fifteen minute DIY gift idea – rosemary trees

Sharing another easy and economical DIY gift idea today inspired by my Christmas mood board. These rosemary trees are a fun little compliment to include in a box of baked goods, or a great handmade element to add to a gift for a holiday hostess. They’re pretty for the holiday, and the rosemary scent calls to mind the smell of evergreen.

With the pots priced around $0.70, and the rosemary just $3.00, it’s an inexpensive way to make a beautiful gift. The paint is your only investment at roughly $3 each per bottle, and of course can be used over and over for projects throughout the holiday season like the five minute DIY brilliant ideas notebook.

Supplies:

• 3″ (7.5cm) diameter terracotta pot (available at local craft store)
• white matte finish craft paint – I used Martha Stuart “wedding cake”
• metallic gold craft paint – I used Martha Stewart’s multi-surface metallic in pale bronze
• living herbs rosemary – I found this is the herb case at my local super target, and I thought it was pretty genius. They package the herb with a bit of root and dirt so that it stays fresh much longer.
• bit of extra dirt to top off the pot
• scissors for shaping
• old spoon or trowel for the dirt if you don’t want to use your hands

Coat the outside of the pot with matte finish white paint. It may take two coats, but the MS craft paints dry so quickly that it goes fast!

Add the gold metallic paint on the top edge, and anywhere else that you’d like. The metallic is not opaque, so you need the white coat in a matte finish as a base. Allow to dry.

Gather your potting goods – the pot, dirt, herb, and spoon for potting.

Remove the rosemary from the package and drop into the pot. It’s a pretty perfect fit, and shouldn’t take much extra dirt to top off the pot.

Use the scissors to trim the rosemary “branches” into an evergreen tree shape.

Yay!

Create the tag by writing on a bit of vintage paper, and snipping around it in a ribbon shape. Fold the side edges for dimension and tuck the tag into the branches. Be sure to water the little guy  a little after you’ve potted him so that he’ll take root.

I hope you love these mini “trees” as much as I do!