Thursday, April 26, 2012

How does your Garden Grow?


Is it time to start your garden for the year? Or is it still too cold at night?
Well, if you need some markers for the goods to come, here is an example of one you can make. No, I don't have Rhubarb planted, but wish I did.


Gather your supplies:
Empty Pop Can
     (I grew up in Buffalo, New York and that's what we call carbonated drinks)
Garden Gloves
Safety Glasses
Metal Cutters
Awl or Push Pin to make holes
Metal Brads
Foam Pad
Other items: Wire, Wire Cutters


Punch a hole in the can with the Metal Cutters


Cut the top off.  Cut down to the bottom and cut off bottom.


 It should look like this. Be careful~ this is when you can really cut yourself.


 Now trim off the part of the can that is curved so you are left with a somewhat flat piece.


Cut into the size pieces you want for your marker. About 3.5" x 4"


I used the Victoria Cuttlebug folder with my Cuttlebug and 2 B plates


to emboss the aluminum.


Round the corners. Cut a label from the scraps and round the corners.


 Poke a guide hole with awl and insert the brads.


Now you are ready to attach marker to your garden stake with some nails or wire.


I tried to match the pop can color to the veggie featured.  An orange can would be pretty for the carrots.


All this started when my friend Pam from Gingerbread Snowflakes suggested that the techniques used in making my aluminum flowers and wreath could be used in a garden format. 

Update: Please see Pam's blog post Recycled Aluminum Cans are Perfect Plant Markers

Monday, April 9, 2012

Cruise Project

Designed by Sharon Butterfield

Here is an example of a project we made on our cruise.  It was fun to work with the vinyl and etching along with using the sand we collected at our ports of call.

And it made it home in the checked luggage in one piece!