Mother's Day is less than a week away--time to impress Mom. These pots are a great stylish gift Mom will be proud to say her family made for her. Children 8 and older can easily make one on their own and younger children can join in the fun with some guidance.

For younger children, having them to draw their design on a paper as practice and a guide will make for a better result and less frustration during the project. Last week, I led a group of fourth- and fifth-grade Girl Scouts with great results, loads of fun and very proud girls.

Materials needed
. Terra cotta pot
. Acrylic craft paint ($1 per 2 oz. bottle - will cover several
pots)
. Paintbrush
. Dimensional paint (in fabric paint aisle cost $1 per
bottle - Scribbles is the best one)
. Newspaper to cover work surface

Time: less than an hour plus dry time
Cost: $5 per pot or less - purchase paint at JoAnn Fabrics or Michaels craft stores.

Step 1: Paint the outside of the terra cotta pot. It is easiest to paint the pot upside on a newspaper-covered surface. The pot will dry quickly (less than 15 minutes) as the terra cotta absorbs it rather quickly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2: After paint has dried, apply line design. Again keep the pot upside as it is easier to draw on it. Don't squeeze the bottle too much -- you want an even, thin line of paint. If you make a mistake, wipe it up quickly, if removed later some of the acrylic base color paint might be removed. Take your time and enjoy the process. Words are difficult to keep even and if you do decide to do them flip the pot over to make it easier. Let the design dry for 30 minutes or longer if the lines are heavy. 

 

 

Step 3: Ta-da! The pot is done. Now plant a beautiful flower in the pot and wow Mom with your handiwork.

The key to a great looking pot is a limited palette of colors. I would suggest 1 color for the pot and another contrasting color for the
dimensional paint. A set of pots in varying sizes and same colors but
different designs would look fantastic in a grouping. Here are some more pots
for inspiration that are little bit more involved but worth the effort if you have the time and inclination.

Christy Howden is a mother, Girl Scout leader, craft instructor at Two Twelve Arts Center and co-owner of online craft store TaDaaStudio.com.