If you’re taking the opportunity to grow your own Mother’s Day gift (as per our DIY: Blooming brilliant Mother’s Day gift idea piece), why not create a one-of-a-kind plant pot to go with it.
Garden decor expert, Northcote Pottery, has partnered with Gardening Instagram channel @Growing_Mad, to create easy-to-make pot designs for under $10 using its 9cm Italian Terracotta Pots ($1.15, Bunnings).
FRUIT SALAD
Perfect for any kitchen, these pineapple and watermelon designs (pictured above) can be made in four easy stages. You just need pots, paints (red, green, yellow) and a permanent marker.
Step 1: Paint the rim of your pot green. Don’t worry about being too neat here, you may need a couple of coats.
Step 2: Paint one pot red for the watermelon and yellow for the pineapple. Optional: Use masking tape to cover the rim. Tip: The easiest way to do this is to tear off a strip and attach it to the pot at one end. Holding the other end taut, carefully roll the pot toward the other end.
Step 3: Carefully remove the masking tape if you used it. Draw alternating rows of V-shapes on the yellow pot in permanent marker and teardrop shapes in random directions for the watermelon.
Step 4: If you have a lighter green paint, put a little on the end of a brush and wipe off any excess, then add uneven stripes around the rim of the watermelon to create the look of the rind.
OMBRE
Possibly the easiest plant pot to create in just three stages with only two paints, the ombre look just takes a soft touch.
Step 1: Paint your pot white. This will take a couple of coats, which need to fully dry.
Step 2: Choose your base colour and mix a slightly lighter shade, apply this at the base on long, shallow humped shapes.
Step 3: Wipe your brush off and use sweeping motions to draw your coloured paint up the pot letting the brush dry out to the point of smudging. Don’t worry about being too neat here, it all adds to the effect. Optional: Use your original shade to create smaller humps at different points to create a range of hues.
GEOMETRIC SHAPES
Masking tape is perfect for creating sharp lines, just choose whichever coloured paints you want and start applying, drying and taping.
Step 1: Paint your base colour.
Step 2: Mask off the sections you want to remain in your base colour, try anything from small sections to taping off everything except one stripe.
Step 3: Apply the paint – from a single metallic hue to a rainbow of splatters, or even glitter paints.
Step 4: Hey presto! Remove the masking tape to reveal the design of your one-of-a-kind plant pot.
