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Decoupage Plant Markers
by: Eileen Bergen
Here's a quick and easy Spring decoupage project to make for yourself or
friends who garden.
Materials
Plant images and names cut from your seed catalogues or magazines
Cardboard or balsa wood rectangles to fit your images Wooden tongue
depressors, popsicle sticks or stainless steel skewers as stakes to
mount your plant tags and poke them into the ground
Elmer's Glue-All or Mod Podge
Scissors
Small bowl of water
Acrylic paint (optional)
Prepare surface
If you are using balsa wood, you may need to sand off any rough edges.
Do so gently to avoid splintering the wood. Then wipe away any dust with
a damp sponge.
Decide if you want a colored background. The balsa wood showing through
is a nice look by itself – kind of like old-fashioned orange crates. If
you want color, apply two coats of acrylic paint, allowing two hours
drying time for each coat. If there are any rough spots, sand again; and
wipe away any dust as before.
Decoupage
This is a great tip from Durwin Rice. If you are using images with color
on both sides (like from a catalogue or magazine), soak each image in a
small bowl of water until it stops curling and floats freely without
wrinkles. This relaxes the paper fibers making it much easier to
position the image cleanly on the decoupage glue/sealer. Images will
slide easily into place and not be "grabbed" by the glue.
Liberally apply glue/sealer to the area for each image and slide the
image into place. Gently smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles with your
fingertips.
Using a damp sponge, wipe over the image and around the edges to remove
any stray glue.
Repeat until all your images and plant names are in place.
Let dry thoroughly.
Check for bubbles while they dry. If some develop, smooth gently. If
they are already set, pierce with a pin or craft knife, then smooth. It
won't even show when your piece is done.
Back (Optional):
Paint the back of each tag with two coats of acrylic paint.
Embellish (Optional):
Use a wide nib pen to draw outlines, background patterns or border trims
on the front. Run the pen around the edge to give a nice finished look.
Seal
Using a sponge brush, apply at least two coats of acrylic-based
polyurethane. Since the markers will be exposed to the elements, three
or four would be better. You'll also see how additional coats add a
special depth. Your markers will look as if you hand painted them!
Mount
Using appropriate glue or fasteners, attach each plant label tag to a
stake.
About the author
By: Eileen Bergen is The Artful Crafter. Visit her on the web at
www.theartfulcrafter.com
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