Repurposed Badminton Birdies into Flowers
Garden Flowers from Repurposed Badminton Birdies
All summer long I enjoy real flowers in the gardens, and I can’t help myself from creating repurposed flowers to accompany them… like the flowers I’m sharing today made from badminton birdies.
I started with a $1 thrift store bunch of plastic badminton birdies with rubber bases.
The first thing I did was remove the black tape that was around the bases.
Creating Flowers from Badminton Birdies
Then I cut the plastic shuttles with scissors to create petals.
I pressed down to see if I could get a shuttle to open more. It just bounced right back into shape, so it was on to plan b.
I grabbed a couple of heavy books and placed them on top of the shuttles, and I left them for about 24 hours.
You can see the ones on the right that are done. I have two more under that big wildflowers book.
For the stems I’m using metal skewers that I found for $1. I pick these up whenever I see them at thrift stores. They’re great for repurposing projects.
You just need to straighten the bent end with some pliers, which is very easy to do.
Trimming Badminton Birdie Bases
So that the rubbers bases would fit inside the shuttles, I had to trim the bottoms a bit with an xacto knife.
Here you can see the difference in the bases.
They were definitely too wide without trimming.
Spray Painting Badminton Birdies
I spray painted the shuttles a lovely hot pink, the rubber bases a sunny yellow, and the metal skewers a deep green.
This is where you can customize the look by spray painting the shuttles and bases any colors you love.
Assembling the Repurposed Flowers
To put these flowers together poke the pointed end of the skewer through the bottom of the shuttle into the inside.
Then carefully press the skewer into the rubber base just a bit, and add some Marine Goop or E6000 glue onto the bottom of the rubber base and around the skewer.
Then guide the rubber base down into the center of the shuttle.
It might be a good idea to do a dry run to make sure you have the base in a good position and then push the skewer up, add glue, and put the base back in place.
Like so. Here you can see my five flowers after they sat for 24 hours to let the glue is cure.
It’s important to make sure you center the base inside the shuttle so you get a nice tight fit with the glue.
Displaying Badminton Birdie Flowers in the Garden
The fun thing about creating smaller flowers like this is you can add them to plants that have finished their flowering for the season, like this spring Phlox.
Supplies needed for this project
- badminton birdies
- metal skewers
- spray paint
- Marine Goop or E6000 glue
- pliers
- xacto knife
- scissors
Or this Pasque flower, which also blooms in the spring.
Borrowing the greenery of flowering plants that have already done their beauty duty for the gardening season is a great way to add some fun to your garden.
I think these would look great tucked into a planter, or you could even use them inside too.
Please pin to your favorite board.
Thanks so much for reading and until next time,
keep on keepin’ on!
XOX
So cute !! I will have to get some of these birdies to make some !! ?
Thanks Cindy!
What a cute idea for birdies! I have some ‘past blooming’ greenery areas that would be perfect for these ever-blooming flowers!
Those are so cool and since I don’t have a green thumb. ( I can start but never get them to grow) these would be perfect. lol thank you for sharing!
Thanks Amy! These would definitely fit the bill.
That’s awesome Pam! I hope you make some. 🙂
So sweet! Can’t wait till fall so I can get started in my yard and add these flowers! Not to mention 100’s of others I’ve saved from you!! Thanks girl! You always lift my spirits with your cheerful posts!
Thanks Dona! I can’t wait for that to happy for you too. You’ll have to much fun in your yard. 🙂
ADORABLE, I’ll never look at a badminton birdie the same way again! You always come up with the best ideas for garden junk flowers.
Thanks very much Marie! I think I pretty much see flowers everywhere. lol.
Hi Tuula, You always have the best ideas. And they’re doable too. I think flowers always brighten up the day. Thanx 4 sharing
Thanks Kaye! I totally agree with you. Flowers can brighten up any day.
These badminton flowers are adorable. I have made so many of your ideas, Tuula and here is another one to do. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Nancy! I’m so happy you’ve made some of my projects. That’s so awesome!
So Creative
Thanks Rebecca!
Oh my goodness, those are adorable!!
Tania
Thanks very much Tania!
how do you straighten the circle base of the skewers? love all the flowers!
Thanks Juli! I just used pliers to straighten them and it was very easy to do.
Hooray! A flower I can actually keep ‘alive”! Definitely no green thumb here! Thanks for idea!
You’re so welcome Diana!
I love all your makeover flowers. Please don’t stop making them. My backyard needs all the help I can give it. Thank you
Thanks Bobbie ! More flowers are coming this spring and summer so stay tuned. 🙂
Badminton birdies made me smile: ) In UK and Australia we call them shuttlecocks – doesn’t sound very nice after your name. Ha Ha
You are so clever – love your flowers.
Thanks Angela! That’s so interesting, but I agree with you about the name thing. lol.