Call me impatient. I’m ready for spring. This time of year, I start doing things that I think will make spring come faster. Or at least make me feel closer to its beating heart. I’m snuggling up to spring, begging it to come out and play. Starting seeds inside is one thing, but I’m already thinking outside. For several years I’ve been gazing longingly upon herb pot markers–in stores, in catalogs, at craft booths at fairs and festivals. I can never quite bring myself to buy them because to buy markers for all the herbs I grow would be too expensive. So then I’m back to my popsicle stick markers. This year, I decided to make my own handcrafted markers–to feed my need to decorate my herb pots and my need to be frugal at the same time.
To make your own herb pot markers, all you need is some paint (I used acrylics), glue, twine, clear sealer, and some little craft wood pieces and square dowels. Square dowels are easy to use because they provide a flat surface to glue on the wooden marker. I got these little craft pieces in a bag of a dozen for under $2. You might be handy (or have access to a handy person) and cut them out from scrap wood yourself.
I painted the wood pieces with a base color and while that was drying, I tried out my penmanship. For each herb name, I practiced writing out the word based on the size of the marker and when I thought I had it right, transferred that by hand onto the painted wood piece. You might want to do this in pencil. I was feeling frisky so I did it in pen. Then using a fine brush, I painted over the penned lettering to make it more substantial. I used a clear acrylic sealer spray to protect the paint.
When everything was dry, I glued each marker onto a square dowel, tied a bit of twine on top (I love twine!), and poked it in a pot! WOW. Spring feels closer already…. (Shhh. There is NOT snow outside, there is NOT!) Now, for pocket change per marker, I can have all the decorative herb pot markers I want! No more popsicle stick markers. These are cute! I like things to be cute…. (Isn’t this old clay pot great, by the way? Worn out, banged up, even a little mossy on the outside. It’s a perfect shabby chic pot!! It’s my favorite one.)
Posted by Suzanne McMinn |
Permalink
More posts you might enjoy:
I doubt anyone is even a micro-percent as fascinated with what is happening up on top of this hill in the middle of nowhere as I am, but you can probably at least imagine that I am obsessed with it. It’s my fantasy, my future, and sometimes my nightmare. There is, I have discovered, a reason why people build houses close to the road instead of on top of hills. Or about twenty reasons.
But in spite of every problem, delay, and obstacle we’ve had to overcome (and are still overcoming), I’m not sorry. I love this house. I love the location, on our farm, on top of the hill, in the middle of nowhere. I love the privacy. I love the beauty. I love this house. I just want to MOVE INTO IT ALREADY. ::stomp foot::
Okay, fit over.
Wanna take a tour of the not-quite-finished house?
Come on in the front door…..
I love this room, love it. Look at all the light! There are windows everywhere in this room, including the open dormer window in the cathedral ceiling. The house has an open floor plan with the living room, kitchen, and dining room together in the main living space.
Here is part of the kitchen island. Which is not in the kitchen at the moment. It’s in the dining room, to be moved to the kitchen later. This is Steve-the-Builder. I think he was talking about the Obstacle-of-the-Day and I was saying something like, “I’m moving in on March 8th.” Because I think if I keep saying this, it will come true. He can do magic, I know he can.
This is the master bedroom. On March 8th, I’m going to bring a pillow and move in here.
The office is next to the master bedroom. It has walls of windows….
….and a door to the wraparound porch.
This is, hands down, the cutest room in the house with all its slanted roof lines. It’s the loft bedroom, Princess’s room. This is the windowseat.
Which opens up for storage under the seat.
This inset will have a built-in desk so she can study hard. Because she studies like a maniac. She loves to study. After we move in, I’ll explain to her what the word “study” means.
This is her closet, which has a closet behind the closet–a little door that goes to attic storage. I’m pretty sure this is how she is going to clean her room, by sweeping everything off her floor into the closet behind the closet.
This is the stairway outside the loft bedroom. There’s a neat cutout that looks down over the living room. Princess calls it her spyhole.
Here are the kitchen cabinets out on the back porch. Hunh. That won’t be very handy…..
One of the boys’ bedrooms downstairs.
This is the future den for the boys downstairs, and the current staging area and command center. This is where Steve-the-Builder plans super secret magic stuff to make sure I can move in on March 8th.
Did I mention I’m moving in on March 8th?
Posted by Suzanne McMinn |
Permalink
More posts you might enjoy:
25 Comments
Subscribe
