Garden Label on a Rock (Super Easy!)

Hello again! Welcome to my second instructable. Today, I will be teaching you how to make a plant label with an artistic flair. Everyone enjoys a pretty, colorful garden, and sometimes keeping plants labeled is important, too. The plastic labels that come with the plants are not pretty and sometimes blow away. The plant labels that I'm going to teach you how to make are super unique, and will add a colorful flair of your garden while keeping your plants labeled. I have a fairy garden at my house, and they are such a cute addition, but you can customize them to compliment your garden, too. Please vote for this instructable in the gardening contest. I would be very grateful if you did! I am only twelve and am open to any suggestions to improve my instructables. If you want me to do a certain instructable, just let me know! Anyway, on with the instructable!

I have listed the sorted the supplies into two groups: optional and needed.

Needed:

smooth rock(s)

acrylic paint

clear sealant

something to protect your workspace

paint brush(es)

Optional:

paint markers

glitter

mod podge

disposable bowl or plate

When you paint the base color, be sure to get in all of the bumps and dips.
You may need to put two to three coats of paint on the rock, so that the color shows up well without the color of the rock showing through.
I only painted the top and on the sides.
Allow the paint dry, completely.

Next, I used a paint marker for the words (name of the plant).
For the dots, I dipped the handle end of the paintbrush in paint to make a dot design.
You could probably use nail art dotting tools or a bobby pin, as well.
For smaller dots, like those used in dot art, you could use a tooth pick.
The reason I used a paint marker instead of a permanent marker, is because the permanent marker will not show up as well on the paint as the paint marker.
Allow paint to dry, completely.

This step is optional.
If you love glitter, like I do, then continue with this step, if not, move onto Step 5.
Using Mod Podge helps keep glitter application from getting too messy.
Pour about a tablespoon of Mod Podge in a disposable bowl or cup, then mix in as much glitter as you want.
Use a only a small amount of glitter if you don't want it to cover up your design.
Use a paintbrush to paint the glittered Mod Podge onto your rock.
Let dry.

Note:
A problem I ran into is that I used too much glitter, and could not see the dot design very well.
To solve that problem, I had to paint my design over again.
My design was pretty simple, so it wasn't a big deal
However, if your design is very detailed or complicated, this may not be easy to do.
Go easy on the glitter, at first, you can always add more by adding another coat.

Lastly, paint or spray your sealant on your rock.
The sealant will help your rock art last much longer.
Sealants can come as a spray-on aerosol, or in a jar/can to be painted on.
Follow the directions on the sealant label that you choose.
Make sure the sealant is dry before placing the rock in your garden.

Thank you for tuning in and reading this instructable!