I created this Secret Shamrock Garden Sign out of items from the Dollar Tree. It is simple to make and a really unique piece to add to your St. Patrick’s Day decor.
The Dollar Tree has been my saving grace this winter. Crafting is a great outlet for me especially with the cold weather, COVID, and being a stay at home mom in a newish town. Added bonus, the Dollar Tree makes crafting on a budget doable. Below are some fun Valentine’s Decorations I just finished recently using Dollar Tree Items. Mini Love note holder ~ Valentine’s ‘Stop in the name of love’ sign ~ Valentine’s Farm Truck Mini Crate I made all three of them for $6.
Now that Valentine’s Day is over it is time to turn the house from red and pink to all things green. St. Patrick’s Day is a favorite and I really really REALLY want to visit IRELAND someday. I love overgrowth like dark green ivy and vintage things like old rusty iron gates and as a child I always wanted a secret garden. All of those things were the inspiration for this project.
I can just picture walking past the old sign, through the rusty gate and overgrown ivy, to fields of shamrocks and if we are lucky a few leprechauns.
Let’s Create!
Supplies Needed to Make your Secret Shamrock Garden Sign
- Burner covers from the Dollar Tree – you will only use the large one
- Shamrock Decoration from the Dollar Tree
- Plastic garden fence from the Dollar Tree
- Ivy greenery garland from the Dollar Tree
- Paint brushes – Chippy, sponge, and small
- Glue gun
- Sand paper or block
- Paint in white, brown, and green
- Popsicle sticks
- Twine
- Scissors
- Branch snips or other similar tool
- Protective covering for your work surface
Making your Secret Shamrock Garden Sign
Getting the parts ready
Dismantle the shamrock decoration. You are only using the outer shamrock. Simply cut the shamrocks apart and cut off the hanger.
Cut a piece of gate to fit inside the burner cover using your tool of choice. I grabbed my good old rusty branch snips and got to cutting. Note: In hindsite, I would recommend tracing with chalk or something on the gate to know where to cut. I just started snipping based on it being behind the shamrock and didn’t take into consideration it meeting the edges of the burner cover. When gluing it all together I had some spots that didn’t meet the edge. I improvised and covered them with greenery.
Time for Paint
Grab your gate piece, burner cover, shamrock, white paint, and brushes. We will be painting each to distress and remove shine.
On the burner cover I used the sponge to get the amount of paint I wanted applied. Then I used the chippy paint brush to give it the grooved look.
For the gate, I used the sponge brush. Simply dip your brush in paint and remove any excess as you don’t want to fully cover it. With the tip, I just dabbed the paint on. Note: You will see in the picture I cut off the pointy pieces of the gate with the intention of adding them in a location that would be visible once the shamrock was attached. I got sidetracked and completely spaced it until I was cleaning up my giant mess. See, I just wing it as I go!!
For the shamrock, I used the chippy brush with just the slightest bit of paint. I just wanted to downplay the shine just a tiny bit.
I had the kids doing projects too!
Next, using green and brown I gave the gate a rusty look with the chippy brush this time. Then, I did the same thing over it with black as it had to much brown and green.
I then sanded it just a little to blend the paint together and give it a more natural worn look.
Adding the finishing touches
Next I added a little ivy under and through the gate.
The next step is to glue it all together using the hot glue gun. I first glued the gate down and then glued the burner cover to the shamrock.
Finally, I grabbed twine to hang it with. I folded it in half and looped it at the point and then threaded it back through the holes. Then a simple knot at the top.
The Tiny Secret Shamrock Garden Sign
Popsicle sticks make up the little sign. Simply, cut the rounded ends off and lay out six together. I attached them by gluing shorter cross pieces on the backside.
Next, I painted a coat of brown followed by a coat of white with the chippy brush. I got inpatient and didn’t let the brown dry enough and so they mixed a little.
Then I added a tiny hanger to the tiny sign. I simply took a piece of twine folded it in half and knotted it. Then glued it down with the hot glue gun.
Since I didn’t allow the brown to dry fully before adding the white it was looking a little pink. Also, if it really hung in a secret garden it would be mossy so I ended up adding a little green as well.
Once it dries, you can apply your lettering. If you have a Cricut, Stencil or Transfer you would like to use go ahead. I didn’t so I found fonts I liked in Canva and made a printable.
Steps to get the printable design on wood
- Print the words in the desired size.
- Take a pencil and using the side of it’s tip shade over the backside of your printed script.
- Once you have finished applying the pencil, tape it down (pencil side towards the wood) and trace over it with a pen.
- Remove the paper to reveal your paintable script.
Next, I added the lettering with paint. I was going for more of a handwritten style and it ended up looking like a kid did it. Lettering is not my thing and I didn’t have a brush small enough on hand. It looks like my childhood self did it and I decided I liked that. I ended up not doing the shamrock as I just couldn’t get it right. Artist I am not. I then sanded it a little so it would match the worn look of the rest of the piece.
Hang your newly created mini sign on your garden gate sign and you are good to go. I hung the little sign on a piece of greenery sticking out but you could also glue it.
Enjoy your Secret Shamrock Garden Sign
Your turn to create
I would love to hear if you gain inspiration from this post and make your very own Secret Shamrock Garden Sign.
