Weathervanes - How to Make Your Own

Have you ever taken a drive through the country and seen all the weathervanes spinning in the wind. You may have thought it would be great to have special weather vanes in your yard. But, do you want the same kidn that everyone else has, or would you prefer something that is all your own?

Making weathervanes is not as difficult as you may think it would be.

First, you have to know what weathervanes are made out of. In this area, you have a lot of options. Many of them are made of copper, brass, or various other metals as well as wood.
Not everyone considers wood when it comes to weathervanes. But, wood is a material that can easily be used to create weathervanes in various sizes and shapes without too much know-how. If you want to have weathervanes of your own you may want to create them out of wood at first as it's a material that is generally easy to work with and cut into shapes.

Start with lighter pieces of wood and come up with a design you want to have yours to have. You need to transfer the designs to the piece of wood and then cut them out.

Now it's time to pull out some sandpaper and smooth down all the edges and portions of the weathervanes to make them look smooth.

You can paint or decorate at this point, or just leave the it in natural wood colors. If you are looking for more of a natural appearance, you may want to stain them, to give a little brighter look, plus a little protection from the elements. A layer of varnish won't hurt either.

If you aren't sure you can create the right balance in the base of the weathervanes, you can purchase a kit that will make things easier for you. Many craft stores have ready to go weathervanes kits that will allow you to create your own special weathervanes for the top of the setup.

Once you create your own weathervanes you have a few choices in how you want to put them to work. Many people use weathervanes in the house to decorate a country themed room or to enhance their décor. Others put the weathervanes where they should be, outside. They may be put in the garden, as a decoration around the plants. Or, if you want to go the traditional route, you can find instillation kits for them and attach them to the top of your garage, or a barn, if you have one.

Whether it's inside or outside, weathervanes can add a little bit of country to your home décor. Making your own weathervanes takes things to the next level of personalization.

By Jennifer Akre