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Jul 25, 2011 8:22 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sally
Wesley Chapel. FL (Zone 9a)
Tip Photographer Birds Tropicals Plant and/or Seed Trader Ponds Orchids
Hummingbirder Garden Art Region: Florida Container Gardener Cat Lover Butterflies
Thanks everyone. Smiling I've made a few other garden stepping stones, some garden dangles and windchimes but my favorite things that I make are the toad homes. Here are a few of them.
Thumb of 2011-07-25/Sossman/d66a55 Thumb of 2011-07-25/Sossman/587afe
Last edited by Boopaints Jul 25, 2011 11:43 AM Icon for preview
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Jul 25, 2011 8:23 AM CST
Name: Sandi
Austin, Tx (Zone 8b)
Texas Gardening
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Plant Identifier Master Gardener: Texas
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Those are too cute!!!
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Jul 25, 2011 8:28 AM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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Those are just adorable!
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Jul 25, 2011 8:34 AM CST
Name: Charleen
Alford, Florida (Zone 8a)
Walk in Peace / I'm Timber's Mom.
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Can you give us a tutorial on the toad house??? Sally??? those are so cute....
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Jul 25, 2011 8:39 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sally
Wesley Chapel. FL (Zone 9a)
Tip Photographer Birds Tropicals Plant and/or Seed Trader Ponds Orchids
Hummingbirder Garden Art Region: Florida Container Gardener Cat Lover Butterflies
The toadhomes are very basic but cutting the door is a pain.

These are made with a 4" terracotta pot, the saucer for it, and a tiny craft terracotta pot for the chimney.

I cut the door using my dremel tool.....that was the most time consuming part of it. If you soak the pot overnight in water, it makes cutting a bit easier.

Once the door is cut, I spray painted the pieces with exterior paint. Once dry, assemble and glue together. I used Goop as my glue.

I decorated the pots with rub on transfers, then added a few coats of clear acrylic to seal them.

Place them out in the garden where you hope to get a family of frogs, toads or, as in my case, the occasional lizard. Smiling Let me know if any of the instructions aren't clear enough.
Last edited by Boopaints Aug 6, 2011 4:24 PM Icon for preview
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Jul 25, 2011 8:47 AM CST
Name: Chris
Ripon, Wisconsin
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Seller of Garden Stuff I sent a postcard to Randy!
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Sally they're all so cute. That stepping stone is such a wonderful idea for the little critters!
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Jul 25, 2011 9:16 AM CST
Name: Candee Gaye
Western Maryland
Been there, done that!
Charter ATP Member Gardens in Buckets Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Vegetable Grower Tropicals Garden Ideas: Level 1
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Those toad houses are terrific, great job and great colors.
“If you feel you’re being picked on, you should talk to the flowers in my garden!” ~ cgl
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Come visit us at Floral Design - [url]http://garden.org/forums/view/floraldesign/[/url]
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Jul 25, 2011 9:34 AM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Butterflies Bee Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
Yep, those "Toad Abodes" are absolutely adorable! I sure wish I had the talent for such creativity. Alas, I don't have steady hands, can't even draw a straight line much less paint! I even tried stenciling once and managed to mess that up. Rolling on the floor laughing Guess my Toad Abodes will have to just remain undecorated broken terra cotta pots.

Thumb of 2011-07-25/plantladylin/5342d6
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


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Jul 25, 2011 10:30 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Vicki
North Carolina
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Region: United States of America
Purslane Garden Art Region: North Carolina Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Oh, I LOVE all these new photos!! Hurray! Hurray!

Thank you so much for sharing them.... Thumbs up

Isn't this just the BEST place to be??? Big Grin Big Grin
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Jul 25, 2011 11:29 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Becky (Boo)
Phoenix, AZ 85022
finding joy one day at a time!
Charter ATP Member Forum moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Art Purslane Garden Ideas: Master Level
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I am loving these little houses Sally! We're so happy you found us! Hurray! I'm going to have to make one. I think I will just paint my door...I don't have the cutting tools.
I split your thread Sally...I wanted these to have some better exposure!

Boo............running off to find some flower pots!
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Last edited by Boopaints Jul 25, 2011 11:44 AM Icon for preview
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Jul 25, 2011 11:54 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Vicki
North Carolina
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Region: United States of America
Purslane Garden Art Region: North Carolina Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Thank you for the new thread Becky Thumbs up
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Jul 25, 2011 12:44 PM CST
Name: Robin
Pittsburg, MO
I sent a postcard to Randy! I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member Garden Ideas: Level 1 Garden Art Birds
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Great houses, I had one at the other house and when I took it over to be put on the truck someone knocked it over and broke it big time. Now it's at the bottom of Xena's feet. It was a pot that had a broken area out of it, but the toads still used it. Did you use the cutting bit or the grinding bit?
Save the planet, it's the only one with chocolate.
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Jul 25, 2011 1:23 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sally
Wesley Chapel. FL (Zone 9a)
Tip Photographer Birds Tropicals Plant and/or Seed Trader Ponds Orchids
Hummingbirder Garden Art Region: Florida Container Gardener Cat Lover Butterflies
I used the tile cutting bit. First I took a pill bottle of the proper size to draw the door out (I'm not real good with free form). Then, after soaking the pot over night, I first scored the line and then just started cutting. I used the same bit to smooth out the edges once i got the door cut out.....don't want those little guys to hurt themselves going in or out??? :)

Here's a picture of another one I did.
Thumb of 2011-07-25/Sossman/1472fd
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Jul 25, 2011 1:26 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Becky (Boo)
Phoenix, AZ 85022
finding joy one day at a time!
Charter ATP Member Forum moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Art Purslane Garden Ideas: Master Level
Region: Southwest Gardening Enjoys or suffers hot summers Region: United States of America Birds Hummingbirder Container Gardener
Oh my gosh....so adorable!

I live currently in an apartment with a studio-office and a bedroom. Oh and the other rooms you need to live in. Rolling on the floor laughing But I don't think the toads will hop up to my balcony so I guess painting will be okay until I finish school and buy a small home again. I could then have someone cut it out.

Is that a real frog? it looks real to me. Do you ever get started when something comes out of the door?
ALL THINGS PLANTS ~ Garden Art ~ Purslane & Portulaca ~
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Jul 25, 2011 1:56 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sally
Wesley Chapel. FL (Zone 9a)
Tip Photographer Birds Tropicals Plant and/or Seed Trader Ponds Orchids
Hummingbirder Garden Art Region: Florida Container Gardener Cat Lover Butterflies
He's not a real frog, just a little ceramic one I picked up for demonstrations when I sell them. I did get startled just this morning when I had to move one of the houses out by my pond. We were putting an arch up over the garden pond and the toad home was in the way. I picked it up and a lizard ran out! After my heart quit racing, I felt quite proud that something was actually making use of them. Smiling
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Jul 25, 2011 2:19 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Becky (Boo)
Phoenix, AZ 85022
finding joy one day at a time!
Charter ATP Member Forum moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Art Purslane Garden Ideas: Master Level
Region: Southwest Gardening Enjoys or suffers hot summers Region: United States of America Birds Hummingbirder Container Gardener
Rolling on the floor laughing Well, I think they are adorable!
ALL THINGS PLANTS ~ Garden Art ~ Purslane & Portulaca ~
MY CUBITS ~ Trust in the Lord ~
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Jul 25, 2011 2:26 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Vicki
North Carolina
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Region: United States of America
Purslane Garden Art Region: North Carolina Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
That is darling! Thumbs up
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Jul 25, 2011 6:26 PM CST
Name: AnjL/Annmarie Leslie
Olympic Penninsula, WA (Zone 8a)
Tiny home+huge yard=happy heart!
Charter ATP Member I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Miniature Gardening Bulbs Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: United States of America
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I agree adorable! no frogs here tho Sad might still make one just in case a lost froggie needs some overnight lodging Whistling
All the coffee in Columbia will never make me a morning person!
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Jul 25, 2011 6:27 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Becky (Boo)
Phoenix, AZ 85022
finding joy one day at a time!
Charter ATP Member Forum moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Art Purslane Garden Ideas: Master Level
Region: Southwest Gardening Enjoys or suffers hot summers Region: United States of America Birds Hummingbirder Container Gardener
I think a painted door will keep critters out of my flower pot house!
ALL THINGS PLANTS ~ Garden Art ~ Purslane & Portulaca ~
MY CUBITS ~ Trust in the Lord ~
MY WEB SITE ~ Joyful Times Today
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Jul 25, 2011 10:37 PM CST
Name: Pegi Putnam
Norwalk, Ca. zone 10b
Charter ATP Member Region: California Cat Lover Container Gardener Dog Lover Garden Art
Plumerias Region: United States of America Vegetable Grower
I just love those toad houses, no frogs or toads here either, but I've seen a few lizards. Maybe I should just paint the door as Boo said she would do, don't have to have a panic attack if "something" runs out. Smiling Ah, now I've caught on to some of the cute paintings, transfers. I may have to do this project too, I just don't have enough time left to do everything. So glad Dave started this site, so in love with it already. Hurray!

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