Painting A Flower Pot

Children can paint outside on a table with out the worry of dropping paint on your floor.

1. Paint pots for gifts.
2. Children can grow plants in their own painted pot.
3. Write the name of each plant on the pot.

After you have rounded up all your old flower pots, you will need to clean them. It is very important to thoroughly remove any soil or chemicals on them.

Terra cotta pots that were once planted in will not only be dirty, but will be stained with a white coating of mineral deposits from soil and fertilizers. This stain needs to be removed not only to have a nice clean painting surface, but to kill any bacteria on the flower pot.

There are three cleaning solutions that many people use and find successful. They are here and you can decide which method is best for you.

One method uses bleach. The second method uses white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

Steps To Cleaning Pots.

1. Remove dirt and mineral deposits that have built up on the surface with a brush or scraper. Be careful not to scratch the surface.

2. Soak the pots over night in a lukewarm water solution of: 1 part bleach to 10 parts water

OR

2. Soak the pots over night in a lukewarm water solution of: 2/3 cup of water to 1/3 of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar.

3. Remove the pots from the soaking tub and scrub them with a brush. Make sure all the dirt has been removed.

4. Rinse the pots in clean water. Make sure all the bleach is removed. Soaking over night in clean water would help remove any residual bleach. Changing the water several times would also be good.

5. Remove the pots that were soaking in the clean water... Then wash pots with soap and lukewarm water.

6. Leave the pots to air dry completely.

                

The mix of pattern and color in Mexican fabric and pottery is a good place to look for a color scheme.

The earliest patterns made by man were probably stripes and circles. Simple shapes stamped and painted with their hands. They look like abstract designs, but research tells us they had pictorial intentions.

The circle a universal symbol, represents totality, oneness and eternity.

The square, earth, the opposite of the circle, the heavens. It represents honesty, integrity, morality and limitation.

The line, the stripe, represents infinite time, forward and backwards.

The triangle, the threefold nature of the universe, represents heaven, earth and man.

Geometric patterns are endless in the ways they can be used and combined.

           

The oldest pottery has been found in Japan, as early as 10,000 BC, at the end of the last Ice Age. Some of the found pottery suggests that pots were used for cooking and many were painted.

We have a huge legacy of historic and ethnic decorative styles available to us. Many of these early pots continue to influence modern design today.

Below are samples of Hittite pottery. The Hittite peoples are "a member of an ancient people of Anatolia whose empire flourished in parts of western Asia during the second millennium B.C." quote from Encarta, World English Dictionary

                                 

You have already taken the above steps and cleaned all the soil and mineral deposits from your pots. You have a clean recycled flower pot ready to be revitalize with a little paint.

1. Remove Bumps
Sand off any bumpy clay particles on your pot, using 100 grit sand paper.

2. Sealer
Depending on what type of paint you are using you may want to use an acrylic sealer on the inside of your pot. Don't use a sealer if you plan on placing a live plant inside the pot.

3. Base Coat
Select any color for the base coat. Paint a few samples to decide which base color looks best with which colors on top of them.

4. Dry
Let each coat of paint dry before applying another color over the top of the last color.

5. Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint dries quickly. You can apply many layers of paint in a short period of time. The layers of paint bind to each other very well.

6. Decorate
Decorate the flower pot to your taste.

7. Dry
When you are finished decorating your flower pot, let the paint dry completely.

8. Sealant
Depending on the type of paint you are using you may want to apply a sealant over the completed painted pot.

9. Furniture Protectors
Place felt pads on the bottom of your flower pots to prevent scratching the furniture.

1. Place tape at different intervals for different size stripes.

2. Have different widths of tape for different size stripes.

3. The space under the tape will remain terra cotta or the base paint.

4. Paint the space between the tape.

5. Paint symbols on the stripe.

1. Paint your pot with a base color or leave it natural.

2. Draw your design on the pot.

3. If you want straight lines to be straight - tape the edge.

1. Paint your pot with a base coat.

2. Paint your first coat of paint.

3. Paint circles with the end of a small paint roller.

4. Different size rollers will make different size circles.

5. Paint additional symbols if you want.

1. It depends on how you apply the paint and what effect you want.

2. If the paint is lightly streaked over the surface some of the base coat will show through. Some people like this effect.

3. If you want a solid covering without the base color showing through, paint a second coat.

                                 

                                 

Glossies Acrylic Enamel 6 Color Set

1. Glossies are water-based acrylic enamels used in many types of decorative painting.

2. They are formulated to adhere to slick, non-porous and non-oily surfaces such as glass, wood, ceramic, plastic, primed metal, tiles, stoneware, china, enamelware, and walls.

3. Colors are light fast. They mix beautifully to achieve any hue, and dry to a glossy, enamel-like finish. Thin them with no more than 25% water.

4. Glossies contain no toxic ingredients and conform to ASTM D 4236.

5. Finished pieces can be cleaned with soap and water and a soft cloth, but should not be cleaned with strong chemicals and abrasives.

6. Easy to reseal to maintain the freshness of the paint.

7. Glossies can be air-dried or heat-set. To heat-set, bake pieces at 325°F (162°C) for 30-40 minutes in a kitchen oven, for a hard, ceramic-like finish. Allow the piece to warm up and cool down gradually with the oven.

8. Glossies have a thicker consistency than that of other decorative paints.

9. For best results, use a soft natural-fiber brush, such as a red sable watercolor brush, or a soft synthetic-fiber brush, such as a golden taklon detailer.

6 Jar Set - Contains 6 colors in 2 oz (59 ml) jars, including Yellow, Bright Blue, Red, White, Black, and Metallic Gold.

Note - The color chart as an approximation of the real color. If exact color matching is necessary, use actual samples of the materials.

Read what P.M. Hollis, Burbank, CA has to say about the paint.

Glossies Acrylic Enamel 6 Color Set

"You can paint on any surface that can safely go into the oven. I've painted CLAY POTS, CUPS, TILES, and even ROCKS (althought you must make sure the rocks do not have any chance of containing water inside them or they can explode in your oven). There are twice as many color choices then what is available in this set - but this set is a real bargain price wise! Enjoy painting!"
Note: "Liquitex makes another acrylic paint not designed for baking, so look for the word GLOSSIES on the bottle." P.M. Hollis, Burbank, CA

Click here for your own Glossies Acrylic Enamel 6 Color Set from Amazon.

TV Swivel - 9 Turn Table

This TV and computer monitor swivel allows you to aim the screen to accommodate any furniture arrangement. Made of heavy-duty high impact styrene measuring 9" wide, the lazy susan can hold up 150 lbs.

The TV swivel turns on rustproof ball bearings so its safe to use outdoors in your garden or patio. The ultra-contemporary, low profile design is barely noticeable, if visible at all, when placed under wide objects.

Protective non-slip pads are enclosed with the computer turntable to prevent damaging furniture surfaces. Also available in black to suit your decor preferences. The perfect turntable at the perfect price

Read What Others Have Said About this Swivel Turn Table.

Plate has worked for years without an issue. I have a heavy 19 inch tv with dvd and vcr integrated. J. Katz, Davis, Calif.

Works great. No problems yet, a 60 lb. TV set put a bit of a strain on it but it still rotated. Can't beat the price. Jeff West, Austin, Texas

Click here for your own TV Swivel - 9 Turn Table from Amazon.

Felt Pads To Protect Furniture and Floors

Protect your furniture, with felt pads. Crafted of high quality material, a non-abrasive solution for preventing scrapes and marks on laminate, ceramic, vinyl or hardwood flooring. These pads may also be used to protect counter tops, shelves, desks, and any other surface that may be prone to scuffs and scrapes.

Available in a range of sizes. Just peel and stick! Included 96 pieces - 1 inch Diameter, 16 pieces - 1 1/2 inch Diameter and 1 sheet - 5 7/8 inches x 8 1/2 inches.

Click here for your own Felt Pads To Protect Furniture and Floors from Amazon.
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