Are you an avid gardener or perhaps you know one? This adorable craft, made from a recycled vegetable can, is perfect for the green thumb in your life. Makes a lovely addition to your gardening table, porch or patio, and makes a thoughtful gift.
What You Need
clean and dry vegetable can
15-18 mini craft sticks
miniature straw hat
white felt
Liquitex Basics Gesso*
acrylic paint: light blue, green, pink, purple, yellow, red and white
hot glue gun
small paintbrush
large paintbrush
cotton ball
scissors
acrylic sealer spray
Take a sheet of white felt and wrap it around the can to judge the size. Make note of any overage that wraps around and trim. You want to leave only a small amount of overlap. Set felt aside.
Use the large paintbrush to paint the outside of the can with one coat of Gesso. Allow to dry.
*Gesso is a craft medium that allows the paint to adhere better and will require less coats of paint. Gesso can be found in the art section of craft supply stores. If you don't have Gesso, white acrylic paint can be used as an alternative.
Lay the miniature craft sticks out flat on a piece of newspaper. Paint with white craft paint and let dry. Repeat for a second coat, however painting only one side is required as the back side will face the can and not be seen. Let dry completely.
Paint the top half of the can with light blue paint and the bottom half with green.
When can is dry dip a cotton ball into the white paint. Dab off the excess paint and pounce clouds onto the blue area of the can.
Use the handle end of the smaller paintbrush to add flowers. Dip the handle into the pink paint and dot onto the can. Dot colors in clusters all around the can. Let dry completely.
From a sheet of felt, cut two long strips about 1/2" wide. Lay strips onto work surface, one above the other, and place white craft sticks on top to see what your fence will look like. Once you are happy with the placement of your pickets, glue them to the felt with hot glue gun. Construct entire fence, we will add it to the can in a later step.
Use the handle end of the paintbrush to dot flowers onto some of the white pickets as if they were peeking through or growing up the fence.
Use the small paintbrush to add grass blades to the bottom of the fence pickets. Let the paint dots on both the fence and the can dry completely before continuing to the next step.
When can is completely dry, lay the can on its side and place the fence on to the bottom half. Once it is positioned where you want it, use hot glue to attach it to the can.
Sgtand can upright and glue the miniature straw hat to the top of one of the pickets.
About the Author:
Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children. She is the Chief Editor of FamilyCorner.com Magazine. Subscribe to her free newsletter by clicking "sign up" below
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