Pegi, we all are too! It's gret having you so enthusiastic!

Sally those are fabulous. Oh my, so little time.................. Your paints color are so crisp and clear.
Can you tell me exactly what kind of paint do you use? Exterior spray paint? What brand? and does it say Exterior or indoor / outdoor?
You said you use Clear Acrylic spray to seal them. Which brand you like the most?
I would love to be able to spray paint,add the stickers and seal them.
Wonderful job! Do you sell them?
.
Becky, I have folk art acrylic paints that I love (Donna Dewberry you know :). But I thought you had to use outdoor paints. Becky I see where you use acrylics and don't seal them. Can you tell me what kind you use? And are they for outdoors or does it matter?

All I want to do is paint, but only once per container.

Hi Debbie, My favorite brand of spray paint and spray acrylic seal is Krylon indoor/outdoor. It's readily available at most of the big box stores and works really well. I sprayed the color (two coats) first. Let that dry then assembled the pots and applied the rub on transfers (they work better than stickers) then sealed them with a few coats of the clear acrylic. I do sell a few, mostly to neighbors and at our seasonal yard sales.

I had started out using Patio Paint, which is sold at the craft stores next to the terracotta craft pots. But that stuff you have to hand paint on and I did not like the brush marks or the time it took to paint. That's when I switched to the Krylon and I have been very happy with the results.

Pegi, I agree! I just love this site! So glad to have found it. I am learning so much from all of you and can't wait to try some of the other garden art ideas.

That's great Sally. That's what I have, Krylon indoor/outdoor. And I can get the acrylic sealer. Did I miss the assembly of the pots? and (bless your patience with me), where do I get rub on's?

Debbie, I am going to take some time to make a photo record of the pots from start to finish. Have patience with me and I will have that up by the end of the day. I get the rub on transfers at craft stores such as Michael's and JoAnne Fabrics.

Great houses for the froggies!

Oooh, I'm not creative or crafty but I can do the rub on transfers and I think I have some Krylon spray paint in the shed from an old shelf I painted awhile back! I might just have to paint my little broken terra cotta "Toad Abode" and snazzy it up so that maybe a little warty critter will take up residence!

A few months ago a little toad was spending it's daylight hours in a cylindrical terra cotta container that was turned on it's side on the front porch. When I would move things to sweep the porch it would hop out and into a corner until I was done cleaning, then it would go back into the container ... maybe he or she would like a newly decorated home?

OK, here we go. Remember, this is just a very quick demonstration. Normally I take a few days to do these from start to finish so if you see imperfections in the paint or other details, just ignore them. :)

First, gather your supplies. Here I have a 4" terracotta pot, a saucer for the pot, a tiny pot for the chimney, paint and sealer, goop glue, rub-on transfers and my trustee dremel tool with tile cutting bit.



After soaking the pot overnight (this makes it easier to cut the door way), secure the pot so you can cut the door. I use my dremel tool with a tile cutting bit. This, to me, is the hardest part of the whole thing. Use either the dremel tool or sandpaper to smooth the edges of the door.



Put a good coat of paint of the "bottom" surface of the pot...the edge that will be sitting on the ground...to seal it. Also paint the chimney and the bottom of the "roof". Since this will be a Christmas house, I am using red and white as my colors.





When all surfaces have dried thoroughly, turn them over to paint the other side. I like to elevate the pot and roof to make painting easier. Here I am using a piece of pvc pipe for the house and an old paint can cover for the roof.






I like to put two to three coats of paint on, letting each dry thoroughly in between. I've only put one coat on this one and even then did not allow it to dry properly, just so I could get these instructions out to you. :)

Now comes the fun part! Pick out the rub on transfers that you want to put on your house. There are so many out there, it can be difficult to chose. In this case I have Christmasy ones. Rub on as per instructions. I also like to add a "molding" around my door entrance. Sometimes I will write "Welcome" over the door too. I don't have a real steady hand so that is not my most favorite thing. This is the only time I will use hand painting.



Now it's time for assembly. Dab your glue around the outer edges of the top of the pot (you can see where this is raised just a bit on the pot). CAREFULLY place the roof on, making sure it's even all around. Check carefully from all angles, otherwise you may end up with an offset roof! Use a toothpick to add glue to the tiny chimney (I also like to add hand-painted touches to this piece). Let all the pieces dry and then add several coats of clear acrylic spray to seal. Once it has thoroughly dried, it's ready to put out on your porch or in the garden to await a new occupant. :)

Sally: Thank you so much for sharing these directions ... I think I can do it and I'm definitely going to give it a try this weekend! I will post my creation when finished! Thanks again ... you are an for sharing!

Lin

Your most welcome. I look forward to seeing pictures of yours. I'm now starting my next creation, a Ying Yang planter. I'll post pictures in the container section once done. You all have INSPIRED me!!! LOL

Thank you so very much Sally. You made it look so easy. Amazing little Christmas pot. Did you say to use goop glue? When it stops raining I am going to give it a try. I already have everything here that I need, I think. Except goop glue, whatever that is.

You can find Goop at most hardware stores. You can really use most any kind of water resistant glue. I also use Liquid Fusion clear urethane glue. Both work great it's just that I like Goop as it's so thick..especially since the terracotta pot bottoms are really not that smooth.

Thank you so very much Sally.

Wow, that was a neat tutorial. Thanks...

Sweet toad abodes!! Thanks for the directions. I need to make these with my great neice & nephew.

WOW - what a great project, and the visual aids help ever so much, Sally! I love the bright cheerful colors you use and the rub on transfers are such a nice touch too.

Thanks everyone. They are fun to make and really fun to sell at yard sales. Here's how I displayed them. :)

Barb, it's great seeing you here! You'll see tutorials in many of our threads.

Sally, do the houses sell well? Love the display!

Thanks, Becky - this is a great site for inspiration!

Since I basically sold them at yard sales and not craft fairs, they sold pretty well all things considered. I sold enough to fund the next project! I probably should start making a lot more of them, as well as the other terracotta craft things I do and take a table at a craft fair, I'd probably do a lot better.