Everyone is mad about gardening and gardens at the moment. And, if you’ve been looking for new ideas to add some more creativity and unique character to your garden, here’s a list of some of my favorite and easy crafts for gardens.
Plastic Spoon Garden Markers
Materials you’ll need:
- Four plastic spoons
- Sandpaper
- Paintbrush
- Toothpick
- Micron fine point black art pen
Instructions on how to make the Plastic Spoon Garden Markers:
Step 1:
Start by sanding each spoon and then paint them with a thin coat of paint, leaving the bottom 3 –inches of the handle unpainted – that’s the one spot of the spoon that will go into the soil. And, once the paint dries off, apply a second coat and let it dry completely.
Step 2:
With the help of a micron art pen, write the names of herbs, plants or flowers on the spoon. You can also use a toothpick to dot on designs, using all kinds of color paints. Then, set them aside to let them dry.
Important note: Remember to let them dry for a full 48 hours before exposing them to outdoor elements like sunlight.
Recycled Key Garden Markers
Materials you’ll need:
- Recycled Keys
- Colorful Sharpie permanent markers
- Outdoor sealer spray
- White indoor/outdoor spray paint
Instructions on how to make Recycled Key garden markers:
Step 1:
Start by using an old shower curtain (to protect the lawn) and then lay all the recycled keys over it. With the white spray, paint all the recycled keys and add a satin finish. Spray them on one side and then set them aside. Once the paint is dried off, flip them over and spray on the other side.
Step 2:
Now, trace the shape of each key onto paper (this technique would help you better understand what to write on each key). And, then write out the names of the plants, herbs or flowers on the paper to see what fits the best on each key.
Step 3:
Once you are set with your choices, add the words and designs on the keys using colorful Sharpie permanent markers.
Painted Rock Garden Markers
Materials you’ll need:
- Patio Paint or outdoor craft paint in various colors
- Paintbrushes
- Smooth rocks
- Black paint marker or Sharpie
- Pencil or toothpick
- Clear outdoor sealer or patio paint clear coat
Instructions on how to make Painted Rock Garden markers:
Step 1:
First and foremost, if you are going to make garden markers with stones, make sure you use only the smooth ones. And, such stones can easily be found in a craft store or in your own garden.
Step 2:
With a piece of paper, try to map out which rocks you’ll be using for which plant. It’s obvious that some larger rocks would be required for plants with several numbers of letters in their names. So, that’s why this step – the planning step- is important.
Step 3:
Once you’ve painted the top of each rock with patio paint, set them aside to dry. After the paint has dried, immediately apply a second coat. And, remember don’t paint the bottoms as they’ll be facing the earth.
Tip: You can place the painted rocks on a foam board and arrange them in the same order as you planned on the paper.
Step 4:
For this step, i.e., writing the plant names on the rocks, you could either use colorful Sharpie markers or opt for a DecoArt glass paint marker.
Note: If you are using Sharpie, make sure you give a full one hour for it to dry.
Step 5:
Now it’s decoration time!
The handle end of a large paintbrush can be used to dot on several spots in different colors. A smaller paintbrush handle can be used to create smaller dots. And, then add tiny white dots to accentuate the larger dogs with the help of a toothpick (or you could also use the tip of a pencil).
Let the rocks dry for 3-4 hours.
