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Patio Party

A living screen, tea light tree and festive chandelier for your Patio.

A Living Screen

Filled with colourful, healthy plants this pot rack is guaranteed to brighten up an ailing area of your patio. Should you wish to change the colours or theme of your patio all you need do is replace the plants with those appropriate for your new look.

What You Need

  • 3 maranti wood panels (865 x 222 x22mm)
  • 2 maranti beams (2400mm x 44mm x32mm)
  • 9 Clay pots (top diameter 160mm)
  • Full thread cut screws
  • Wood glue
  • Maranti wood filler
  • Woodoc 30 Exterior Wood Sealer

Step 1: Find the centre point of the three wood panels and mark a notch on both short edges, measuring 44 x 32mm to accommodate the support beams (see picture). Mark out the three circles, 150mm in diameter, on each beam, spacing them evenly with a 100mm gap between them. Use a jig saw to cut out the circles and notch and round off the square edges.

Step 2: Mark a point 100mm from the bottom of the support beams for the bottom shelf. Drill two pilot holes so that the screws are flush with the sides. Apply wood glue and screw the support beam into the shelf using the notches made earlier. Use this technique to continue attaching the shelves leaving 600mm between them.

Step 3: Use Maranti wood filler to fill in around the screws and leave to dry. Sand thoroughly and round off all sharp corners. Paint with two coats of Woodoc 30 Exterior Wood Sealer leaving time for drying between coats. Position the pots and plant up.

Tea Light Tree
A simple Christmas tree shape lit up with candles always adds festive cheer to any occasion and will be a delightful addition to your patio.

What You Need
Pine battens, 32mmx32mm as indicated
on the tree
2 x pine battens 400mm x 75mm x 42mm
for the base
1 dowel 100 x 12mm
2mm galvanised wire
8 tea lights
Wood glue
White universal undercoat

Step 1: Cut all timber according to the cutting list. Lay the vertical 1200mm length down and mark for the four horizontal branches. Mark out the top branch 160mm from the top and then the second, third and fourth with a 250mm gap between branches. Mark and cut a check out 32mm wide and 16mm deep in the vertical at each branch point. Do the same on each branch (cutting the check out in the centre of the branch), Apply wood glue and join the branches to the vertical. Press tightly together and remove excess glue. Allow to dry.

Step 2:  Cut a check out in the centre of both base pieces 37.5mm deep and 42mm wide. (You can shape the base as indicated, using a jig saw). Glue these pieces together to form the base and leave to dry. Using a 12mm speed bit drill a hole, 50mm deep into the bottom of the vertical and into the centre of the base. Glue the 100mm dowel into the hole in the vertical only. Place the protruding 50mm dowel into the hole in the base. Do not glue it into place, leaving the tree free to turn and be easily moved.

Step 3: Paint the tree with a universal undercoat and leave it to dry. To fix the glass tea lights on the ends, simply wrap galvanised wire around a pipe in a question mark shape and insert it into predrilled holes on the ends of the branches. Add the glasses and insert the tea light candles.

FESTIVE CHANDELIER
With a few simple products make this stunning chandelier.

What You Need
1 split woven edging panel
5 small plastic pot holders in red (11cm)
2 core 0.5mm ripcord
5 x straight down lights
5 x 10 watt halogen lamps
3-prong plug
2 x strip connectors
6 x cup hooks
2 x 2m chain
Electronic transformer for halogen lamps

Step 1: Saw off the legs and remove the top strip of the woven edge panel.

Step 2: Drill a hole in each plastic pot the diameter of the down light. Insert the down lights into the pots and position them under the panel. Thread the wires through the woven edging and staple them into position on the reverse of the woven edge panel. Join the lights to the strip connectors and then to the transformer using the ripcord. Once you have determined the distance of the light fixture from the electrical output, join the transformer to the plug with ripcord.

Step 3: Attach cup hooks to each corner of the edging and two into the ceiling and hang your light fitting from the chains.

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The Gardener