Terra Cotta Three

Three pots needed some sponge paintin'

After I sprayed the insides with

Thompson Water Sealant and

Let that dry-

The 6 inch green and 4 inch blue terra cotta pots 

Are draped in Folk Art metallic acrylic paint while 

The 4 inch red pot is DecoArt acrylic paints.

After the pots dried, the inside and outsides

Sprayed with Mod Podge Gloss Acrylic Sealer. 

Should've painted just enough of the insides tho-

For a hint of color to show

To give a more finished look.

Blue Monday

Made it thru another day of training for the new job. The material I do find quite interesting. However, the way the material is conveyed is a major snooze fest.  We read all day, copy and paste text for our notes--then hope we copy and paste is on our final assessment. Oh well. If the material itself were a bore, then we would have a real problem. It is not. So we do not.
****On to more colorful subjects.  Posted here is a painted plastic flower pot. Yes, plastic and originally gray before the magic happened. I sand the pot with 120 sandpaper  and then sprayed Lowe's Valspar primer for plastic on it. Once the pot was completely dry, I used an angler brush, no sea sponge this time, to paint metallic acrylic blues and a gold outside and some inside. The finishing touch was Mod Podge acrylic gloss sealer. Honestly, I liked using the angler brush for the look it gave. I still used the bristles to daub the pot like I would with a sea sponge. All in all I like the brush's look. 
****Now if you will excuse me a cat stares at me to be petted or they just smell the pizza in the oven!


Stay tuned! 

Pass the Decoupage Plate Please...

A 'test' plate to show you. Hence, I didn't trim off the over the edge paper. A rough draft to be sure--S'OK, we're chums, right? Wanted to share my first project made with these particular materials:

*8 inch glass plate from the Goodwill
* waterslide decal w/photo of my cute cat
* Mod Podge (matte)
* Mulberry paper (I used cream color)*PATIENCE

Next time I do this type of plate, I will put a bit of white background on decal. Othewise, away from the wall, the photo of my cute cat Earl Gray cannot be seen as much. Cat was not amused....

I HEART mulberry paper. This delectable paper does come in a plethora of shades. The plate was not difficult to do, however each step must dry before you do the next. Short cuts do not work-trust me. :) Stay tuned.

Monday Make

Made it thru the weekend although the Dallas Cowboys did cough up a gigantic hairball by blowing a 12 point lead fourth quarter lead with just three minutes or so to go last night on Sunday Night Football. Take a breath. I need to let it GO....inhale...exhale....Better...YEA. OK. Hmm**** On a much lighter note. I attempted a new crafty thing over the weekend. Decoupage leaves on a glass plate. I realize after my attempt I must indeed follow the directions, instead of making up my own. The leaves are from my holly bush, in front of my house. All the directions called for Matte Mod Podge to glue and seal the leaves to the plate. I chose to do my own thing and use Sparkle Mod Podge. After these few days, my leaves still look a bit squishy and the over all look is not what it should be. I didn't even finish the plate off, because I pretty much coughed up a hairball with the plate, like the Cowboys did in their game.

The cat inspects the plate. I can improve with leaves, glue, and plates, however with three games to go: can the Dallas Cowboys Mod Podge their act together?***Stay tuned.

10:56 PM

Sea sponged on a Christmas-y colored terra cotta pot. Even tinkered with wooden plaque topped with my photography secured by Glitter Mod Podge. Took a test online for one of my classes. And realize I need to absorb more of the info. Yet at 10:56 pm I am headed to bed--All flutter. And unfortunately not 'cause Denzel Washington dropped by...drat! Nope.

The Texas Rangers are just one game away from being crowned World Series Champions. Yes. indeedy. One more game. That's all. Stay tuned.

Terra Cotta Pot Ponder

As I look at the 20 pots I've painted ---er--wait--it's 19.
One got cracked as it fell off the table they sat on. Thought it was OK, til I took a good look. Yep. Gotta get another pot.

As they dry, awaiting for the decoration to be Mod Podged on them, I've learned:

• I do like one acrylic paint over another. Moving forward will use that brand



• I do personally like light colors: yellow, lime green or orange, yet I don't like painting with them



• I like to us a foam brush for pot's larger part and an acrylic paint for rim



• I like I've realized how better to stagger a project when I get a bigger order



• I like my plan to have finished completely by tonight was an excellent plan



• Too bad I didn't stick to that excellent plan-which had to do with brushes



• I like that my pots will be on the 20 tables of the writers' workshop Saturday

And bestest of all, tomorrow is Friday. Should be a weekend to remember.

Stay tuned.

Terra Cotta Tune Up

I volunteer for a chum's writers' conference and we had our last meeting before the conference (which is the 13th). I'd made mention to my chum how I do pots and would she be interested to use them in some kind of way. She liked the idea and said she would send me her favorite quote. We would just go from there...

Above is the before and after terra cotta pot. I do usually treat the inside of my pots with Thompson's Sealant. This time tho, since the pot was just for demonstration, I didn't. What I did use:

4 inch terra cotta pot
White Tissue Paper (99 cents from Dollar General) for quote
Folk Art Perfect Purple Acrylic Paint
Folk Art Wicker White Acrylic Paint
Delta Ceramcoat Sparkle Glaze
Mod Podge SPARKLE (I am LOVIN' this stuff! Me. Glue. Who knew?)

My chum liked the pot so much, she wants 20 of them--in different colors! She asked, "Can you do 20 by next week?" Of course, I can I told her, wondering all the while how I would stagger the entire process. By next Saturday, I will have 20 pots, in four different colors.

Can't wait to see how the pots turn out...
God IS so good.
Stay tuned.

Sunday Stuff

Sunday was/is a GREAT day! I journeyed to my church, Inspiring Body of Christ Church, with Pastor Rickie Rush. The message was on 'suffering' and we go thru it. The best thing about suffering is--it will pass. We got to be patient and put our trust in Him. Again Pastor Rush spoke how some folks may not 'get' you. It's those times, where others may see your light, yet not ready to grasp it. That's OK, because there are those that will and be there to encourage you. There was more--and I tell ya it was ALL good.

After I got my Praise on, and felt rejuvenated for the week, I headed to Michael's Crafts. It was just about 10 minutes from church and becoming my home away from home. I spent 23 bucks in there. It might as well be 23 million. I've been more in Michael's crafts these last five months than I've been there in the two decades I've lived in Dallas. I ain't joking. I'm floored I buy anything in there, that costs more than a dollar. The few times I went in there, before my whole, 'inner crafty' thing kicked in, all I got was a fake flower or two. That's it--then they had to be ON SALE before I did that! So a couple things included in that 23 bucks was Folk Art Crackle Medium and Mod Podge that's suppose to sparkle--yes, sparkle. OK. Both of these products, let me tell you. The crackle medium, I found out a couple weeks ago. Never knew it existed. The Mod Podge in different versions. I thought it just was matte or glossy. Never the less, these are products not in my vocabulary prior to Valentine's Day 2011.

What's next? Taking classes on the Old and New Testament?

A slice of strawberry filled cake awaits.

Stay tuned.

Hand Me A Tissue Time......

Printed on white tissue paper tonight. No fancy shmancy paper. Got it at Target for 99 cents.

Even tho I still needed to anchor the tissue paper to cardstock, its journey thru my printer went as smooth as you please. I used scotch tape for the adhesive---a thicker brand of tape. Worked just nice.

Right now, the photo print on tissue paper dries on the 6 inch terra cotta 'test' pot. Used the glossy Mod Podge. I do know the photo already needs accents--just so it does not look like a photo on a pot. Plus to use a crackle medium.

Print on the tissue paper, for me, easier than print on napkin.

We will see how the finished product looks tomorrow...

Stay tuned!

Terra Cotta Pots...Where Were We?

So much has happened, in these last few days. Met with a different university advisor who announced they really couldn't tell me what credits would transfer until I applied and enrolled into their school. I didn't like that. Of course, the advisor was about 23 and telling ME what I should think of my future. My job changes. Same department. Same seat. Different tasks. This happened Tuesday. Champs crowned on both Dancing With the Stars and American Idol. Just fine with those choices. Last night the Dallas Mavericks became Western Conference Champs and headed to the NBA Finals. Nice to have something to cheer about after the Super Bowl fiasco and the current NFL lock out. City is going nuts and I Like IT******So after all this, I took a crafty chum's suggestion to do a little show n' tell on my first completed terra cotta pot:

Treated the 4-inch pot's inside with Thompson's Water Sealant. Primed the outside (should have done the inside too). Folk Arts acrylic blue paint with Folk Arts Gems painted on after the blue dried. The Gems are gorgeous blue 'diamonds'. Compliments the paint in splendid fashion. Got more Mod Podge on me than I smothered the pot with (if that' s even possible! ) Learned lots doing this pot. Kind of hesitant to show y'all because it is not as good as it could be---will be.*****The paw prints were made with one of those hand punches. One toe is missing. I Mod Podge'd it off--by accident. Didn't realize it until the pot was pretty well dried. Decided the gone toe would signify me being born with microtia. I was born missing an ear. In my case, I have just a lobe where my left ear should be. And finally, the snoozin' kitten photo is suppose to be on the fuzzy side. Used colored pencil filter. The big ol' tabby cat out the pot is actually said snoozin' kitten once upon a few years ago.*****The first time. Got it out of the way. Thanks for being patient! *****

Sunday Twist of Terra Cotta Pots

Ya know, I was glad today was Sunday. Why? Because I got to go go back to the House of the Lord. I needed a Word from Pastor Rickie Rush of the Inspiring Body of Christ Church. Yes, I needed to know how good wants me to have my desires of the heart. I want people to look at me and see His light. Yes, all of that. However, as Pastor Rush says, we may not have that pain tolerance level to handle what He's got for us. Any other time I would think, "Well, yes I do!" *****
Alas, I think of the painted and decoupage terra cotta pot I showed my friend yesterday. I wanted Her opinion. I do believe she was being kind.****Blessing ain't hit my painted and decoupage terra cotta pot scene yet.****Nope. My pot was UGLY. I'm not saying that to get attention. Nope. It was UGLY. I'd just spot you the "GLY" and my goodness. My vision for the pots, hasn't quite made it to "what is" yet. The focus of the pot, was overshadowed by the accessories (aka tissue paper) I plastered on the pot. Oh my goodness. I'm amazed how Mod Podge transforms anything. I do admit I'm having fun messing with it. However, I'm not feelin' that good to share my pot's unattractive to you. Don't want you to turn to stone. ****I want my terra cotta pot to be terrific and pretty and I want to like it before I share it with others. My friend yesterday says, "Be patient. Art is difficult." ****Once again, I remember the C's and D's I mustered to get in junior high art class. I tell you what, once I get these pots ready for human consumption, I'm going to send one to my junior high art teacher. Yep. She found me on Facebook. It will be a surprise to her. Maybe I can redeem myself and maybe get up a "B".
****Pain tolerance level indeed.

Terra Cotta Pot III

This is my newest pot to experiment with:
And that's a piece of scotch tape. Part of my experiment too. I taped the photos that I plan to Mod Podge on the pot. I realized I may have found something to make ME happy. If I'm happy, that means I can BELIEVE in it.
The pot is a "bell' clay pot. Because it well--looks like a bell. Still an 8 inch yet, more round, wide and curvier than the standard 8 inch pot. And I hadn't really seen one until today at store, I hadn't been to in literally years: Garden Ridge. I like how the tape held my pictures on the bell. The pictures didn't get so 'lost' on the pots as they did on the standard 8 inch.
So during the commercials in Dancing With the Stars and rewinds if I missed something (oh, and I'm OK that Kendra got the boot!): I treated the inside with the Thompson Water Seal and let that dry outside. I never knew this stuff existed until a couple weeks ago. I probably did more than a couple coats--I'm still working on that part.
Once my bell dried, I smothered the outside with Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Primer.
I probably don't need the primer, yet I like my paint color to be as true as possible. I like this primer, more than Krylon. Just seems to hold better. Right now my bell pot is all snow white. I'll let that dry overnight and try to put a coat of acrylic gloss black paint on it before I got to work. I've decided I like the acrylic, especially when I painted a pot as I watched Celebrity Apprentice (Star and NeNe are Must See TV) and didn't need to worry about being fumes rendering me unconscious. Anyway, if I don't have time in the morning, I'll do when I get home from work.
Clay pots, paint and me....who woulda thunk?
I'm still in shock.
Stay tuned.

Terra Cotta Paint Pot II

A few days ago, I spoke about my spray paint adventure and terra cotta pots. I showed them to some chums of mine who I knew would be honest with: "It's great!" or "Yea, it sucks." For the most part I got a thumbs up. The paint was not on as neat as it could be. I called it my "Rough Draft".
So we move on today. I did actual mock up, using Mod Podge, the photo and tissue paper. Just not all at the same time. I was curious what the picture would look like by itself, and what a hodge podge of tissue paper would look like:

Interesting, after the Mod Podge dried. Yet I'm not ready to start my own blog on "How to Terra Cotta"...I'll leave to the experts.
What I have decided is, I will use acrylic paint. Get more for my buck and use more of my hands. As much I as I love the ease of spray paint, I spray too much. Sure, practice would make perfect- I thought of maybe using plastic pots--or lighter weight terra cotta, if there is such a thing.
There will be a Terra Cotta Paint Pot III. Just hope I have something more positive to show 'n tell...
Stay tuned.

Spray Paint Terra Cotta Pot

That's what I did during commercials of Dancing With the Stars tonight. My problem with spray painting, is I think I spray too much and then my lack of patience for it to dry. This poor pot shows what it was two colors ago. Tonight it became 'glossy' watermelon. The glitter was later...
I realized I love primer. Erases EVERYTHING. The quandary: I like the inexpensiveness (cheap) of acrylic paints however I don't really want to paint verses the ease of the spray paint. Then there's the difference of spray paint I have to be in a well ventilated place (outside),plus the price (higher) while acrylic I can sit in front of the TV. And the acrylic does go on smooth, plus goes along way for it's less than a dollar self.

What I've read about terra cotta pot player, they prefer acrylic. I can see why. Tomorrow my task will be to paint a pot with acrylic. I never knew this stuff really existed until--well, a couple months ago. I found out Michael's (big box craft store) has it's own brand--basic colors, yet just what I need (cheaper still).

I've learned alot about paint and terra cotta pots. I'm gonna Mod Podge em too. Yea, I never knew what THAT stuff was either.

This terra cotta project, I thought I would complete in a just a few days.

WRONG.

Being crafty, especially when you got C's and D's in junior high art class, is WORK. I admire folks that are good at this.

Hey, I write fiction, not oogle pictures for what's gonna look good on a terra cotta pot....uh, well, sorta maybe I kinda do now....

Stay tuned!