Creative Painted Flower Pot Craft

To Tutorial

This is one of our favorite outdoor DIYs! Give terracotta pots a makeover using our easy painted flower pot idea. No one will believe how quickly you were able to get such cool designs.

two painted terracotta pots with spray paint for marble effect.

We had been searching for fun DIY planter ideas for our new deck. The fun part of spray-paint marbling is that you can use this technique on more than just painted flower pots.

Why You Will Love This Flower Pot Craft

COOL DESIGNS – You will be amazed by the variety of designs you can get!
TIME – You can do this DIY project in a few minutes.
INEXPENSIVE – Use those old spray paints to save extra $.
SUPER EASY – Work quickly and outside for this easy craft

PRO TIP: Experiment with different marbling techniques on smaller objects first.

Surfaces You Can Marble

You can choose many items to marble, and we have tried many of them. Consider using this painting technique on a variety of surfaces.

Glass: old jars, cups, and vases
Ceramic: mugs, cups, decorative plates, vases, and more
Terracotta or Clay: Spraying a base coat first will help as we did in this tutorial
Metal: old trays and signs would look amazing
Paper: decorative cards, bookmarks, and more
Plastic Containers: give those Dollar Store containers a fresh look

Just be careful if you want an item to be food-safe. I would not spray paint anywhere near food or your lips.

Supplies You’ll Need

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modern terracotta flower sitting on store shelf with price tag of 3.98.

Terracotta Pot
White Spray Paint With Primer Built-In
2 More Colors of Spray Paint
Large box & garbage bag or large plastic bin filled with water
Skewers
Small Plastic Cup
Latex Gloves
Clear Top Coat Spray Paint or Outdoor Mod Podge

DIY Painted Flower Pots With A Marble Design

Before You Begin

Spray paint your terracotta pots with a base color (we used white). Let the pots fully dry overnight.

White spray painted terracotta pot sitting in grass.

Step 1: Start With A White Painted Pot

Your first white coat does not need to be perfect, as the marble design will cover any imperfections. The terracotta pots soak up a lot of spray paint, so be prepared for this.

Box with garbage bag filled with water, spray paint, tape and terra cotta pot spray painted white.

Step 2: Create A Dipping Station

Add a garbage bag to a box or use a large plastic bin and fill it with water.

gold spray paint in water in box with garbage bag.

Step 3: Spray Colors Into Water

Spray gray spray paint in water. Then add a second color.

Step 4: Stir The Paint

Very quickly, use a wooden skewer to stir the paint.

white sprayed terracotta pot being dipped in gold spray paint in water.

Step 5: Dip The Pot

Dip the terracotta flower pots into the paint and water.

Step 6: Rotate The Pot

As soon as you have all three colors in, dip your terracotta pot and rotate it to cover the areas you want.

DIY marbled pot resting upside down on wine bottle.

Step 7: Place To Dry

Depending on the size of your terracotta pots, you should be able to flip them over and place them on a wine bottle with the cork in to dry

Optional: Add A Clear Coat

After these dry for a few hours, use a clear coat spray to help seal the outside.

Zoomed in view of gold. gray and black DIY marbled effect on terracotta pot.

How-To FAQs

Could you use nail polish instead of spray paint?

Yes, we have made a faux marble look on white ceramic mugs before. Using nail polish will be more expensive than using spray paint to paint your terracotta flower pots.

How can you create a marble effect for DIY projects?

There are a few options you can use to get a marble look with paint. You can use spray paint, nail polish, or acrylic paint, then dip it in water to create a fake marble.

Does spray paint float on water?

Since most spray paints are oil-based, your colors will sit on the water’s surface.

DIY marbled painted flower pots made with spray paint.

We are still in awe of the marble effect we can achieve with spray paint. While this project may take a little getting used to, the results of this creatively painted flower pot can be better than you expected.

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Prep:15

Active Time:5

Dry Time:1

Total Time:1 20

Equipment

Large Box with plastic bag or plastic tote
Packing tape

Supplies

Terracotta Pot We love these modern looking ones
White Spray Paint with Primer Built-in
At Least Two Other Colors of Spray Paint
Wooden Skewer
Latex Gloves if you don’t want to get messy
An old wine bottle for drying
Outdoor Sealant I will be resealing mine after two summers outside with this product

Instructions

Use a large plastic bin or make your own box with a large garbage bag that water can go in. You need to fill the box with enough water so that you will be able to dip your pot in it.
Use white spray paint to put a base coat on your terracotta pot. You only need to spray a little on the inside. No need to waste spray paint.
Let the paint dry. It should not be tacky.
Use two different colors of spray paint. Quickly spray both colors in the water.
Use the skewer to move the paint around.
Pick up the pot and carefully dip it into the water. Roll the pot around so that all sides get covered.
Place the terracotta pot upside down on the wine bottle so it can dry. Allow to fully dry as it should not be tacky to the touch.
Use a clear coat spray or
with a brush to fully protect your faux marbled flower pot.

Notes

You could use any color combinations you would like with this project. You just might want to stick with colors that you know will mix well together.
Make sure to work quickly when spraying and dipping your painted flower pot.
The weather can also effect your outcome especially if it is too humid or hot out.

Author: Erin Nutter

Cost: under $10