Mother’s Day is coming so let’s Decoupage Flower Pots with Fabric to give to mom! This easy craft for kids uses cute fabric to turn a simple flower pot into a thoughtful DIY gift.
Jump to:
Cute Craft Alert: Flower Pot Decoupage
We just had a family weekend and the grandkids enjoyed making decoupage flower pots together. I had a stack of fabric pieces they could choose from and each chose a different one.
We used the paper pattern that you see in the post pictures. That made it easier for the younger kids to do right alongside the older ones.
If your kids have never worked with decoupage before, they are going to love it! You can decoupage with tissue paper, leaves, magazine pictures, and other thin materials. Today, we'll be using fabric pieces!
I think your kids would like making this project and I think mom (or Nana) would love a fabric covered flower pot for Mother's Day! Fill the decoupaged pot with a potted flower, silk flowers, or candy for a pretty gift.
Supplies
Here are a few quick notes about the supplies you will need to decoupage on terracotta pots!
- Terra cotta flower pots- You can choose any size flower pots. I used a 4” and a 2” pot in the video.
- Clay pot sealer (spray)- (optional) If you will put a live plant and potting soil in the pot, use clay pot sealer inside.
- Fabric- Cotton fabric or outdoor piece of fabric in a ½ yard or less amount. Try checking your fabric stash.
- Large piece of paper- You will make a pattern out of paper. It could be butcher paper or newspaper if you don’t have white paper on a roll.
- Mod Podge- Use Mod Podge to attach the fabric to the terracotta pot. I would choose matte finish but gloss finish works as well.
- Brush or foam brush- To apply the Mod Podge use a larger paintbrush or a foam brush.
- Acrylic craft paint- (optional) Paint the pot with a light color acrylic craft paint if the color of the pot shows through your fabric.
- Mod Podge Outdoor- (optional) If the pot is to be set outside then use Outdoor Mod Podge as a last coat. This does not make it waterproof though, just water resistant.
- Dowel rod or skewer- (optional) The dowel rod or skewer will hold the small wooden heart and stick down into the pot.
- Wooden heart cutout- (optional) The wooden heart will be for a message you write and it sticks down into the pot.
- Permanent marker- (optional) The permanent marker will be used to write on the wooden heart.
Steps to Decoupage Terracotta Pots
Seal the inside of the pots and saucers with clay pot sealer and let dry. This is optional but sealing allows you to put a potted plant in the decoupage pot. Let them dry for 24 hours or the amount of time listed in the directions.
Create your pattern
Use the terra cotta pot to make a pattern on the paper. Lay the pot on its side and roll it across the paper. See how it makes an arch shape?
Draw around the top edge as you roll it on the paper. Then draw around the bottom edge as you roll it back across the paper. Be sure to have the clay pot roll completely around.
Draw a line about 1 inch above and another line 1 inch below the two pot lines. Also add a bit extra to the end of the paper for overlap. This adds extra fabric to turn under the edges of the pot.
Use the pattern to cut out the shape from the fabric. Try wrapping the fabric around the pot to make sure it is large enough.
Decoupage the flower pots
Cover the terracotta pot with a coat of Mod Podge. Then wrap the fabric around the pot. Smooth out any air bubbles and be sure to get the fabric to fit down under the lip of the pot.
Where the fabric overlaps, trim this down if it is more than about an inch of overlap. Use more Mod Podge to get it to stay down.
Put some Mod Podge on the top edge and inside the pot to about one inch down from the top. Tuck the top edge of the fabric down inside of the clay pot. Smooth it out as much as possible.
Seal down the extra fabric under the bottom of the pot with Mod Podge. It helps to cut slits down into the fabric and then use Mod Podge to seal down the flaps of fabric.
Allow the Mod Podge to completely dry. Then add an extra coat of Mod Podge over the entire pot surface.
Use Outdoor Mod Podge as the finish coating to put the pot on a covered porch outside. This makes it water resistant (but not water proof).
Add a potted flower, silk flowers, or candy.
Make a gift tag insert
Paint a wooden craft heart white. Write a message on the heart for the person you'll give it to or for decoration.
Glue the heart to a dowel rod or skewer. Break the dowel to the length that works in your your pot, so you can see it above the flowers or candy.
Insert the dowel into the flowers.
Craft Tips
These tips can help making decoupaging the terracotta flower pot even easier!
- Paint- Paint the terra cotta pots a light acrylic paint color if the fabric is thin. Then the orange of the pot won’t show through in your decoupage project.
- Marking- Mark the pot in one spot on the edge. Use this mark to make sure you roll the pot completely around when making the pattern. Or the fabric will be too short to cover the pot.
- Hand- Stick your hand inside the pot as you add Mod Podge on the outside and wrap the fabric around. This makes it easier to hold.
- Slits- Cut a few slits in the bottom and top edge of the extra fabric (not clear to the edge of pot). This makes it easy to glue down over the edges of the pot.
- Plastic- Have a plastic bag or piece of plastic wrap handy and set the pot on it to dry. The Mod Podge sticks to the paper but comes off of the plastic.
Craft Variations
Want to switch things up? Here are a few ways you can customize and play with this craft.
- Use strips of fabric- Wrap strips of fabric (instead of one large piece) around the pots and make a fun patchwork effect.
- Paint on top- Paint a design or name on the pot when the Mod Podge is dry. This personalizes it even more.
- Decoupage- Use paper instead of fabric to cover the pot. Tear or cut the paper into pieces to do the decoupage covering. You can cover the pot with napkins, photos, newspaper, magazine pictures, or tissue paper as well.
FAQ
Yes you can! You can use fabric or paper to cover the pots in fun patterns and color. I use Mod Podge and keep them inside. The pots need to be sealed if used outdoors and still aren't really considered water proof though.
Yes, Mod Podge works on terracotta pots. It is used to decoupage the pots with fabric or paper of any sort. They need to be sealed and aren't really considered waterproof though.
More DIY Fabric Crafts for Kids
Looking for more easy DIY kids crafts that use extra fabric you might have laying around? Here are a few of our favorites:
Come join the fun at WTN!
Try this craft, leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.
More Crafts Please!
Love getting crafts straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive a weekly email that shows you our new crafts of the week and get a free craft making gift!
How to Decoupage Flower Pots with Fabric (Easy Mother’s Day Gift!)
Items Required
- Terra cotta flower pots I used a 4” and a 2” pot in the video
- clay pot sealer (optional)
- Cotton fabric or outdoor piece of fabric in a ½ yard or less amount
- Large piece of paper make a pattern out of paper
- Mod Podge
- larger paintbrush or a foam brush.
- acrylic craft paint (optional)
- Outdoor Mod Podge(optional)
- dowel rod or skewer (optional)
- wooden heart (optional)
- permanent marker(optional)
Instructions
- Seal the inside of the pots and saucers with clay pot sealer and let dry. This is optional but sealing allows you to put a potted plant in the decoupage pot. Let them dry for 24 hours or the amount of time listed in the directions.
- Use the terra cotta pot to make a pattern on the paper. Lay the pot on its side and roll it across the paper. See how it makes an arch shape?Draw around the top edge as you roll it on the paper. Then draw around the bottom edge as you roll it back across the paper. Be sure to have the clay pot roll completely around. Draw a line about 1 inch above and another line 1 inch below the two pot lines. Also add a bit extra to the end of the paper for overlap. This adds extra fabric to turn under the edges of the pot.
- Use the pattern to cut out the shape from the fabric. Try wrapping the fabric around the pot to make sure it is large enough.
- Cover the terracotta pot with a coat of Mod Podge. Then wrap the fabric around the pot. Smooth out any air bubbles and be sure to get the fabric to fit down under the lip of the pot.Where the fabric overlaps, trim this down if it is more than about an inch of overlap. Use more Mod Podge to get it to stay down.
- Put some Mod Podge on the top edge and inside the pot to about one inch down from the top. Tuck the top edge of the fabric down inside of the clay pot. Smooth it out as much as possible.Seal down the extra fabric under the bottom of the pot with Mod Podge. It helps to cut slits down into the fabric and then use Mod Podge to seal down the flaps of fabric.
- Allow the Mod Podge to completely dry. Then add an extra coat of Mod Podge over the entire pot surface.Use Outdoor Mod Podge as the finish coating to put the pot on a covered porch outside. This makes it water resistant (but not water proof).
- Add a potted flower, silk flowers, or candy.
- Paint a wooden craft heart white. Write a message on the heart for the person you'll give it to or for decoration.Glue the heart to a dowel rod or skewer. Break the dowel to the length that works in your your pot, so you can see it above the flowers or candy.Insert the dowel into the flowers.
Leave a Reply