découpage pots

Black plastic plant pots may be useful, but they are not exactly works of art. Give them a colorful makeover using the ancient technique of découpage where you decorate the surface by sticking on paper cutouts. Suddenly, a dull pot becomes a homemade masterpiece worthy of the prettiest plants.

You will need

• ✿ dish-cleaning brush
• ✿ old plastic plant pot
• ✿ warm, soapy water
• ✿ selection of old wrapping paper
• ✿ scissors
• ✿ white (PVA) glue
• ✿ water-based acrylic varnish

Step 1

Use the dish-cleaning brush to give the old plastic plant pot a good wash with warm, soapy water and leave it to dry.

Step 2

Choose a pretty piece of wrapping paper. Here, we have used some paper with a colorful cupcake pattern, but you can choose whatever design you like. Cut out your small pictures or shapes from the wrapping paper. The idea is to make your découpage pot as colorful and striking as possible.

Step 3

Take the first picture, paste the back with the white (PVA) glue, and then stick it around the middle of the pot. Repeat this again and again, overlapping the pictures or shapes slightly each time so that none of the pot beneath is showing.

Step 4

When you are ready to glue your shapes at the top or bottom of the pot, trim them down slightly before sticking them on so that the base and inside rim of the pot are not covered (these areas are more likely to get wet, which can damage the découpage pattern).

Step 5

When all of the pictures and shapes have been glued onto your pot, apply 2–3 coats of water-based acrylic varnish to give your découpage some protection from water damage.

Try this... It is a nice idea to use different patterns and colors to complement whatever type of plant you are going to put in your pot.