How to Make Beaded Garden Stakes Using Recycled Jewellery

Looking for a creative way to reuse broken jewellery or leftover beads? These beaded garden stakes are an easy DIY project that adds colour and sparkle to your garden. Made with threaded rods and upcycled materials, they're perfect for plant pots, garden beds, or as handmade gifts.

This project has been entered into the Colours of the Rainbow Contest because it's a vibrant way to bring new life to forgotten treasures using every shade in your stash!

Materials

1. 5mm threaded rod (cut to ~35cm or use pre-cut)
2. Glass door knobs with screw attachments
3. 5mm nuts and washers
4. Assorted beads (glass, wood, or metal – hole size 4.5–5mm)
5. Spacer beads for attaching charms
6. Charms (from old earrings, broken brooches, etc.)
7. Pliers
8. Optional: Epoxy resin, mica powder, silicone moulds for custom charms

Cut your threaded rod into 35cm lengths. File down the sharp ends to make them safe.

Tip: You can purchase pre-cut rods online to skip the cutting step.

Use pliers to hold the rod steady and screw the glass knob onto one end. This becomes the top of your garden stake.

Slide beads onto the rod beneath the doorknob. Add a spacer bead every so often—these will be used to hang charms later.

I used about 20 beads per stake, leaving a section of bare rod at the bottom to stick into the ground.

Using pliers, open the rings on your charms and connect them to the spacer beads. I used charms made from broken jewellery and chandelier pieces. You can customise this part as much as you like!

Once all beads and charms are in place, screw on a nut at the bottom to hold everything in place. Don’t over-tighten—this could crack your glass beads.

Want to go a step further? You can make your own charms using epoxy resin and silicone moulds.

1. Dust the mould with mica powder.
2. Mix and pour in epoxy resin (clear resin works best).
3. Let it cure for 24 hours.
4. Attach your resin piece to a bead or directly to the rod using glue or resin.

For mine, I made a steampunk-style dragonfly charm and highlighted the details with silver wax paste.

Want to see more tips, variations, and the full resin-making process?

Visit the full tutorial here → Unique Creations by Anita – Beaded Garden Stakes