Do you grow a garden every year? I have made what can only be considered feeble attempts from year to year, and last year’s garden was my most expensive failure yet.

I have made a few different garden marker designs in the past, but each year I seem to need different markers since I am still searching for the unknown vegetable that can survive my gardening proficiency.

Anyhow this year, I am determined not to spend the money on healthy little plants only to bring them home to a short life of pain and suffering.

My plan, you are wondering? Well, seeds, of course! They are much less expensive than plants, and if they never sprout well, then I will be spared all the shame and guilt of watching a healthy plant whither away as I alternate between drowning it and drought-ing it.

It’s sort of a win-win if you think about it. On the one hand, I can pretend I am a proficient gardener in the spring. Because how hard can it be to put a few seeds in some soil? And then, in the fall, when nothing is growing in my raised garden beds, I can ignore them, which I am pretty good at doing except for when there are pitiful wilted plants eyeballing me.

Anyhow, since I found myself with all these pretty seed packs, they inspired this year’s garden markers.

Step 1 – Seed Packets

I started by selecting seed packets with pretty pictures of the vegetables but also considered their eat-ability and planting season. Contrary to want, it may sound like I am actually trying to find things that still have a merger chance of growing.

Next, I separated the seeds and the instructions, which I wish were a little more detailed. And set aside the pictures to be used for the markers.

Step 2 – Preparing The Cans

Like so many of my recent projects, this begins with aluminum cans. They are so versatile and easy to work with, and I keep coming up with new ways to use them.

For this project, we will use the flattened sheet portion of the can, and you will need one sheet for each marker.

If you would like more information on how I break down can into these four usable parts. Watch the video below.

And you can learn three different ways to flatten cans in this video.

Step 3 – Cutting and Folding

You will need a rectangular paper template that fits on the aluminum sheets. My template measurements are 3 1/4″ x 4 5/8″ with a 1 5/8″ x 2 1/2″ rectangular cut-out centered in the middle.

I used a little painter’s tape to hold the template in place and then cut around the outside edge of the template.

Once the aluminum pieces were cut, I used more painter’s tape and a metal ruler to fold back the edges on all four sides.

The painter’s tape holds the aluminum to the ruler to keep it from slipping. The ruler allows you to fold a straight edge along all the sides.

You can measure and mark the edges if you want. But I just eyeball about a 1/4 inch and then make the fold.

Step 4 – Embossing

You will want to make a beveled edge around the four sides of each marker. To do this, work on a pad and start with the printed side of the can facing up. Use the embossing to draw a line along the folded edge. Next, turn the piece over, switch to a hard surface, and reinforce the lines by drawing on the outside edge of the embossing and pressing the metal in the opposite direction.

You can stop there or continue with some decorative embossing around the edges of each marker.

Step 5 – Labels

I used the cut-out portion of the template to select the area I wanted to use from the seed packets.

Then I cut out the labels and used a glue stick to secure them to the aluminum pieces.

Step 6 – Stakes

I used a wire hanger cut into quarters with some nail-pulling pliers to make the stakes. I needed to straighten out two pieces, but it wasn’t as difficult as expected.

I used needle nose pliers to make a hook shape in one end to give me more surface area to glue to. Then I added some E6000 glue to the back of the labels and attached the wire hanger pieces.

Once the E6000 glue had time to set up, I added two coats of Americana’s DuraClear gloss varnish to seal the paper, hopefully.

I have used this sealer on outdoor pieces with acrylic paint, which has held up well. So I hope it will keep the paper sealed, at least for this growing season. 😊

Now I just need to get my little test subjects in the ground. If you would like more details on the project, check out the video tutorial at the top of this post.

If these garden markers aren’t; your style, here are two other options to try.

Happy Upcycling,

Cindy

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