Springtime is on the horizon and this is the perfect time to get creative and work on some personalized lawn décor for your home. Why spend a lot of money buying the typical lawn and yard décor when you can create something that really speaks who you are?

I love lizards, no not the real ones, but creating some wild and colorful lizards for my yard. They truly look adorable and add some bright and brilliant colors to welcome guests and my family. Now, I know it may sound like a lot of work or too hard to make for a beginner, but if you take your time and enjoy yourself, you will see that it’s not that hard and is actually fun!


Using your scrap wood!

I know not everyone has scrap wood in their shed or garage, but if you do, then that is a perfect place to start. Don’t worry, if you don’t have any scrap wood, then you can go to your local Home Depot and such and obtain scrap wood. Ideal thickness for the lizards would be ½ inch. It can be plywood if that is what is available. As you start creating other projects, you start to build up stock of scrap wood. I suggest holding on to your scrap pieces because you never know when it will come in handy down the line.


Vision to paper.

There are books with really cute patterns you can get your lizards from or you may want to draw your own. Either way you will need tracing and carbon paper to plant your drawing onto you wood. Make sure before you start you have enough wood for both the body as well as the legs. You want the lizard to be dimensional rather than flat. It will have a better presentation and you will be glad you took the extra step. Make sure to sand your cut edges to ensure a smooth texture and to prevent slivers as well as an “unfinished look”.


Let your imagination run wild!

Now you have cut, sanded and are ready to apply color to your lizards. Don’t be afraid to use bright and bold colors. If you have a large yard and plan on hanging your lizards off your fence or even using a stake to place them within your yard, bright and bold colors will allow them not to get lost in the shuffle. Think outside the box and create something fun! Once you have painted the primary foundation color there are some creative techniques you can use for contrast such as sponging, splattering and patterns. For example, you may want to paint a bright Lime green (2 coats of course) and splatter some plum to make it brilliant and bold. If you are just starting out and have not acquired paints, you can buy sample size paints at your local hardware store to build your collection. They are very budget friendly and there are many colors available.

Once you have painted your lizards, let them dry overnight to ensure they are ready to be top coated. There are many top coats to choose from but I suggest a top coat that is make for outdoor/exterior use. Let it dry overnight and then lightly sand. Apply a second coat and dry overnight. Once you have achieved the look you desire, you are ready to display your new lizards!