Family Encyclopedia >> Home & Garden

How to make a crown out of a bicycle wheel, coral and starfish

This beach-worthy wreath took little time and money to make. An old bicycle wheel was adorned with coral and starfish. You can dress your crown with almost anything, use your imagination.

Materials and tools:

Wrench
glue gun
sewing needle
garden shears and cutters
reclaimed bike rim
coral fans (10 to 12)
large starfish (3)
sticky spray
blue and silver spray paint
silver and clear glitter
transparent thread

Clean the border

Unbolt the sprocket group, remove the protruding bolts and leave the hub. Clean the bicycle tire.

Paint the border

Spray paint the rim of the bike blue.

How to make a crown out of a bicycle wheel, coral and starfish

Paint and Gloss

Spray silver coral fans and let dry. Then spray them with tacky spray and sprinkle silver glitter on them. Tip: Go heavy on the glitter because some will come off.

How to make a crown out of a bicycle wheel, coral and starfish

Add Coral

Use scissors or garden shears to cut the bottoms of the coral fans so you can fit them under the sprockets. Cut the coral fans to create your screen. (You may need to re-brighten the fans a bit.)

How to make a crown out of a bicycle wheel, coral and starfish

Hold coral

Once in place, gently twist the rim around and glue the bottom (back of the sprocket) to hold the coral fans in place.

Add starfish

Spray sticky glue on the starfish. Sprinkle them with a clear glitter, then glue them over the coral fans.

How to make a crown out of a bicycle wheel, coral and starfish

Set starfish

Place all three and paste below. If you think the glue won't be enough, use the sewing needle and clear thread to secure the starfish and coral to the back of the spokes.

How to make a crown out of a bicycle wheel, coral and starfish

Joanne Palmisano is the author of Salvage Secrets (W.W. Norton, September 2011). Visit her blog, also called Salvage Secrets. .