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How to… make quick & easy Plant Markers (with your kids)

25 March 2011 31 Comments

This is almost one those – you just need to see the photo “How To”s and the job is done… really, it is super duper quick an easy, you can embellish and dress them up or down as much as you like and really make them you. You can make these with kids (even a 1yrs old) or on your own. Make them as ladybugs and bees. Whatever takes your fancy:

Stone Plant Markers!

I made them, as I decide to rather randomly scatter my seeds this year in our very tiny front garden that catches all the sun. As I am trying to teach my son about how things grow, I thought it would be helpful if I knew what was growing where. No lollipop sticks to hand and hating those plastic white things (they always get lost), I hastly made these:

Materials: stones from the beach or stream, acrylics, marker pen.

About 6 months ago, Red Ted (then 2.5yrs) painted a whole bunch of stones. They have since been knocking about the garden and seem to have not lost too much of their colouring. So I grabbed them (as well as some lovely plain ones) and with a marker pen wrote on the different veg names. I suspect that the marker will come off eventually: but that is fine, rewrite them next year for your next season’s worth of plants. Don’t they look cute? I love the “texture” of how a 2yrs old paints – colours all mixed up and pretty. We will be making more for sure (may even make some bees and lady birds as mentioned above, but suspect that my kids may run off with those)!

(Also: these are a great way to re-inforce letters with small child: C is for C-arrot etc. Red Ted is really interested in letters and reading, so these are a great addition for our alphabet practice, which we do rather passively – i.e. as and when it arises and if Red Ted feels like it.)

Here is Pip Squeak (16mths) painting some more:

Her finished markers:

And placed outside:

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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31 Comments »

Catherine said:

These are beautiful! What a great colourful addition to the garden too! I know what we’ll be making this weekend – thank you!

# 25 March 2011 at 8:51 am

Isil said:

Great idea. I love these. Thanks!

# 25 March 2011 at 9:01 am

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Thank you! They are great for us, as my children are obsessed with painting stones and I am having to find lots of new ways to use them! Love all the colours in the garden…

Maggy

# 25 March 2011 at 11:14 am

QWERTY Mum said:

They look great x

# 25 March 2011 at 1:45 pm

Chris at Thinly Spread said:

Maggy that is a brilliant idea, we will be adopting this one!

# 25 March 2011 at 3:40 pm

Something for the Weekend (and Beyond) – Earth Hour | Thinly Spread said:

[...] 1. Quick and Easy Stone Plant Markers – Red Ted Art [...]

# 25 March 2011 at 4:07 pm

Anne@LittleSproutBooks said:

Love the look – afraid T would make off with them, but worth a shot – if he does we’ll have to figure out what we’re eating when it comes up!

# 26 March 2011 at 5:30 am

City Share said:

That’s such a great idea. Your son must be thrilled that he helped with the plant markers.

# 26 March 2011 at 11:15 am

Kerri said:

Great idea! Thanks so much for sharing!

Kerri

# 27 March 2011 at 1:52 am

becky said:

Love this ..simple fu t make and total child involvement. keep em coming Maggie oh and BTW you MUST readmy blog tomorrow Ha ha!

# 27 March 2011 at 8:34 am

Julia, KidsTravel2 said:

Great idea! We have just been busy in the garden and live near the beach so have plenty of pebbles to hand to test this out on – will give it a whirl!

# 27 March 2011 at 4:59 pm

JDaniel4's Mom said:

This is such a wonderful idea! They would look great in any garden.

# 27 March 2011 at 7:20 pm

Michelle Twin Mum said:

These are just like the best thign ever. I will have to get round to doing some.

Cheers Mich x

# 27 March 2011 at 8:31 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Sorry to late reply to all your lovely comments!! Have been away for the weekend (hooray). So pleased you like them… they really are super duper easy and lovely in the garden!

# 27 March 2011 at 8:34 pm

creativejewishmom/sara said:

love this one! thanks so much for sharing on Craft schooling Sunday, so wonderful to have you every week!

# 27 March 2011 at 10:23 pm

Bev said:

I meant to say the other day how much I LOVE this idea! I shall be searching out suitable stones now. Brilliant!

# 29 March 2011 at 7:15 pm

abbie said:

We are absolutely making these! Great idea. Thanks.

# 30 March 2011 at 1:00 am

camille said:

they look lovely, my children love painting rocks too, we did some little monsters in the autumn for the garden, they had a wonderful time

# 30 March 2011 at 8:51 am

Catherine said:

What a great idea! I’ve tried chopsticks and popsicle sticks but stones seem so organic. Thanks for sharing!

# 30 March 2011 at 1:27 pm

nicolette @ momnivores dilemma said:

Maggy-

Finally. A painting project I can trust my sons with! Thank You! We are avid gardeners, and I’m always looking for great markers…

I’d LOVE if you could share this with my readers tonight @Creative Juice Thursday. Party starts @ 7pm CST. Get your crafting shoes on. Hope to see you there…

# 31 March 2011 at 1:15 am

Pam said:

This one of those “smack your forehead why didn’t I think of that?” ideas. It is so windy here the traditional seed packet on a stick might last a week-if you are lucky. Thanks for the idea! Hmm. The baby’s still asleep…maybe I can make some before he wakes up!

# 31 March 2011 at 8:34 pm

Rachel said:

What a brilliant idea! I love those! And what fun for the kids too. Thanks for linking this up with For the Kids Fridays at Sun Scholars!

rachel @ SunScholars.blogspot.com

# 1 April 2011 at 1:32 am

Michelle Willow said:

This post has been featured in this week’s High paw! We decided to go with a theme Spring fun for toddlers theme and this fits perfectly!

Thanks for participating and hope to see you again!

# 1 April 2011 at 6:18 am

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Oh thank you Michelle!! V excited

# 1 April 2011 at 6:58 am

Kaye Swain said:

Hi, I popped over from 5 Minutes for Mom and their Ultimate Blog Party 2011. What a cool idea! Talk about easy crafts for kids (not to mention us seniors helping them.). And won’t my senior mom love this idea for her gardening projects. Very delightful visit. Thank you.

# 4 April 2011 at 3:56 pm

More Great Resources for the Sandwich Generation at the Ultimate Blog Party 2011 | SandwichINK for the Sandwich Generation said:

[...] and senior gardening with grandkids now that it's spring? Red Ted Art's Blog has some very easy and cute crafts for kids and all of us seniors that are perfect for our gardens. [...]

# 4 April 2011 at 9:03 pm