A Mini Herb Garden – An Easy Container Project

This is about creating my first herb garden. Well, it’s really just a herb container, but it’s my first experiment with herbs and I think it’s pretty cute. Last year I bought my first tomato plant and this year I’m adding some herbs in containers. I know it’s not much, but it works for me. It was super easy and I’m pretty smitten with the end result.

Last week at Ikea I found these oversized terra-cotta pots with saucers for $5.99 – gotta love that deal! I didn’t have room in my cart or I would have grabbed more. So dumb. I’m going to have to go back this week  but I’m thinking they are probably gone…

The other night I started my adventure with chalk paint  and the more I painted, the more I looked for things to paint and I saw those pots…

I am IN LOVE with chalk paint, but that is another story. Here’s tip number one for chalk paint: Do NOT use a cheap brush. See that bristle in the photo above? ughhhh. Any how, painting the posts took no time…

I even threw in an old candle holder that I had in my garage. I’m planning on turning that into a bird feeder – but that’s for another day!

While the paint dried I decided to make some markers for the organic potted herbs I found at Walmart for $2.98 ea. I’m starting with parsley, mint and oregano…

I already had everything I needed. A black sharpie, three wine corks…

and three wooden skewers for making shish kabobs. The point on the end of the skewers is perfect for pushing it into the cork…

Write the name of the plant on the cork, insert the skewer into one end and voila!…

Cute, yes? I suggest you practice writing first. The printed the first two, but wasn’t happy with them – I found I liked them in cursive better!

I was planning on putting two coats of paint on the pots, but found that one was perfectly fine – I like seeing the original color of the pot peeping through. It took less than an hour for the paint to dry and then I pulled out some stencils I had from years ago…

I just needed a brush, paint and a plastic plate , all of which I had too.  I prefer using a plastic plate because it’s non-absorbent…

It took less than a half an hour – I love the imperfection….

 A quick note of advice: If stenciling on a rim, remember to leave room for letters like g, y, j, etc… I did not. A lesson learned. The second pot was going to say vegetables. After I stenciled the v I thought about the “g” and said “oh crap”… or something like that 🙂  Do you know how hard it is to think of a cute saying that doesn’t involve one of those letters? For now the second one says alive, delish & fresh. Next time I pull out the chalk paint it’s going to be a do-over. I think it’ll say live, love eat. Or maybe tomatoes. I don’t know… any suggestions?

Anyway… I really do love the end result…

Now I’m going to have to go find some new recipes so I can try out my fresh herbs…

Happy Monday! Amy xo

Step Three: Painting the Kitchen-a Kitchen on a Budget

Before Photo: Kitchen with Border

Last weekend, the Kuster’s started painting their kitchen in Step three of their kitchen redo on a budget. Phase one was about finding the inspiration for their project and phase two consisted of selecting the finishes that they would apply. This past Saturday, Bill primed the walls. Ten years ago, Lori and I had stenciled some grape vines on the wall with oil based crayons, and as cute as it was back then, she’s so over that look. The before photo above shows the existing stencil at the top of the walls that extends throughout the kitchen.

Prime the Walls before Painting

On Saturday, the first step was to apply a primer to ensure the oil based stencil can be easily painted over. Bill used the product below by Zinsser. It’s a water based primer that doesn’t require sanding, seals stains, sticks to all surfaces and is resistent to mold and mildew. Best of all, it dries in an hour. It may be an extra step you didn’t plan on, but it’s definately worth it in the long run. There’s some odor involved, so it’s best to open some window to ventilate.

Kitchen Walls with Primer

On Sunday, it was time to tape off the areas to be painted with Sherwin Williams Afterglow which goes on all the wall surfaces above the white bead board chair rail which still needs to be painted and the cabinets. Lori and Bill chose a satin finish so that it wouldn’t reflect the walls imperfections, yet could be easily cleaned as needed.

Sherwin Williams Afterglow

Here’s a before and after photo of another area of the kitchen…

Before Photo of Side Door in Kitchen

 

Afterglow above Chair Rail

 

Painted Wall with Roman Shade Laid Over the Door to see how it Matches

I’m thinking it’s going to be FABULOUS…what do you think? Great job Bill! Next step will be to paint the chair rail and cabinets. Stay tuned!