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Plant images and names cut from a seed catalogues or magazines

Cardboard or balsa wood rectangles to match your images

Wooden tongue depressors, popsicle sticks or metal skewers as stakes to mount your plant tags and poke them to the ground

Elmer’s Glue-All or Mod Podge

Scissors

Small bowl of water

Prep surface:If you are using balsa wood, you may have to sand off any rough edges.
Do so gently to prevent splintering the wood. Then wipe away any dust with a damp sponge.

Decide if you want a colored background. The balsa wood showing through is really a nice look by itself – similar to old-fashioned orange crates. If you want color, apply two coats of acrylic paint, allowing a couple of hours drying time for every coat. If you'll find any rough spots, sand again; and wipe away any dust as before.

This is often a great tip from Durwin Rice. If you are using images with color on both sides (like from a catalogue or magazine), soak each image in a tiny bowl of water until it stops curling and floats freely without wrinkles.

This relaxes the paper fibers rendering it much easier to position the style cleanly about the decoupage glue/sealer. Images will slide easily into place and not be “grabbed” through the glue.

Liberally apply glue/sealer towards the area per image and slide the picture into place. Gently lessen any wrinkles or bubbles along with your fingertips.

Repeat until all your images and plant names will be in place.

Let dry thoroughly.

Check for bubbles when they dry. If some develop, smooth gently. If they are already set, pierce having a pin or craft knife, then smooth. It won’t even show when your piece is done.

Back (Optional):

Paint the back of each tag with two coats of acrylic paint.

Embellish (Optional):Use a wide nib pen to draw outlines, background patterns or border trims about the front. Run the pen throughout the edge to present a nice finished look.

Seal:

Using a sponge brush, apply at least two coats of acrylic-based polyurethane. Since the markers will be exposed for the elements, 3 to 4 can be better. You’ll also observe how additional coats give a special depth. discover this will be just like you hand-painted them!

Using appropriate glue or fasteners, attach each plant label tag to a stake.