Make A Coffee Can Herb Garden
by Katelyn Thomas
If you drink a lot of coffee, you probably have quite a few
metal coffee cans on hand. With just a little effort, you can make a useful and pretty handmade gift for your friends and
family.
First, wash out your can and peel off any labels. Next, apply a
coat of metal primer to your can. Let the primer dry thoroughly. Then, apply a coat of bright acrylic paint to the can.
Once your can is painted, you can decorate it. I like to apply
crackle medium and then add a top coat of color. This effect is beautiful if you paint a deep blue undercoat and a rich red
overcoat on your can.
You may want to rubberstamp bugs or garden tools onto the can
instead. To do this, use stamps that are flexible so that you can stamp onto the curved surface of the can. You can apply a
light coat of acrylic paint to the stamp and then press the stamp onto the can, carefully rolling the stamp so that the
whole image is stamped onto the can. If you mess up, don't worry. You can wipe the stamped image off the can and start
over.
Another great decorative technique for decorating cans is
decoupage. Use empty seed packets with pretty artwork or cut pictures from magazines and decoupage them to the can in an
attractive pattern.
Once your can is decorated, apply a coat of sealer to the
finished product. If you will use the can outside, you may want to let this coat dry and apply a second coat of sealer.
Now, you are ready to prepare your can for planting. Turn the
can upside down. Use a 3 inch nail and a hammer to poke drainage holes in the bottom of the can. Turn your can over and
fill it to just an inch below the rim with good potting soil.
Next it is time for you to decide which herbs you will be
planting in your can. Chives, basil, oregano, thyme and parsley all are great choices. Of course, you can also put a lovely
scented geranium in the can, instead.
As a finishing touch, add a tag with information about caring
for the herb and a few great recipes. It is easy to attach the tag with a simple florist pick.
Finally, consider other ideas for your coffee can. For
instance, instead of adding potting soil and an herb, add a garden trowel, gardening gloves, a packet of seeds, a box of
tea and a package of tea biscuits for do it yourselfers.
About The Author: For more gardening projects, information, and
articles, visit http://joyful-gardener.com
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