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Friday 5 June 2020

Rustic Plant Pots






Hello all!  I hope you are all doing okay, and staying safe and well.

It's time for a new challenge over at A Vintage Journey, and our wonderful host Astrid is looking for Rustic Charm.

You'll find all the challenge details over at A Vintage Journey, along with a wealth of rustic inspiration from some of the Creative Guides.  But before you go, let me show you my rustic plant pots.

Sometimes simplicity is all I want.  Despite my usual layers of mixed media complexity, the things I like to have around me tend towards the minimal, the simple, the rustic.

These altered pots make me so happy -particularly now they each have a plant of their own in (which you'll see at the end of the post).












I'll quickly show you some process photos and then share some pictures of the the finished pots in place.  Here they are in their original state.  As I said over at A Vintage Journey... cheap, shiny plastic.












First step was an undercoat of DecoArt Chalky Finish paint in Primitive (a nice stony colour).  I applied it with a natural sponge so you're already getting some nice texture to replace that plasticky sheen.













Next I used the same sponge to add the DecoArt Crackle Medium (formulated for the Chalky Finish paints) in various thicknesses and left that to dry overnight. 












Over that went a layer of mostly Everlasting (White) Chalky Finish, with a little of the Primitive mixed in at times, and once that had done its crackle magic I had this delicious aged, weathered finish.












The label stamps are from a giant set by Iron Orchid Designs.  They're not cheap, but I'm thinking that these stamps can be used to alter all sorts of things from pots to jars to boxes and more to make some really saleable items, so I'm definitely thinking of them as an investment.














I considered stamping direct, but in the end took the safe option of stamping onto tissue paper and glueing it down with some matte medium.  Already happy!











Time for a bit of garden distressing now... and we're back to the natural sponge to apply three shades of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish green, building from Hey Pesto to Lawn to Winter Green.














Over time, I'm sure they'll gather some more earthy colour quite naturally, so I didn't bother adding that myself!















I already love how they look amongst the terracotta and white (earthy, dirty white!) pots which are housing our flourishing herb and vegetable plants.














Each of the labels is different, of course, and with my undying love of different vintage fonts and historical detailing, I'm so pleased I splashed out on these stamps.














I already have plans for some of the endless glass jars I've been hoarding!















The two larger pots are about 5 inches tall and across, and the smaller ones are about 3.5 inches.












Even where I managed to glue the tissue paper on completely crookedly, I still like the imperfection... This one would go in the "Seconds" section in the pottery shop (where I would happily buy it at a reduced price!).














I love the weathered crackle, which I think gives them a really good stony look.














And those mossy greens work beautifully against the real greens of the surrounding plants.







Now they have plants in, they make me even happier!  Some of these are only temporary... the tomato seedlings will have to move into bigger pots quite soon.  I'll just have to get some more seeds going, won't I?!







I'm really happy with the rustic simplicity of these.  I have a feeling some more plastic pots might be meeting a similar fate pretty soon.  It's very satisfying to do.

Do hop over to A Vintage Journey to see the Rustic Charm created by my fellow Creative Guides.  We hope you'll be inspired to join us somewhere down the road this month with some charming rustic creations of your own.  In the meantime, thank you so much for stopping by today.  Stay safe, stay well, and I'll see you again soon.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
Leonardo da Vinci

Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler.
Albert Einstein

I would like to share these at the Bleeding Art Challenge where the theme is Anything Mixed Media Goes all the time
The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge would like you to Make Your Own Background - the weathered crackle is a simple background, but it's the right one to showcase these stamps I think
At the More Mixed Media Challenge the theme is Anything Goes + Optional Purple - I'm not taking up the option yet, but I will try to later in the month
There's another Anything Mixed Media Goes opportunity at the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog

42 comments:

Chrissy said...

I LOVE LOVE,LOVE your pots Alison, I wanted to do this with mine forever and only ever managed one so really going to get going now and paint my pots..gorgeous texture and love the old mossy greeny look along the bottom..FABulous.

Luv CHRISSYxx


Christine Alexander said...

The pots are incredible Alison, love that vintage look :)

Valerie-Jael said...

Your pots are fabulous, you turned them into vintage treasures. Well done, have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

Helen said...

what a great idea, they look fab!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

These pots are beautiful. They look like they have been in your garden for eons. It's hard to get anything plastic to look good, but you have certainly transformed these pots beautifully.

froebelsternchen said...

Fantastic pots Alison! Awesome!
Big hugs
Susi

Jennie Atkinson said...

Gorgeous pots Alison ! I love their shabby vintage gorgeousness - a great make for the theme this month. Jennie x

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh Alison, I am in love with these gorgeous pots! What a brilliant transformation!! I want them in my garden :o)
They look fantastic (and yes even better with plants in them). What a pleasure it will be to sit in your garden, read a book or whatever and just glance over at them every now and so often.
A fabulous take on the challenge!

Hazel Agnew said...

Well, guess what Alison? You have set my fingers itching again! What a brilliant idea....am already mentally sifting through all of my stamps and working out suitable ones.
A perfect finishing touch with the greenish tints.
Just perfect....enjoy them. Xx

Cestina said...

Oh these are lovely! Sadly it's raining (at last) so I can't follow Astrid's suggestion and admire them in situ at the moment. And what a great present a pot like this would make, complete with plant... xxx

My name is Erika. said...

I have some iron orchid designs, but not these. I never thought of altering plant pots. Very very clever. I'm going to keep this mind next year when some of mine start to look faded out, as they do. They really do look like old ceramic pieces. Happy Friday. Hugs-Erika

Julia Aston said...

Oh these are just wonderful for the potted garden Alison! What a transformation from the modern tan plastic!! Love the crackle - your lovely large label stamps, and the greens you added - these add such beautiful art to your outside garden! xx

Dorthe said...

They are so wonderful Alison,- I would never have recogniced them as cheap plastic, - the crackle is a great idea, looks fantastic-and so sweet with the soft spray of green . They look so lovely with the herbs inside.
Hugs, Dorthe xx

Monika Gulyas said...

Wow Alison!!! I just adore your rustic pots!!! What an amazing alteration!!! xx

Let's Art Journal said...

What a stunning transformation! I loved seeing how they came together, the stone effect looks amazing 😁. They look wonderful with the large stamps that you used and are a beautiful addition to your garden with those lovely herbs too. Happy June and keep well! Hugs, Jo x

Cath Wilson said...

These are brilliant pots, Alison. Love the idea of that and great to see your process. The colours are perfect and I love the French adverts. There again, I love anything French - apart from snails and frogs' legs - ugghh! I digress. Sorry... but I think this is great and would also work on any old, faded ceramic pots. Fabulous :-)
Happy weekend!
Cath x

aussie aNNie said...

Fabulously designed and creativity flows with these brilliant pots. what a lovely colour green and great texture..xx

Lagene said...

AWESOME pots, you would never think they were plastic. Do you have to put a sealer on them to make them weather proof?

Words and Pictures said...

Yes, Lagene. I've put on a matte medium seal - we'll see how they weather!
Alison x

Jane Austin said...

Hi Alison, thank you so much for joining us at the Bleeding Art Challenge with these wonderful pots, they are fantastic & look so good in your garden! Good luck ...
Jane 🌴 DT member for Bleeding Art

craftytrog said...

Wow! Your altered pots look amazing Alison. xx

Redanne said...

Alison, these are an absolute delight to behold! I love the texture you created, the colour is wonderful and those stamped labels are just gorgeous - definitely an investment worth making. They really do look lovely against the terracotta pots. You cannot beat beautiful... and useful! Anne xx

Annie said...

Such a fabulous idea Alison x I love the rustic feel you created using the paints and wonderful stamps x They look quite special in your garden x

Huge hugs
Annie xx

Craftyfield said...

Vintage labels, crackle and moss... gorgeous! I would be worried about the slick plastic not holding on to the paint though, especially outside. Do gives us an update if things go wrong, I am also decorating pots at the moments too... x

Andrea Small said...

Golly Moses, these are gorgeous! I can just imagine sitting in a courtyard with my café au lait and a pain au chocolat, surrounded by them.

Ann Chuang Crafts said...

What fabulous pots! I love their shabby vintage gorgeousness.
Hugs, Ann x

Sue said...

These are absolutely fabulous Allison, the way you've transformed the boring old plastic is amazing - you definitely need to do more! Take care and have a great week, Sue xx

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

A fantastic transformation Alison, I love how you gave their edges a touch of moss. A worthy investment indeed on those awesome labels, I really do hope they stand the test of time outdoors because they are fab..
Thanks so much for sharing these super little pots Hugs Tracey xx

Margaret Mifsud said...

Oh my Gosh! I love these gorgeous pots Alison! What a fabulous makeover with awesome textures and wonderful vintage loveliness. One would never know that they started life as cheap plastic pots .. they look incredible!! hugs xx

Mac Mable said...

Glorious aged and rustic plastic plant pots Alison. Great investment with those fabulous stamps and I love the aging effect and the crackle on the pots x.

Empire of the Cat said...

Love how they turned out Alison. I have a few of those IOD stamps, they are expensive but then they are also huge lol. Thanks for joining us at Bleeding Art Challenges ~ Elle xx

Cocofolies said...

A wonderful and fabulous transformation!!
Looks simple, but sometimes indeed the less is the more. This is absolutely the case.
Great idea, I love it!!!
Sending hugs and love, sorry for missing your last posts Alison but my mother was very ill and needed me... she passed away last week.
Corinne

Andree said...

A gorgeous set of pots Alison and so wonderfully altered. Your weathered stone treatment looks amazing and the vintage label stamps add perfect rustic charm.
Thank you for joining in with our June challenge "Anything Mixed Media Goes" at Creative Artiste Mixed Media. Good luck x

Neet said...

These are absolutely fantastic! You would never believe in their humble beginnings. They look absolutely fantastic and I would happily buy some. Those labels are wonderful and I agree they are an investment.
Wow, lovely (and I love the touch of green)
Hugs, Neet xx

Amanda said...

Great transformation, love these
Love
Amanda x

Meggymay said...

Wow, the plant pots look awesome, you would have paid a fortune for them in some up-cycling stores. They look as if they have been in your garden for a long time and I think many folk passing, when they saw they would be asking where you bought them.
Stay safe.
Yvonne xx

Cassandra aka Scrap Savvy said...

Wow Alison! Love these! Thanks for sharing the process and for joining in the Bleeding Art challenge.

Mrs.B said...

What a fabulous finish you achieved, they do look vintage and I enjoyed seeing the various processes transforming theme from those little plastic pots - amazing work.
Avril xx

Diana Taylor said...

These are gorgeous and I can't believe you got such a fantastic and authentic look using plastic pots - very clever indeed! I've tried the IOD transfers on a terracotta pot but wasn't very happy with the effect or the durability but this certainly looks like an idea I might 'borrow' if you don't mind! They really are fabulous.
Diana xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

What an absolutely wonderful addition to your garden! A truly brilliant idea that must make you immensely happy to see them dotted around your garden! The texture and colouring are so imperfect - perfect!!!! LOL!
Hugs, Chrisx

Anna-Karin said...

These pots are fantastic!! I love them! The textured finish is gorgeous and those stamps were perfect. I recently found a pot that I painted when I was a teenager and was thinking that it would have been fun to alter some pots again soon.

Marci said...

Great idea and they look beautiful!