Make a Homemade Garden Sign and Plant Labels

Most of the time, the plants take center stage in a garden. Every once in a while, a little bit of decor is added for some structural interest. Here's one DIY gift that is practical and will add a little pizzazz to the garden. 

You will need a wood board; large popsicle sticks or wood shims; a wood burning tool; metal stamps (optional); ruler; pencil; and a printed template.  To begin, use a word processing program to design the wording of your sign. Pick a font that is simple; this will make it easier to trace. 

Use the ruler to find the midpoint of the wood board and draw a line down the center. This will help you line up the template. Lay the paper template over the top of the board, making sure its in the desired position. Use a metal fork (or in my case, the pencil tip that was included in my woodburning kit) to trace around the letters on the template. Press down firmly. You want to leave an impression in the wood.

Trace along the impressed letters on the wood board with a pencil. This is going to help you see better when you start to burn the wood.