DIY ~ Wonderfully Mossy Pots

One of my favorite things in the world, gardening.

But you already knew that.

One of my fave things in the garden.

(or in the house)

Old mossy pots.

They make me think of a gardening shed in Frau-nce.

You know, the kind with stacks and stacks of antique and vintage mossy pots?

Love 'em.

Thing is, I don't have time to wait for moss to grow.

Well, I do, but I would rather have my old French mossy pots now.

So, I drove down to Home Depot (local hardware store), and found these pots.

For like 6, 11 and 9 dollars.

I picked up some green shades of flat and satin spray paint.

I really wanted Design Master brand.

But they didn't have that brand.

So, I got what they had and drove home.

Then I proceeded to make this happen.

Faux moss!

So, what do you need to make your own mossy pots?

1) You need some mossy color flat (or satin if they don't have flat, but not glossy) spray paint.

(after testing, I am partial to this color called Eden by Rust-Oleum, it worked great!)

(if you are going to a craft store you can try some Design Master brand spraypaint, it works well – the color Basil is lovely and Olive Bright is one of my fave colors)

2) You need a spray bottle filled with water

3)  Off-white acrylic paint

4) A cup of water

5) A paintbrush

6) Some terracotta pots and dishes of your choice

So, here is what you do.

Ready?

Generously spray the pot with lots of water, and before it dries lightly spray the pot with spray paint, and then quickly spray the spray paint coat with more water.

Do not let time lapse between spray painting and water spraying.

So, water, spray paint, water…

One right after the other.

And magic happens.

Remember the pot must be wet first.

I start slow and add as I go, in sections.

Then, let the water and paint dry when you have achieved your desired effect.

Don't be tempted to touch or flick off the wet paint.

Let it all dry naturally (or with a hair dryer if you are really impatient).

Don't try to wipe off the water either, just let it all dry on its own so the magic can happen.

You want the drips and globs on there, because they look like moss and lichen and all the glorious garden/forest growing stuff.

Now, another option is to first white wash your pots and dishes.

This will give the effect of salt and calcium leaching into the terracotta.

Here is what you do.

Mix a little off-white acrylic paint with water, so it is a milk texture.

Then spray the clay with water, and then brush on your white wash.

Then spray again.

The water spray gives a more natural effect.

This is what you get, below, once dry.

When the white wash is dry…

Take the terracotta piece, spray it good with water again, and spray some green spray paint on, then generously spray with water again.

The water causes the paint to make patterns, much like moss.

On the pot below, I first did some moss tones.

Then I white washed it as described above, twice.

So it would be a bit thicker white.

And then I did some moss over the white again.

You can see the completed piece in the first image, at the beginning of this post.

I also took some light color clay pots, like the one below…

And mossed them up on the bottom only.

Once again, heavily saturate the pot with your water spray bottle.

Then spray paint, then water bottle spray again right away.

Do not let time lapse between spray painting and water painting.

Then dry.

I did all the plates below with a white wash, and then the moss technique.

Looks pretty good to me.

What do you think?

Do they pass as pots with a little moss stain growing here and there?

I am addicted at this point, so I am on my way to search for more terracotta in my garden shed.

It's fun!

I think a little light teal mixed in might look fun too.

 

Off I go!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

ps:  Of course, do all this in a well ventilated area 🙂

 

pss:  Even though it is winter, I am still in a gardening mood.  And the reason I got these pots and faux mossed them up, was for some indoor plants.  I love indoor gardening in winter, you?  I just love plants in the house.