With some bright geometric shapes and a glint of gold, these painted pots will bring a splash of  colour to any garden or balcony this winter. Terracotta pots can be picked up for just a couple of pounds from any garden centre – or scour your local thrift shop for a real bargain. Potted with a succulent or cactus they make the perfect gift!

What you need:

• Acrylic paint in white
• Acrylic paint in two other colours
• 1 sheet of imitation gold leaf
• Double sided tape (I used a 3mm thickness)
• Paintbrushes
• Painters tape
• Modge Podge to seal
• Safety knife

1.First, apply painters tape to the inside lip of the pot. This will give it a crisp finish.

2.Give your pot at least two coats of white paint – make sure each coat is completely dry before adding the next. You can use a hair dryer to speed this up.

3.Now use your painters tape to make some geometric shapes. Get creative! Remember that wherever you place the painters tape, it will remain white. Run your finger over the edge of the tape to make sure it’s adhered properly.

4.Start with your lightest colour, and start painting your first coat. A good tip is to brush away from the tape to make sure there are no blobs of paint getting under! Give two coats, making sure each coat is dry before adding the next.

5.Peel away your painters tape (leaving the tape on the inner lip in place). You may want to use a safety knife to help peel it off.

6.Now adhere more painters tape, this time covering the coloured shapes. You might want some overlap in places, or to leave parts white.

7.Now paint your second colour, wait until dry, and give a second coat. Once dry, peel away your painters tape.

8.This step is optional, but no doubt there will be some uneven lines on your pot, so the double sided tape and gold leaf is the perfect way to disguise this! Stick down strips of double sided tape along where the lines meet. You may want to leave some shapes, and accent others. If there is any overlap of the tape, cut away using a safety knife. This will mean a nice even finish.

9.Peel away the backing from the double sided tape section by section, and then carefully tear strips of your gold leaf and place them on the tape. Use a damp cloth to press the leaf down to make sure it’s adhered. Repeat this step until you’ve finished your pot.

10.Now use the damp cloth to gently press away all excess gold leaf. If some of the leaf is being stubborn and sticking to the pot, you can use more painters tape to pick it up and remove from the surface.

11.Remove the painters tape from the inside of the lip and seal with Modge Podge or PVA glue.

12.Put in a bright sunny spot for all to see!

 

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