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.

Monday Terra Cotta in Vein

My first attempt with 'veining'. The white streaks are suppose to accent the faux marble finish.

Uh. Well. Not quite.

The white streaks were crafted with a feather-

See that one, dull gold line? Left side?

Used a dragger brush.

Yea. I did not know what was either.

People seem to like the pot when they see it--

In person.

For me, I think the pot oughta take a hit of a paint do over.

Hmm.

Anyway, I'll make up my mind as soon

As I make up my mind from the

Wendy's 99 cent menu..

Stay tuned.

Terra Cotta Chat

The picture of this terra cotta pot is now wallpaper on my phone:

As I started to show it to a co-worker of mine, she asks: "Is this your boyfriend?" As much as I would like a man 24/7, not everything has to be about a man...

Anyway, when I showed my co-worker the picture, she forgot about the man question. The first word out of her mouth was: "Gorgeous!" The co-worker went on to say she could picture the pots on her balcony and gee, "YOU could do them for me!

Hmm.

Stay tuned.

Thursday Terra Cotta

A splash of purple on a

Terra Cotta flower pot

Makes the trek thru Thursday

A bit more festive...

Terra Cotta Curious

Did I ever show you this creation from August past? I do like what I tried to do. Paint job was not the best--yet it gave me an idea what the 4 inch terra cotta pot would look like. I gave a better painted pot, with a quote from the great American actor Morgan Freeman on the back, to an actress friend of mine. She loved it. Nice surprise for me. Yep, my own worst critic.

As I take another look at pot tonight I smile at the Mod Podge Sparkle used to seal the photo to the terra cotta. See the sparklies? Never ever once thought I would be all about the glue!

Anyway, I use an inkjet to print the photo on regular ol' bought at Wal-mart or the dollar store tissue paper. Nothing fancy. And the subject?

My kitty Noir. When he was a twelve week old kitten, Noir sat (and crawled with me for two hours at a Starbucks. As I tried to talk a co-worker into taking Noir home with her. That was four and a half years ago. Yep, I do think I got the better end of the deal!
Am proud of my little terra cotta pot. Yes, I sincerely am.
Still shock about the 'inner crafty' I did not think I every really had--
In the mean time, gotta find the subject of the photo-
Noir owes me a purr or twelve since I shared him with the world! :)
Stay tuned!

Terra Cotta Bell Toll

Natural sea sponged 4 inch high terra cotta bell pot with metallics of green and gold, on top of a red base. All colors are acrylic paints. This terra cotta project confirmed to use only metallic colors to sea sponge with. Granted, it's a personal choice. I did not care much for the sponged dried/finished look of the regular acrylic paints on the terra cotta. I even sprayed gloss acrylic sealer on the dried work. Naw. Not having it. Nope. Metallic from now on.

Some folks asked if I used spray paint on my terra cotta. Early on in my posts, I did use Krylon spray paint on top of a Rust-o-Ileum primer (love the stuff). Spray paint is fast, however I think I sprayed the pots so much, I don't think it was that cost effective. Honestly, with acrylics, I am to the to the point I can paint pots pretty fast, while I watch TV. A little goes a long way. Acrylics are cheap, non-toxic, and dry fast! The best part is I use soap and water to wash acrylic paint off your wish they were hands of Monet.

Gold is the bell toll today.

Pots, Sponge & Me

My latest creations with terra cotta pots.









I think the poor pots don't what hit em! :) They are 4 inch pots purchased at Wal-mart for about 85 or so cents apiece. The paint is all acrylic by Folk Art.

The pot on the left is Black, Metallic Antique Gold and Metallic Blue Sapphire. The Pepto Bismol on the right: Black, Metallic Champagne (which dried to a silver shade), Shiny Sugar Plum, and Baby Pink.

The natural sea sponge used to paint the terra cotta pots, was a small piece cut from the bigger sponge, purchased a few days ago. After further review, sea sponges. aka called "painter's sponges", can be had at Michael's or Hobby Lobby for about half the price. I liked Hobby Lobby's sponge selection better. I didn't realize it tho, until tonight. The closest big box craft store is 10 miles away from where I live. I pass two Home Depots and a Lowe's on my 15 mins drive from work. I paid extra for the natural sea sponge convenience. S'OK--I bought a small "sea wool sponge" at Hobby Lobby tonight. I have no idea if "sea wool" makes a difference in anything.

Stay tuned. tyle="color:

Terra Cotta Pots Made Saturday Perfect

Last night I stayed up later than I planned to finish the 20 terra cotta pots for the writers' conference I volunteer for. I was proud of myself as I got the hang to print on tissue paper. I realize tissue paper will be my paper of choice. The quote along with the actual logo for the conference printed out better than I planned.

This morning at the conference, we put a pot on each of the 20 tables set up. The founder of the writers' conference even told the audience I made them. I saw people pick my 4 inch decorated terra cotta pots and inspect it. Each pot had a piece of colored tissue paper inside of it. I liked the look. Did I take a picture? Uh...well...no.

At the end of the conference, during a reception for key note speaker, I notice one of the attendees has a pot. I thought that odd, since the reception was in a different room than my pots had been in. I wound up giving a pot to the keynote speaker and thought that was the end of it. I just figured we'd go back to the original room, get our stuff, pack up the remaining 18 pots and go. I wondered what the conference founder would do with the left overs. Back in the original room, I noticed the tables were bare. I thought the other volunteers had just packed up the room.

Wrong.

The conference founder announces to me, the attendees just snapped up the pots. Huh? Another volunteer concurred. I'd left that room and headed to the reception locale, before the founder finished her wrap up. Evidently folks wanted the pots as a give-away. So those 18 pots got gave. I was told some folks took 2 or 3 pots.

Really? I admit I looked at the pots, as they sat on the table, thinking I really need to touch that one up. In fact I had a brush and blue paint in purse! I'm still in disbelief. People liked my pots!!

I did realize new logistics in the making of pot--- yet that's for another post. Right now, my feet hurt, the Mocha Frappucino melts and the cat stares me as I type this.

My pots. People liked them. The day was good as it was, yet that little part made it purt near perfect!

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 Pot Perfect

..and tryin' to get there! I mentioned my first order of painted terra cotta pots need to be done by Saturday. 20 total. The rims will be one of the 5 colors I've selected, while below the rim will be white. After the I let the pots dry from two coats of sealant, I started to paint with the white:below the rim.

When I went to Michael's on Sunday, the white paint I wanted, Folk Art Shiny Wicker White, they were out of. So I bought Apple Barrel White. OK. I found out acrylic paints aren't all the same. After I painted the first pot, I wasn't feeling it. I didn't like how it looked at all.

I actually painted over it with Folk Art Vintage White, which was a little too yellow. It was still 103 degrees out and I did NOT feel like running to the store again. Plus, I didn't want to wait until today to paint them. So I gave the Apple Barrel another try.

Acrylic paint dries fast. That's what saved Apple Barrel. The couple pots I tried, dried very nice. Liked the look and the color, which was similar to the Wicker White. I do think I used more paint than if I'd used Folk Art. I'll still need to do more research on that.

Anyway, all 20 terra cotta pots, below the rim are painted. Wednesday will conclude with painting the rims and being half way done--kinda like being the in the hump on hump day. I will use the colors: magenta, lime green, yellow, blue, and purple. Those shades all play a part in the writers' workshop flyer.

So terra cotta perfect? Tryin' .....
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.

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!

Just 'bout over...

Sunday that is. Another hot one here in Dallas. I'm sure it was over 100 degrees F today. Just summer in Texas. You get use to it and drink lots of water. Today was good. The whole weekend has been good.

Tomorrow is Independence Day, here in the United States. I hope I finally have independence on my terra cotta pots. At least more than I have. :) I've chosen the shade of white I will use for the pot's base, while the rims will be colors to accent what is in the photo. I do look forward to doing this. Excited really. My rule is less is more and that makes a statement. I'm glad I do have Monday and Tuesday off. This oughta be good!

In the meantime, as Sunday comes to a close, I am gonna hop in my jammies and watch another episode of "True Blood." I don't have HBO, so not ever seen any of this show. A co-worker loaned me Season 1-3 before the long holiday. I am hooked. Something about a vampire named "Bill" intrigues me.

Stay tuned.

Terra Cotta Caper Contnues....

If you are anything like the ladies in the crafty store I seem to frequent more than a regular basis: Where IS this pot? You ask because you want to see!
The co-owners of Googly Eyes Craft Store sure did.
Again.
Tonight.
Anyway.
Did you know rubber stamps can be used on terra cotta pots?
I didn't. Well, I never ever thought of it, til last night.
Google'd and read lotsa stuff.
So tonight I bought this ink pad:

It's Frosty White. I've been practicing on a couple of my test pots. Must say, I'm impressed with ME more than I was when I tried stencils and a puncher...
Oh I didn't tell you much about the stencils and the puncher?
Probably good reason...
So, I add an ink pad to my treasure of craft supplies.
Who knew? Craft supplies...ME? Naw.
Also this is a pigment stamp ink pad (OK, I didn't know there was a difference)
Worked much better on acrylic painted pot, than gloss spray painted pot. Don't have a matte spray painted pot, so no opinion on that
There you have it.
Rubber stamp used on terra cotta pot.
Stay tuned.

Terra Cotta Turndown...

Well, I did branch out a bit more with my terra cotta pots. Yup. Today was the last day for Johnnie, a co-worker who retired. Wanted to give her something that would remind her of me. So why not a pot with a plant in it? *****So had another blue pot, like I showed in previous post. Tried to make it alittle bit better. Which meant me learnin' how to hang with LESS Mod Podge on me and the pot. The philodendron went in and I thought it's looks OK. The pot didn't quite make me want to beg Neiman-Marcus to put me in that infamous Christmas catalog of theirs. However s'OK.*****Johnnie seemed touched, eventho the plant looked a little 'lived' in. I'll be honest, the cats had munched some of the leaves. I didn't realize how bad, until I cut some of the worst ones away. Johnnie did laugh at that. She thought the pot was 'cute'.*****I watched Johnnie's reaction. It wasn't "OMG, it's gorgeous". It was more like "Yea. OK. It's cute." No exaggeration. See, when Dodger, another co-worker gave Johnnie a darling apron he'd embroidered, Johnnie couldn't stop her gush of Dodger is so talented and should be in business and how wonderful the apron was. We both could be Johnnie's kids. I felt I came home with the C, while Dodger had the A. I looked at my little pitiful flower pot and ....*sighed******So tonight, I've thought what I could have done different? Granted, Johnnie was not a cat person--yet said, she would always remember who gave the pot to her. So maybe I should have done the pot in something different--like what SHE liked. *****In my haste, I want folks to like my pots. I want feedback to improve, that I guess I forgot it was about Johnny. She likes jams. I could have done jam labels or somesuch. Next time...*****Anyway, once I got home, I studied my test pots and pictures. Also even tho cat was on it --something is still missing...Oh well. The positive is I've lost some of my vulnerability in showing my pots. They've got to be better.
*****ALOT better so I can maybe say "OMG!" as Neiman-Marcus hands me a check for the pots they purchased!
Not there----yet. 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! *****