School Holiday Project- Making Planter Magnets

“Mum, I’m hungry. Mum, I’m bored. Mum? Mum…Dad?!” Oh the joys of school holidays are upon us and who doesn’t love the kid’s endless requests for constant entertainment? Keeping them busy is the key and this simple Feast Watson project is perfect for getting the kids involved and engaged. On top of the obvious benefits of occupying the ankle-biters, these beautiful timber stained Planter Magnets also make a great little home styling piece.

Making Planter Magnets couldn’t be easier and any parent, grandparent or carer should be able to achieve the project with a few basic decorator skills and limited materials. The steps in the how to guide and video support the creation of these beautiful planters and you can easily prepare and style the timber stained planters to suit your home’s unique look using the colours available in the Stain and Varnish range.

The timber stained planters look great in the kitchen, bathroom or laundry. Combining natural timber in your home with indoor plants is a simple and effective way to modernise your home. The wood stain and plant combo also brings a touch of nature to these areas of your home. Depending on where you choose to stick these durable little planters, you can also adapt them in so many ways, making them functional and multipurpose. Importantly, no matter where you choose to put them, you can be guaranteed they will look great with the interior Stain and Varnish colour range.

Picking the right look for your planters is a great place to begin and get the kids involved. You can use any timber off-cuts you have around the house, such as treated pine. Ideally your timber pieces should be around 50mm x 30mm, but any block size off-cut will work for the project.

Now, the fun part is selecting timber stain colours. Liming White is a popular choice, giving a scandi-look to the planters that suits most styles of home décor. Darker colour options in the Stain and Varnish range include Black Japan and Chocolate Walnut. Most timber finishes in the range are a one-step Stain and Varnish, this means you don’t have to coat with varnish separately unless you choose. If you prefer to maintain the natural look of the timber you are working with, you may select a Prooftint option that suits the desired timber, such as Oak Prooftint or Jarrah Prooftint. The Planter Magnets could also be used to style your outdoor areas by using an Exterior Stain and Varnish instead. In any case, go for a colour that you and the kids love and best suits your timber. With a simple timber project like this, any interior timber stain will do the job and with Feast Watson wood finishing products you will achieve a quality finish every time.

Another fun part is selecting plants for your stained planter. Succulents are a durable option, easy to plant and can be grown from offcuts. If you plan to hang the planters in a wet area, such as a bathroom, you can also use moss or small ferns. Orchids grow well in moist areas, such as the laundry and bathroom and need little soil to thrive. In the kitchen, why not grow some micro-herbs or alfalfa sprouts? The kids will love watching them grow and have the satisfaction of seeing their creation come to life. If you plan on popping your planters in a dark area or just can’t be bothered watering, you can use artificial options too. Other uses for these versatile, timber stained Planter Magnets include styling your child’s bedroom. You can achieve this by adding colourful pom-poms (instead of soil and plants).

Now that you have your Stain and Varnish and timber selected, it’s time to exercise your DIY skills. The first few steps of the project do involve power tools, so make sure you are all wearing safety gear and that only adults are operating power tools. Also, make sure the kiddies are supervised during the entire project and wear gloves and goggles while coating the timber to protect their little hands and eyes.