DIY: Decoupage Flower Pots

With spring in the air and gardening and patio decorating in mind, I have been seeing cute little deco pots being featured in magazines and store displays. I thought I would take my crafting arsenal, some inexpensive clay pots and my digital scrap supplies and come up with an easy, inexpensive project that will look great on your porch.

Supplies used:

Clay pots (saucers optional)
foam brush
acrylic paint
Mod Podge
digital background paper and an enlarged element as a focal point for your deco pot
(Optional items would be any crackle glazing or paint, , Goosebumps texture spray, jute, ribbon or rick-rack, or whatever else your creative mind can come up with!)

Step 1 – Start by painting the rim of your clay pot with a color that will coordinate with the digital paper you are planning to use. Make sure you paint under the lip of the rim on the outside. It will not matter if some of the paint gets onto the part that will be covered with paper as it won’t show through. For a more finished look I painted down the inside of the pot about and inch and a half to where I think the dirt would come up to. Basically, you are just wanting to cover all the clay that will be seen after it has been decoupaged and filled for use.

Step 2 – While the paint is drying you can print your SG background papers. Resize your focal element, print, and cut out. I printed on regular cardstock. I also sprayed a sealer on my prints as I am using an ink jet and once I add my water-based Mod Podge I don’t want my ink to bleed.

Step 3 – You will begin to cover the base of the pot with the background print. You can either cut it into strips of about 3/4 of an inch in width and a bit longer than the measurement of the pot from the rim to the bottom , or you can tear in pieces for a more rustic collage look. Working in small sections, using your foam brush, brush Mod Podge onto the pot and then place a piece of the torn/cut background paper. Smooth it out as you go with your fingers working out any bubble or air pockets. Mod Podge over top of this paper and on the adjacent section of the pot adding another piece of background paper. You will continue to work in this manner, moving around your pot with layering Mod Podge on pot, adding paper, Mod Podge on top of paper, until your entire pot is covered. As you are working, make sure you continue to smooth out your paper as you want a direct contact of paper to the clay pot. Some wrinkling/puckering may occur which is ok – it adds character to your piece of art. Now your entire clay pot should be covered, add a final coat of Mod Podge on top of your paper so that the paper is now well sealed onto the pot. Let this dry (or use a blow dryer to speed it along) before proceeding to your focal.

Step 4 – Now it is time to apply your cut-out focal point. You will apply some Mod Podge to the back of your cut-out, then smooth it onto the surface of your pot, again working out any air bubbles. Once in place, Mod Podge over your focal cut-out and again let dry.

To add a vintage look, take a sanding block and distress the painted rim of your pot. Once you have it looking just how you want it, Mod Podge over it to seal. Add any finishing touches that suit your fancy; crackle glaze, jute, etcetera. All that is left is to fill with dirt and a plant and put on display!