over winter. Glass by it’s very nature doesn’t like fluctuating temps–especially like those we experience in the Midwest. So bring them in when it’s fall and pack them well, and when the frost has gone in the spring, bring them out again.

Here’s how to create one-of-a-kind glass totems for your garden:

Supplies You’ll Need

crystal candlestick

glass bud vase

glass salad plates

flat clear glass marbles

Or, try these other ideas…

Glass Taper Holders

Votive Tea Light Holders

Tea Light Candle Adapters

Decorative Goblets or Crystal Glassware

Shot Glasses

China Tea Plates

China Teacups

Instructions

1. Start by turning your bud vase upside down.

2. To this, glue a glass plate (face down) on top with either Gorilla Clear Epoxy or Clear Goo Glue.

3. Next, glue a candle stick to the plate, and follow with glass beads for a finishing touch.

To place in your garden, pound in a round stake and place the totem (bud vase first) over the stake. See images below.

Samples of Garden Totems

Here are examples of DIY garden totems. The first three were made by my stepmom, June. As you can see, they are a mix of clear and colored glass and yet are so beautifully made.