Hobbies: Turn paint stir sticks into a mint garden planter

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You don't need a back yard to grow fresh herbs. This picket-fence planter box turns windows and balconies into personal farmers markets.
By recycling paint stir sticks, you can create a picket-fence design in no time. The steps are simple and the results are stunning.
For this look, I used Folkart paint in parchment and applied a hint of an antique wash over the paint to create a slightly aged look. Of course this is only one color option. You could match the planter color to the paint colors of your home. Painting the sticks a darker rich cocoa brown looks lovely against the natural wood color of the planter box. Staining the natural wood is also a good choice for a more organic look.
This picket-fence box works well for planting almost any herb. You can mix and match herbs in the planter and prune as needed for cooking, drying or garnishing. I am planting a full box of mint. Summer is just around the corner and I use mint in so many dishes and drinks that a full box make sense for me.
Mint is the perfect garnish for iced sun tea on a warm day. For a delicious topping, blend chopped mint with a little mango salsa and pour over grilled salmon or chicken. If it is cocktail time, combine crushed mint with sugar, rum, lime and a splash of carbonated water for a summer sipper that is sure to please.

Materials:

Planter box (I used a 24- x 6- x 7-inch box)
30 paint stir sticks
Folkart craft paint - parchment
Antiquing stain medium
Paintbrushes
3/4-inch finishing nails
Hammer
Pencil
Ruler
Potting soil
Mint plants

Measure the box to determine how many stir sticks will be needed, assuming they are placed approximately 1 inch apart. Mark the placement of each stick on the box using a ruler and pencil.
Paint the planter and the sticks with a mixture of equal parts DecoArt Antiquing Stain medium and cream craft paint.
Place a stick flush against the work surface and against the planter. Mark the points on each stick where they will be nailed to the planter. We marked each stick at the 1-1/2- and 5-inch mark.
Use a hammer to tap a finishing nail into each stick at the designated points.
Line up each stick with the marks on the planter and finish pounding the nail through, attaching the sticks to the planter. To line the ends up easily, place the end and centerpiece sticks first and fill in with the remaining sticks.
Fill the planter with potting soil and plant the mint. Water and enjoy watching your mint garden grow.

(Cathie Filian is a lifestyle expert and craft-book author. To learn more about Cathie, visit www.cathiefilian.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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