Craft Charming Copper Garden Stakes: Rooster, Pig & More

Transform simple copper sheeting into whimsical garden stakes inspired by antique weather vanes. Each piece is cut, hammered for a distressed patina, and mounted on wooden stakes. Finished sizes: rooster (13½"×15"), pig (10"×15"), arrow (14"×4"), sandpiper (9"×15").

Materials Needed (Per Figure)

• 18"×20" heavy copper sheeting
• 30" length of 1½"-wide wood lath
• Three ¾" brass bolts with nuts
• 9" of ⅜" jute rope (pig's tail)
• Scrap of ¾" dowel
• Sandpaper, tin snips, saw, drill & bits
• Tracing paper, screwdriver, wrench, hammer
• Polyurethane (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cut shapes. Enlarge pattern until 1 square = 2 inches. Transfer to tracing paper, trace onto copper, cut with tin snips.
2. Cut stake arrows. One per figure.
3. Sand edges. Smooth all rough edges.
4. Distress copper. Hammer randomly for weathered look (optional).
5. Create pig's tail. Drill indicated hole. Tie dampened rope to pig; wrap around dowel until dry for curl.
6. Assemble. Cut stake ends diagonally. Position figure with 2" stake extending below. Drill through both copper and wood. Fasten with bolts and nuts.
7. Finish. Brush on polyurethane or let age naturally to verdigris.

Enlarge patterns on a copier or draw a 2×2-inch grid to transfer designs by hand.