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Making
Painted Pots
Adding
painted pots to your home or classroom garden is easy, fun and a great
way to put your talents to work in beautifying our environment.
It's also a wonderful way to exercise your imagination in deciding how
to decorate your pot.
The
Iowa Department of Transportation uses handcrafted artworks, natural elements
(trees, rocks, flowers and shrubs), structures (benches, picnic tables,
raised flower beds, shelters) and pots to beautify our roadside rest areas
and building grounds.
For
our project we created a "Patriotic Pot" showing support for
our country's symbolic stars and red, white and blue colors. This
is just one idea. There are a many ways to paint your pots - how
about using your school colors, or adding butterflies, ladybugs or frogs.
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Here's what you'll need:
- Any size clay pot (the cost for a 4" pot is approximately $.50)
- Potting mix or soil
- Art paints, use an exterior paint if you plan to use your pot outdoors
(available at discount and hobby stores) - approx. cost $.80 each
- Craft paint brush
- Pencil
- Newspaper or old cloth
- Clear spray enamel (available in the spray paint section of your discount or
paint supply store) - approx. cost $2.00
- Plant or seeds
- Your imagination
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What
to do:
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Step
1: Cover the ground or table with newspaper or disposable
old cloth. Then, in a well-ventilated area or outdoors,
spray your pot with the clear enamel. This step is very
important since it prevents your paint from seeping into the
clay. Allow to dry at least 2 hours. |
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Step
2: Cover your entire pot with a base coat color
of paint. Allow to dry completely, normally 24 hours.
Step
3: Use your pencil and imagination to draw your
designs onto the pot.
Step
4: Fill in your designs with the desired colored paints.
Allow to completely dry.
Step
5: If you plan to use your pot outdoors, spray it
again with the enamel spray.
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Step
6: Fill your pot with potting mix or composted garden
soil.
Step 7:
Add a plant or seeds. Place a clay saucer or plate underneath
the pot and then water.
Step 8:
Place pot outdoors or near a window where it will receive sunlight.
Water, as needed.
SAFETY NOTES: Aerosol paints require proper ventilation
and should not be used by young children without adult supervision.
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