I decided to make this little garden sign for my herb garden after I noticed a couple of toads living in there. I have since found out that toads in the garden are a good sign because it means rich soil and healthy plants. I love that the toads keep the bugs out of my herb garden as well, but at first I was a little worried for them.
Click for larger view
You see I thought that they might be trapped in my little garden and had no way to escape. I have a small herb garden in a brick planter outside my door.
Click for a larger view
The planter is tall, comes up to my waist, and originally held bushes as you can see from these before and after pictures.
Click for a larger view
You can also see that the planter butts up against my front yard. So I figured that the toad may have hopped down in there and wasn’t able to hop back out again.
Click for larger view
So I watched for several days, each day seeing the toad. Then one day it was gone.
It was three days before it returned, and this time it had company, now there were two!
This photo and the one above it were taken today. There’s only one toad today. Looks are deceiving though, this toad is only about 3 1/2 inches long, though I know in the picture he looks much bigger.
Click for larger view
I grow herbs that I use in my recipes such as winter savory, flat leaf (Italian) parsley, green thyme, lemon thyme, English thyme, oregano, boxwood basil and Thai basil. I also have a lemon balm plant, but simply let it grow there as the leaves are only really good for tea. Having the toads in the garden has kept them bug free. Very happy about that!
Click for a larger view
So with the worrying out of the way, knowing that they were able to come and go as they pleased, I set about the task of creating an herb garden sign. I don’t really have an ideal space for a vegetable garden, so I’ve thrown some tomato plants, a bell pepper plant and some cucumbers in where my front bushes are and they seem to be thriving just fine.
So on my sign I have an arrow pointing to my vegetables, another one to my herbs, and finally the welcome slat.
There are full printable instructions below. Oh, and if you’re curious about the garden markers I made from recycled keys, you can see them here on FaveCrafts.
click for larger view
Basically you take three jumbo craft sticks, cut the ends to make the arrows, and paint them. Paint a dowel too, about 1/3 of the way down.
click for larger view
Use Sharpie markers to write the words. I write on a piece of paper first to practice how I want it to look and to make sure it fits.
click for larger view
Then draw a few lines for stems, and dot on some flowers using a toothpick.
click for larger view
A little sanding, some Hard Coat Mod Podge, and E6000 later and you’re done!
I hope you enjoyed my sign and the little trip through my limited garden. It works for me. :)
- 3 jumbo craft sticks
- 12" wooden dowel
- Scissors
- Sandpaper
- Mod Podge Hard Coat
- E6000 glue
- Toothpick
- Sharpies (gray, brown, black)
- Paintbrush
- Espresso
- Foliage Green
- Celery Green
- Avocado Dip
- Warm White
- Lavender
- Pineapple
- Mint Julep Green
- Cut one end of a jumbo craft stick into an arrow. Repeat for a second craft stick, leaving the third in tact.
- Sand off any rough edges and smooth both sides.
- Paint the craft sticks using Foliage Green (Toads Welcome), Celery Green (Herb Garden), and Avocado Dip (Vegetables). Paint ⅓ of the dowel with Espresso.
- Use Sharpies to write Fresh Vegetables, Herb Garden and Toads Welcome on the craft sticks.
- Use a Sharpie to draw simple stems on the welcome slat, to the left and to the right. Use a toothpick dipped in Mint Julep Green to add leaves to the stems. Use a toothpick to dot on flowers using Warm White, Lavender, and Pineapple.
- When dry, sand the edges of all the craft sticks to give them a worn look and lightly run the sandpaper across the words for the same reason.
- Apply two coats of Mod Podge Hard Coat the craft sticks and the dowel, waiting an hour in between coats.
- Use E6000 glue to attach the craft sticks to the dowel.
Amanda Formaro
Latest posts by Amanda Formaro (see all)
- Glowing Jack O Lantern Jars - August 10, 2017
- 20 Uses for Prescription Pill Bottles - August 9, 2017
- Paper Bag Scarecrow - August 7, 2017
What do you cut the wooden sticks with?
I just used scissors
what fun homemade garden signs! now I just need to start a garden…
Oh, how cute. :) Love your pretty garden, and the stakes are adorable!
Thank you Amanda!
I Love this Sign! So Cute! Have to make one. Thanks. You have so many Nice Crafts.
One of my girls’ favorite books is Frog and Toad. They would love this in our container garden!