Decoupage Terracotta Pots – Mod Podge, Napkins, Planters.
If you told 10-year-old me that 56-year-old me would be working on a decoupage project on Memorial Day weekend, 10-year-old me would be like (head tilt) and … your point is?
Now if you told 23-year-old me that in 33 years I would be working on a decoupage project on Memorial Day weekend, 23-year-old me (sitting on the beach in a bikini sipping a contraband beer) would break out in laughter.
Looks like 10-year-old me was right on the money. 😉
Because, for me, this Memorial Day weekend was spent with Mod Podge, terracotta pots, and a pair of scissors cutting flowers out of floral napkins …
and making some decoupage magic. 😉
How To Decoupage Terracotta Pots
with Mod Podge & Paper Napkins
Materials*
Terracotta Pots
White & Off White Paint (I used Rust-Oleum Linen White Chalked & Chiffon Cream Chalked paint)
Paper Napkins with Floral Pattern
Soft Bristle Paint Brush
*includes affiliate links.
Give your terracotta pots a base coat of white paint. Then brush on some cream paint randomly.
Once dry, lightly distress with 80 grit sandpaper.
Cut out flowers from paper napkins. I also separated the napkin layers so these cut out flowers are single layer.
Apply a generous coat of Mod Podge.
Add paper napkin flowers to the Mod Podge areas.
This is when 10-year-old me would remind 56-year-old me to be careful and smooth out those wrinkles!
Add a coat of Mod Podge over the paper napkin flowers (this also helps to smooth out wrinkles.
Repeat adding flowers all around the pot.
When done, give the pots a generous coat of Mod Podge.
After about 1-2 hours, I went back and gave them all another coat of Mod Podge.
And you’re done.
Just add some foliage.
My foliage is a fake from Ikea because 56-year-old me cannot be trusted with real plants.
And I’m pretty sure 10-year-old me and (absolutely positive) 23-year-old me suffered the same brown thumb affliction.
My mom used to joke that she could hear the plant in my Penn State dorm room gasping for water 300+ miles away. 🙂
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I think 57 year old me is going to have to try this! They look great!
Linda, I love this. My husband just bought me some terra cotta planters. I’m going to try this. Thanks.
Just lovely and does not look too difficult. 71-year-old-me is all thumbs.
These are so pretty! I love the napkins you used too.
Once again, in this time of upset, you are bringing a sense of peace to my heart. What a lovely way to make custom made pots so affordable. Something positive, something thoughtful, something peaceful. Thank you and your 10 year old self for sharing!
Love them, they are so pretty
These are so pretty! I used to have a brown thumb too until I discovered one secret….plants need water!! Now I water all my indoor plants on the same day in the week every week. It’s the only way I can be sure I haven’t neglected or overwatered – my memory is terrible!
I love decoupage anything these days. Your flower pattern is lovely. Curious ~ Did you not separate the napkin layers before putting them on the pots? Did I miss that? Thanks for sharing at Tuesday Turn About Link party.
I love them! Thank you!
Wow, these are absolutely stunning! They would look perfect on my kitchen windowsill – thank you so much for the inspiration!
Thank you so much! 🙂 Linda
Linda, these are so pretty! Although I’m not very good at most crafts, your step by step instructions make them look very do-able too. What a fun way to spend your Memorial Day weekend. I think we all need to get in touch with our inner 10 year old more these days! I had to laugh when I read what your mom said about your plants gasping for water. I’ve just had to nurse one of my plants back to health after an episode of intense dehydration! Thank you so much for sharing and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. I’m featuring this fun craft at the party this week. Hope to see you there later! Take care and have a lovely week.
Do you need to waterproof the inside of the pot if you are going to plant a living plant?
I’m not sure you need to do that. It’s a basic terracotta pot that typically is used to plant living plants.
I was wondering this too, as terra cotta pots are actually known for absorbing water (this is why they are often used for succulents and other plants that prefer dry soil). It seems like doing this with a living plant would ruin the decoupage.
Looks great however there’s other steps required that have been missed out. You need to seal pots inside and out to protect your decoupage, with a waterproof varnish. Inside particularly important as if you plant real plants inside the dampness in the soil will seap through and spoil your paint and decoupage, it will just bubble and flake off.
45 year old me can’t wait to get started 🙂
Waiting for my pots to dry, I had white spray paint and used that. Bought some gorgeous overpriced rose pattern paper napkins yesterday. Fingers crossed it turns out beautiful like yours 🥰