Whether you’ve got a green thumb or are just dipping your toes into gardening, you’ll need to make sure that your plants all have labels. Mass-manufactured tags can get downright pricey, but you can easily transform empty soda cans into garden labels that add a vintage feel to your outdoor sanctuary. You’ll need aluminum cans, wire or a clothes hanger, scissors, a hole punch, a template tool, and gloves to protect your fingers. You don’t want to literally put your blood, sweat, and tears into this project. It should be easy.
Begin by snipping off the ends of your aluminum can to salvage the flat metal piece. Lay it down on a stable but slightly flexible surface, and trace your chosen template. Once you’ve outlined your shapes, carefully cut them out with your scissors. Create a hole near one edge of the tag for hanging. Lay the tag on the same flexible surface and use a sharp-pointed pen to write the plant’s name. Don’t expect the ink to stick to the tag, and don’t use your favorite pen, either. Bend a 1 to 2-inch section at one end of the wire and twist it to create a small loop, then slide the straight end of the hanger through the back, and pop it over the tag.
Punch with caution
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If you’re feeling artsy and want to explore different types of fonts or want to add a vintage touch by adding a few design embellishments, you can always try metal stamping. You can purchase metal stamping kits online or at your local arts and crafts store. Another trick to make your letters stand out is by filling them in with a black Sharpie or other suitable marker. This will give your tags a more weathered look. Lastly, if you don’t like the look of bright, shiny aluminum, you can always use another rust-proof soft metal, like copper, which will oxidize over time and give off a nice, aged appearance.
You’ll also want to pay special attention to where you’re punching the holes into your tags. Too close to the edge and they can break off, but too far into the middle will make it impossible to read. To make the holes, you can use a paper hole punch or a hammer and nail. And don’t forget that when writing the plant names, you should do so backward since the indentation will be pushed against the side of a pot or into the soil. This also makes them much easier to reach when you look at them from above.
