Last year, I fell in love with these garden markers at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.
This weekend, I was inspired to create some of my own for our herb garden. First I lightly sanded paint sticks and then applied a coat of pre-stain wood conditioner (Mixwax Pre-Stain) to ensure the marker would absorb evenly.
I used a clear grid ruler (one of my favorite tools!) to lightly draw pencil lines as a writing guide. I wish I could write as lovely as the calligraphist who creates the markers for Monticello, but with the help of a calligraphy marker I just winged it. Make sure you allow time for the marker to set before erasing your pencil lines. I love the "Elegant Writer" calligraphy markers by Speedball Art.
The last step is to apply a coat of Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane as a sealant for added protection from moisture, rain and outdoor temperatures. I'm looking forward to placing these in our herb garden. When we have friends over for dinner and they ask what they can do to help, I'll often send them out to the herb garden to pick whatever I may need for our meal. Now they'll know just what herb they're searching for.
Supplies: Minwax products are available at The Home Depot. Elegant Writer calligraphy markers can be purchased at Michael's. A set of 4, with varying widths, is under $10.
