Add color to your garden, patio, or indoor space with simple potted crafts. Flowerpots are functional blank canvases that encourage a wide range of creativity. You can paint, decoupage, stamp, and embellish as part of your flower pot crafts. Create your own potting craft projects with these ideas.
How to Decorate Clay Pots by Heidi Borchers and Tiffany Windsor
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After purchasing a planter, sand the planter before painting. You should also seal the inside of the pot with an oil-based polyurethane to protect your painted design from water penetration. If you are painting outdoor pots, use a paint specifically designed for outdoor use. DecoArt patio paint is water and weather resistant and copes well with changes in temperature. Outdoor paints also mean that your planter will be easy to clean.
Try painting sections of the pot in different colors. Use painter’s tape to mark the top edge of the pot and paint a matching color. Or, create several bands around the pot with painter’s tape and create stripes on your pot.
Bright colors work well in gardens. To select a color scheme, look at color craft or design resources such as Paper Craftsman’s Color Companion by C&T Publishing. Paint two or three coats of each color on your pot. If you want to add a design to your pot, paint the background a nice, muted color, like light yellow.
Use stencils to paint words or shapes on your pot. You can also use this technique to label the contents of the pots in a decorative way, such as “Basil” or “Chives.” Use a sponge to paint your pots. Paint everything in one or two colors, or create bursts of color with a round sponge that looks a lot like flowers. You can also cut a regular kitchen sponge into a heart or star shape.
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Cut out words and pictures from scrapbook papers, magazines, and even junk mail to decoupage your planter. Create a theme by selecting similar words or pictures, for example Spring. Tissue paper is a great material for potting decoupage. You can use a matching color or a variety of colors for a fun, semi-sheer look. Crumple the tissue paper in your hands and tear it into pieces. Use a foam brush to apply decoupage glue (like Mod Podge) to your planter. Smooth the pieces of tissue paper over the pot in a random pattern. Cover with another coat of decoupage glue.
For fun, add a layer or accents of glitter or sparkle, like with Tulip 3D Sparkle Paint. For outdoor placement, you will need to cover your decoupage job with a layer of UV resistant acrylic coating, such as those made by Krylon.
Embellishment
Thread: Wrap the thread or wrap it tightly around the edge of your pot, gluing it as you go. The yarn wrap creates an interesting textured look.
Buttons: Flat buttons are a fun way to decorate flower pots. Paint flowers in your pot and stick buttons in the center of the flowers. Add a line of buttons around the top of the pot. Glue buttons randomly all over the pot.