Decorative Clay Pots

Decorative flowerpots cost a fortune, but you can make them yourself with surprising ease, using terra-cotta pots and an assortment of acrylic paints. These pots are the perfect way to showcase a favorite plant or to use along with other craft projects, as we did with our Easter Egg Tree.

Materials

- Brushes: 3/4" flat brush, #8 shader brush, # 1 round brush, #2 shader brush
- Acrylic paints: white; Folk Art Colors in Buttercup, Fresh Foliage; Accent Country - Colors in Indian Sky, Painted Desert, Bluebonnet
- 1 large terra-cotta pot, about 8-1/2" x 4-1/2"
- 3 small terra-cotta pots, each about 1-3/4" x 1-7/8"

You will also need ruler; pencil

Directions

Note: Wash brushes in clean soapy water between each application of paint.

Applying Base Coat to Pots

Using -1/4" flat brush and white acrylic paint, apply a base coat to outside of large terra-cotta pot and to outside below rim of each small pot, paint insides of all pots. Apply additional coats of white paint, allowing paint to dry between each coat, until paint is no longer transparent. Let dry.

Note: Refer to photos and Painting Diagram on pattern sheet when painting designs on pots.

Painting the Large Pot

Measure ¼" and ¾" from top of large pot; mark these measurements at several places around outside rim. Using #8 shader brush and Buttercup, paint a horizontal band between these two measurements around rim. Let dry.

Using #8 shader brush and Indian Sky, paint vertical strokes the width of the brush over Buttercup band, spacing vertical strokes about -1/8" apart. Continue around rim.

Using #8 shader brush and Fresh Foliage, paint vertical strokes the width of the brush, beginning directly under each vertical band of Buttercup and continuing to bottom edge of rim. Continue around rim.

Using #1 round brush and Painted Desert, paint a thin horizontal stripe around rim just above Buttercup and Indian Sky band.

Using # 1 round brush and Fresh Foliage, paint a horizontal stripe around rim just below Buttercup and Indian Sky band.

Using the full width of the #8 shader brush and Painted Desert, paint a series of U shapes, each about 1-1/4" wide and ¾" high, below rim of pot.

Using #8 shader brush and Indian Sky, paint a wavy line the width of the brush around bottom of pot, spacing wave crests about 3" apart.

Using #2 shader brush and Buttercup, paint another wavy line the width of the brush 1/8" above Indian Sky wavy line, following pattern of Indian Sky line.

Using #8 shader brush and Blue Bonnet, paint another wavy line the width of the brush 1/8" above Buttercup wavy line, following pattern of Indian Sky line.

Using #1 round brush and Fresh Foliage, make a series of diagonal S curves between and directly below U shapes. Dip blunt end of #8 shader brush into Fresh Foliage; paint a dot in center of each Painted Desert U shape.

Paint one horizontal flower in space below each Indian Sky wave crest at bottom of pot, alternating direction of flowers; paint one horizontal flower in each valley between Bluebonnet waves, facing flowers in one direction. Use #1 round brush and Fresh Foliage to paint stems and leaves: Paint one stroke for each stem and one wider stroke for each leaf; alternate position of leaves from top to bottom of stems for flowers at bottom of pot. To make flowers, dip blunt end of #1 round brush into Painted Desert or Bluebonnet and dab paint at end of each flower stem, alternating colors.

Painting the Small Pots

Using #8 shader brush and Painted Desert, paint outside rim of each small pot until well covered.

Using #8 shader brush and Fresh Foliage, paint a band the width of the brush beneath rim of each pot.

Using full width of #2 shader brush and Blue Bonnet, make inverted U shapes, each about ½" wide and 3/8" high, around bottom of each pot.

Using #1 round brush and Buttercup, paint a curve above each inverted U shape on each pot.

Following flower-painting directions in step 12 and using #1 round brush, Fresh Foliage, Painted Desert and Bluebonnet, paint one vertical flower between each inverted U shape on each pot.

Using #1 round brush and white acrylic paint, make S curves about ¼" apart around painted rim of each pot. Using blunt end of #1 round brush, randomly paint white dots on Fresh Foliage band below rim of each pot.

womensdeals.com > crafts > spring crafts > decorative clay pots