These DIY chalkboard style garden containers add a minimal and slightly industrial look to your backyard kitchen or vegetable garden. Perfect for your urban or small space outdoor decor.
Hello friends! I hope you’ve been enjoying the beginning of summer weather wherever you are. I’ve been out in the yard a few times, puttering around and continuing to give it a new look. If you remember, a couple of years ago we had all the ash trees... All. The. Trees. ... removed from one side of our yard due to the Emerald Ash Borer. I wrote about it in this post about DIY Birdseed Ornaments.
So when our yard was suddenly transformed from a secluded shady retreat to a wide open sunny space, I struggled to know what to do with it. Opportunity knocked when I had two photography gigs for urban backyard gardens, and I decided to set it up in the now sunny corner of the yard. Making lemonade, in a way...
I added our usual containers of herbs to the location too. Container gardens are an easy and useful way to incorporate a bit of kitchen gardening to your backyard and a great project to do with kids. In the past these have been an “eclectic" collection of pots scattered around the deck and patio. But now that they were all together it seemed like they deserved a little makeover.
I started by spray painting all the old containers with a matte black paint. I credit Shauna of Satori Design for Living for this idea. Likely black is not what she had in mind when she suggested it, since she’s a much more cheerful and colourful person than me #truth but that’s the way I roll. (Check out her blog for lots of beautiful design and decor!)
To add to the chalkboard style look I stencilled white letters onto the top corner of each container to label what was planted in each. Herbs, tomatoes and mint. You know that you should always plant mint in a container, right? If you let it loose it will take over the world and you’ll be drinking mojitos for the rest of your life. #goodidea #badidea
I used white acrylic craft paint and cardboard stencils, the same process as when I painted this rustic sign for our entryway, and also this monogrammed tray.
Method:
1. Spray paint the outside of the container with a matte black exterior quality spray paint like this one. Allow it to dry completely.
2. Using painter's tape, attach letter stencils to form the words of your choice to the upper left corner of the container. (I used these cardboard ones and have been able to re-use them several times.)
3. Pour a small amount of white acrylic craft paint onto a disposable surface, like a foil pan or paper plate.
4. Using a small foam brush, stipple the paint over the stencils until the letter is completely filled, being sure to get into all the corners.
5. Carefully remove the stencils. Allow to dry completely before planting the container, or watering already planted gardens.
Anyway, now my little corner looks co-ordinated and cute. I think it was a great way to make use of our now sunny space, at least until the replacement trees start providing a little shade, probably a few years from now, or decades. What do you think? Are you inspired to give a corner of your yard a makeover too?
Till next time,
xo andrea
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