Ages 5 to 8
I have the most ungreen thumb that you can possibly imagine—except when it comes to herbs. Herbs I can do. To make these Personalized Herb Pots I start with terra cotta pots—the cheapest available—and make them my own. Creating personalized art is so much fun (try making the Watercolor Initials as well), and these Personalized Herb Pots are also a great craft for teaching kids about gardening.
by Cate O'Malley
What you'll need
- terra cotta pots (get the ones with a drain hole in the bottom)
- chalkboard paint
- chalk (stolen from the kids' art box!)
- herb plants (I bought a few starters from a local nursery for under two bucks a pop)
- paint brush
- newspaper (to protect your surfaces from painting)
Helpful Tip:
These make awesome gifts for a new homeowner or apartment dweller, or just as a Happy Spring present.
If I'm giving it as a gift, I usually tie a pretty ribbon around the rim of the pot and give two or three pots together.
Take it one step further and put oregano and basil pots in a napkin-lined basket, add a box of spaghetti, a loaf of fresh bread and tomato sauce, and you have a complete dinner for the new neighbor that just moved in or the new mom around the corner. This is definitely a gift that keeps on giving!
Chalkboard paint doesn't always look especially smooth when it goes on, but trust me, it works itself out.
How to make it
1. Gather together all of your materials.
2. Wipe off your pots with a dry paper towel to make sure the surfaces are clean and dry.
3. Paint the pots with the chalkboard paint. Paint the bulk of the pot first, and let it dry bottom up.
4. When the pot is dry, turn it back over and go back and paint the top rim and just inside it. This way, it doesn't stick to the table while it's drying.
5. Using your chalk, write the name of each herb on the appropriate pot. Let your kids write their names and draw some fun designs around the pot.
6, Plant your herb in your new pot, making sure to break up the roots a bit while planting. Don't overcrowd the pot – you need to make sure the herb has enough room to grow.
