Cute garden sign

Add some cheer to your garden with this easy-to-make hanging decoration. The wooden slats from old pallets are perfect for this project and you only need a small amount of paint, so it’s a real stash buster.

YOU WILL NEED

 Scrap wood  Saw  Tape measure  Sanding block  Royal Exterior Wood Finish in Pond Green, Somerset Blue and French Lilac, £4 per 125ml, all Protek  Paintbrush  6B and HB pencils  Paper  Masking tape Uniball Posca marker pen in Black, £3.20, Hobbycraft  Drill and 12mm wood bit  2m cotton rope  Scissors

1Saw the wood into three lengths, each measuring 45 x 10cm. Smooth the surface using a sanding block. Wipe away any dust with a damp cloth.

2Paint both sides of the wood with two coats of exterior wood paint, leaving it to dry thoroughly between coats.

3Print your chosen phrase onto paper. Use a 6B pencil to cover the back of the words in graphite. Roughly cut out the phrase and attach it to the wood right side up using masking tape. Use an HB pencil to trace around the letters to transfer the graphite onto the surface of the wood.

4Next, use a paint marker pen to draw round the letter outlines, then fill them in. Allow the paint to dry completely.

5Use a pencil to mark the position of four holes, one at each corner of each piece of wood. Mark each hole 5cm in from the short edge and 2cm in from the long edge. Use a drill with a 12mm bit to carefully bore through each hole. Painting the exposed wood on the inside of each hole will help to make your sign last longer in wet conditions.

6Lay the three pieces of wood out on your work surface in the correct order to spell out your phrase. Working from the front on the bottom piece of wood, thread the rope in and out of the holes so the rope sits behind each piece of wood. When you reach the top of the three pieces of wood, allow enough slack in the rope for hanging before continuing to thread the rope down the other side of the sign.

7Tie a tight knot at each end of the rope and cut away any excess, leaving a tail of at least 2cm. Carefully unravel the rope twists at each tail to give a tassel effect. To create a fluffier tassel, tease out the excess string with a hair comb or brush.

1 2 Update your garden with these buys

Ergo deadheader with finger loop, £11, National Trust Shop

Hawkesbury border spade in ash and stainless steel, £38, Garden Trading

Flora and Fauna gardener’s gloves, £14.95, Annabel James

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