This is definitely the summer of DIY flower planters at DIYShowOff, isn’t it? We’ve always been so busy with projects INside the house, that decorating outside hasn’t been a priority but this year, I’ve been especially happy to celebrate summer. I wanted to spruce up the yard a little with some colorful flowers and flower pots and that’s exactly what I’ve accomplished. I do promise (I think) that this is the last DIY flower pot project of 2013.
![Stacked Stenciled Ombre Flower Pots Tutorial](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Stacked-Stenciled-Ombre-Flower-Pots-Tutorial.jpg.jpg.jpg)
Materials:
- Terra cotta flower pots (5 different sizes from smaller to bigger)
- DecoArt Patio Paint (1 Blue Jay Blue, 1 Robin’s Egg Blue, 1 Blue Bahama, 2 Cloud White, 1 Woodland brown)
- Vinyl stencils (I created mine with my Silhouette Cameo and vinyl from my sponsor, Happy Crafters).
- Krylon Clear Coat
- Rebar (mine is 42″)
- Potting soil and flowers
- Optional: Curtain rod finial (I found mine at a thrift store and spray painted it white)
Ombre flower pots Tutorial:
I purchased three colors blue and two bottles of white patio paint to create 5 colors in styrofoam bowls:
- Blue Jay Blue
- 50/50 Blue Jay Blue and Robin’s Egg Blue
- Robin’s Egg Blue
- 50/50 Robin’s Egg Blue and Blue Bahama
- Blue Bahama
![deco art patio paint](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/deco-art-patio-paint.jpg)
For each pot, I started with one of the base colors above. Using a foam brush, I started on the bottom, “feathering” the paint. I then elevated my pots to make painting/drying easier.
![painting terra cotta flower pots](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/painting-terra-cotta-flower-pots.jpg)
Then added white to the paint and feathered another row on the same pot, working my way around the pot.
And added more white and repeated.
![ombre flower pot tutorial](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ombre-flower-pot-tutorial.jpg)
When the bottom was dry, I flipped the terra cotta pot. Then added more white to my paint and finished all the way to the top and a little down into the inside.
I did the above steps for each paint color for each terra cotta pot.
Then I mixed all of my left over paint together and painted the insides of my flower pots…
![painting flower pots](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/painting-flower-pots.jpg)
then flipped and painted the bottoms and let them dry overnight.
![painting terracotta flower pots](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/painting-terracotta-flower-pots.jpg)
Next, using my Silhouette Cameo and vinyl from Happy Crafters, I created vinyl stencils with this little quote:
Your mind is a garden.
Your thoughts are the seeds.
You can grow flowers.
Or you can grow weeds.
making sure that the sizing was correct for each pot. I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut vinyl stencils.
![Happy Crafters](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Happy-Crafters-.jpg)
Since I’m using the vinyl as a stencil, I peeled away the lettering.
![creating a vinyl stencil](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/creating-a-vinyl-stencil.jpg)
Applied the transfer paper and peeled away the wax paper like backing…
![vinyl stencil](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/vinyl-stencil.jpg)
and applied the stencils to my terra cotta pots. Since the pots are curved, I found it easiest to apply each line of stencil text individually. Rub with a credit card then peel away transfer paper.
![applying vinyl stencil to terra cotta](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/applying-vinyl-stencil-to-terra-cotta.jpg)
Next I filled in the lettering with brown patio paint.
![stenciled terra cotta pots](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/stenciled-terra-cotta-pots.jpg)
I removed the vinyl stencils as soon as I was done painting and let everything dry for 72 hours according to the patio paint’s instructions.
![painting and stenciling terra cotta pots](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/painting-and-stenciling-terra-cotta-pots.jpg)
Then gave the insides and outsides a spray of protective clear coat.
![sealing painted terra cotta pots](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sealing-painted-terra-cotta-pots.jpg)
Once that was dry, it was time to plant! I even tried to find flowers in purples ranging from dark to light for more ombre effect… ![purple ombre flowers](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/purple-ombre-flowers.jpg)
And followed Beth’s instructions for stacking my flower pots at Home Stories A to Z utilizing rebar.
![stacking terra cotta pots](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/stacking-terra-cotta-pots.jpg)
Watered them too.
![stacked ombre flower pots](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/stacked-ombre-flower-pots.jpg)
Then topped off the rebar with my finial…
![finial](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/finial.jpg)
![stacked ombre flower pots tutorial](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/stacked-ombre-flower-pots-tutorial.jpg)
Colorful and happy! More DIY planter tutorials:
How to Make a Chandelier Flower Planter
![pink-chandelier-planter](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/pink-chandelier-planter.jpg)
How to Make a Tire into a Planter
![tire flower planter decor](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/tire-flower-planter-decor.jpg)
How to Make House Number Flower Pots
![house number flower pots](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/house-number-flower-pots.jpg.jpg)
How to Make a Vertical Pallet Herb Garden
![free standing pallet herb garden](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/free-standing-pallet-herb-garden.jpg)
This post is sponsored. Vinyl and transfer paper supped by Happy Crafters. ![HClogopngsmall](https://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/HClogopngsmall.png)