Garden markers come in handy keeping things identified in the garden, but I like them large enough not to get lost and pretty enough to be garden art. Come transform these plain bricks into DIY garden markers you can’t lose!
Make Great Brick Garden Markers by hand painting them, it is easy and so much fun. I love all the hand painted garden markers I have seen around the internet but the only problem for me is they are small. So small that in my untidy way of gardening they would easily get buried or lost in all the vegetation. So I decided on an inexpensive but effective way to overcome that.
Bricks!
Plain Concrete Bricks
These are your standard concrete bricks. I found mine at the building supply for around 50 cents each. They came in red too but I went with the gray.
Base Coat
Lay them out on the table and just rolled on some leftover white Zinser we had laying around. I did a couple coats as these are very porous and thus very rough. I only did two coats but if I did it again I think I would put 3 coats letting each coat dry thoroughly between applications.
You can also use an exterior paint you have on hand.
Now start adding your paintings..each photo will have the link to the corresponding painting lesson..
And last but not least, how to paint Lettuce…
I did not paint a garden marker for Carrots but you can use this tutorial to do so yourself if you wish..
Edges and Backs
I don’t paint the edges or backs but I do seal the entire marker with Exterior water-based varathane. I would recommend using an older paint brush on the bricks, the rough surface really can do a number on a brush. The designs are large enough that you really don’t need a pristine paint brush to paint them well.
So have fun and paint up some today! They would make great gifts for the garden lover in your life.
Happy Gardening and Painting!
Painting lessons:
Paint a Tomato
Paint a Radish
Paint Peas
Paint Lettuce
Paint Carrots
More Garden Markers Fun
Painted Stones
Garden Charms
Dawn says
Perfect, those are so cute 🙂
Pamela says
A great way to keep track without hurting the budget. I had thought of putting the names on them but figured a illustration would be just fine.
Peggy says
Great idea! I have some old bricks that could be used.
Pamela says
Old brick might even work better, they probably are not as pitted so easier to paint.
Shelly says
These are both brilliant and gorgeous! Any chance you’d let me repost your article (or would you guest blog) on my blog – 100Things2Do.ca. All links and credit will go to you.
Found you through Between Naps on the Porch.
Pamela says
Sure you are welcome to reprint with the links and credits you mentioned. Thank you.
Linda Kelly says
Can you tell me what kind of paint you used on the vegetables? I’m never sure what paints can be used outdoors. I am thinking about stenciling our last name (one letter per brick) on 5 bricks and placing them on the end of the steps to our porch.
Pamela says
I used craft acrylics, DecoArt Americana and FolkArt. I then seal the entire brick with exterior varathane. Each link to the veggie painting tutorials has a list of paints used for your convenience. A name marker is a great idea. I may have to try that too.
Brenna@DomesticCharm says
WOW! What an adorable idea! You are so talented….. my paintings would look like green blobs and you’d never know what I planted! 🙂 Visiting from Savvy Southern Style.
Pamela says
Maybe you could put lettering on yours Brenna so we would know what the green blobs should be. 🙂 Thanks for stopping in.
Nancy says
Those are simply adorable! Ingenious!
You are right other markers get lost and these won’t…..
Thanks for the idea, you are talented.
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
Pamela says
Thank you, Nancy. I love painting them. I love them so much I have yet to put them out in the garden, I am enjoying them in the greenhouse.
MJ says
Love these! I have a SMALL garden bed and if i do it right, concrete bricks will work as stepping stones and heat sinks, too. In winter, I need to mark the location of the rhubarb. and asparagus. These bricks would do just great. Thanks for this brilliant post, Pamela!
Pamela says
You are very welcome. I smile every time I see mine so I knew others would enjoy them too!
Marina says
This is a fabulous idea, Pam. I love it.
Pamela says
What is great too is they are very inexpensive as well as easy!