What do you do when you have a broken tree branch? You make wood slice garden markers!

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. – Aubrey Hepburn

Yes, I am THAT person that yells to keep a tree branch after it’s been cut or falls. Much to THe Mister’s delight 😉

But seriously, they look so cool and so many uses. Tell me I am not alone?

Well, whether you cut some yourself, have a neighbor do it, or grab some from the store (I won’t tell), this fun craft is great for your summer garden!

|DID YOU CHECK OUT THIS WOOD SLICE COASTER CRAFT?|

Table of Contents

SUPPLIES

*We use affiliate links and can earn from qualifying purchases. You can read more of our disclosure policy here.

Cricut Joy
Cricut Smart Vinyl, Permanent in Beachside Sampler
Weeder
Cricut Transfer Tape
Scissors
Wood slices, 2.25” diameter
Wooden skewers
Drill

GARDEN MARKERS INSTRUCTIONS

Gather supplies.
Using a drill bit the same size as the wooden skewer, prepare the wood slice by drilling one small hole into the slice as shown.
Insert a wooden skewer into a drilled hole. Repeat with all wood slices and put aside.

CRICUT DESIGN

On a new canvas in Cricut’s Design Space, select Images from the toolbar.
Click on the Food and Kitchen theme and then type “vegetables” in the search engine.
Select the vegetable images you want to use, such as tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, peppers, cucumbers.
Insert the vegetable images onto the blank canvas.
Select the image and hide all the drawing lines from the layers toolbar.
Now, select the image again and adjust the size to 2” high (or wide), whichever side is biggest.
Select one image and then click on “Ungroup”. If the image is still attached, click on the “detach” button. This will separate the image pieces into their own layer.
Move to the Color Sync tab to sort images by color of Smart Vinyl: cut a carrot in tangerine; cut cucumber and a leafy portion of carrot and tomatoes in mint; cut lettuce in teal; and cut tomatoes and peppers in coral.
Add text for the backside of the garden markers.
Select Text from the toolbar and type out the vegetable: carrots.
Adjust text size to 0.375” high.
Next, adjust the curve to 1.5.
Adjust the letter spacing to 1.8.
Weld the lettering together and move the text layer to the appropriate color sync layer (for example “carrots” to be cut out in tangerine Permanent Smart Vinyl).

CUTTING

Ensure the cutting machine is set to Cricut Joy. Select “Make It” in Design Space.
Set material type to Smart Vinyl, Permanent.
Choose “Without Mat” from the list of cutting options.
Follow prompts for loading Smart Vinyl into Cricut Joy and cutting. When the cut is complete, unload the mat from the machine.

APPLY

Cut around each image and lettering with a pair of scissors. Using the weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl around the cut images (and lettering) and discard.
Cut a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than the size of the image.
Peel away the transfer tape backing and place the transfer tape over the top of the cut vinyl. Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape.
Peel away the vinyl backing, leaving just the image adhered to the transfer tape.
Position the image with the transfer tape on to the center of the wood slice and press in place.
Press the Smart Vinyl image down with your fingers or with the Cricut scraping tool to help it to stick to the wood slice.
Slowly and carefully remove the transfer tape leaving the vinyl image on the wood.
Repeat with the lettering on the reverse side of the wood slice.
And continue these same steps for the remaining garden markers.

TIPS

Feel free to use a stencil, draw freehand, or whatever it is you like for your veggies.
If you want to make the wood slices last longer, you may want to consider adding a sealer to prevent cracks, like this one.
Here is some additional assistance on transfer tape usage, if needed.

Wouldn’t these veggies also look cute on some cards?

What do you do when you have a broken tree branch? You make wood slice garden markers!

Materials

Cricut Smart Vinyl, Permanent in Beachside Sampler
Weeder
Cricut Transfer Tape
Wood slices, 2.25” diameter
Wooden skewers

Tools

Cricut Joy
Drill
Scissors

Instructions

DRILL

Gather supplies.
Using a drill bit the same size as the wooden skewer, prepare the wood slice by drilling one small hole into the slice as shown.
Insert a wooden skewer into a drilled hole. Repeat with all wood slices and put aside.

DESIGN

On a new canvas in Cricut’s Design Space, select Images from the toolbar.
Click on the Food and Kitchen theme and then type “vegetables” in the search engine.
Select the vegetable images you want to use, such as tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, peppers, cucumbers.
Insert the vegetable images onto the blank canvas.
Select the image and hide all the drawing lines from the layers toolbar.
Now, select the image again and adjust the size to 2” high (or wide), whichever side is biggest.
Select one image and then click on “Ungroup”. If the image is still attached, click on the “detach” button. This will separate the image pieces into their own layer.
Move to the Color Sync tab to sort images by color of Smart Vinyl: cut a carrot in tangerine; cut cucumber and a leafy portion of carrot and tomatoes in mint; cut lettuce in teal; and cut tomatoes and peppers in coral.
Add text for the backside of the garden markers.
Select Text from the toolbar and type out the vegetable: carrots.
Adjust text size to 0.375” high.
Next, adjust the curve to 1.5.
Adjust the letter spacing to 1.8.
Weld the lettering together and move the text layer to the appropriate color sync layer (for example “carrots” to be cut out in tangerine Permanent Smart Vinyl).

CUT

Ensure the cutting machine is set to Cricut Joy. Select “Make It” in Design Space.
Set material type to Smart Vinyl, Permanent.
Choose “No Mat” from the list of cutting options.
Follow prompts for loading Smart Vinyl into Cricut Joy and cutting. When the cut is complete, unload the mat from the machine.
Cut around each image and lettering with a pair of scissors. Using the weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl around the cut images (and lettering) and discard.

APPLICATION

Cut a piece of transfer tape a bit larger than the size of the image.
Peel away the transfer tape backing and place the transfer tape overtop of the cut vinyl. Gently rub the vinyl to help it stick to the transfer tape.
Peel away the vinyl backing, leaving just the image adhered to the transfer tape.
Position the image with the transfer tape on to the center of the wood slice and press in place.
Press the Smart Vinyl image down with your fingers or with the Cricut scraping tool to help it to stick to the wood slice.
Slowly and carefully remove the transfer tape leaving the vinyl image on the wood.
Repeat with the lettering on the reverse side of the wood slice.
And continue these same steps for the remaining garden markers.

Notes

Feel free to use a stencil, draw freehand, or whatever it is you like for your veggies.
If you want to make the wood slices last longer, you may want to consider adding a sealer to prevent cracks, like this one.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Comments

Anita holland says

April 21, 2020 at 11:55 pm

These are so cute. I am also one of those people, I have half a tree behind my shed waiting for ideas. Anita

- Salvage Sister & Mister says
  
  April 24, 2020 at 7:34 am
  
  Oh…I hope you make something fun with it.
  
Maria Brittis says

April 22, 2020 at 10:43 am

This is so earthy and love that its nature related, pinned to my nature board.

- Salvage Sister & Mister says
  
  April 24, 2020 at 7:34 am
  
  I know. I love them too!