There’s nothing like a craft to get everyone in a Christmasy mood. If you’re looking for an inexpensive activity the whole family can enjoy, then painting pots has something for all ages and abilities. KELLY EDEN tested it out with her children.
My kids range in age from nine to 19 and it can be tricky to find a Christmas activity they all find fun, but when I suggested decorating pots, everyone wanted to get involved.
With just a tiny bit of prep the day before, you’re ready to go.
Here’s what you need:
- Terracotta pots in various sizes (We used four tiny, two small, and one medium)
- Ribbon
- Paint and paint brushes
- Glue (we used craft adhesive spray, but a glue gun or other glue would work)
- Coloured card or small wooden star
- Cotton buds
Prep
Pre-paint three different sized pots green for the Christmas tree stack.
If you’re planning on doing the other pots, you can also pre-paint the white and red bases. (You might need to do a few layers.)
Christmas Tree stack – Easy
Creating a Christmas Tree stack is easy, fun, and less messy because you’re using cotton buds and small amounts of paint.
Step 1
Mix various colours on a paint tray or plate. (We used pink, red, light blue, dark blue, yellow and orange). You don’t need much of each colour.
Step 2
Using one cotton bud per colour, the kids cover the pots in dots. There’s no pattern or rules here! They can place as many dots as they like, wherever they want to.
Step 3
Let them dry, then fold a strip of ribbon in half, tie a knot and feed it into the hole in the base of the smallest pot.
Step 4
Stack the pots and add a star cut out of card or a wooden star from a craft store (we used shiny silver card).
Christmas Characters – Medium
Snowman, gingerbread men, and Santa-themed pots make great gifts or decorations, depending on whether the kids want to keep them or give them away.
Step 1
Decide which way up you want the pots to be (upside down for ornaments, right side up for gift pots).
Step 2
Decorate the pot with little faces or Santa’s belt and fur trim. You can get creative here – a reindeer, elves, snowflakes, or any other Christmas theme.
Tip: Let colours dry a little in between layers, especially when you’re painting black next to white or yellow. You can use a hairdryer for faster drying.
Step 3
Glue a ribbon to the base of the gingerbread man. You can also tie a ribbon and push it through the hole in the base to make hanging ornaments. Use a double knot if it comes through.
Step 4
If you’re making the pot into a gift, you can fill a square of cellophane with treats, tie it with a ribbon, and finish it off with a couple of candy canes. Yum!
Christmas Candy Cottage– Extra for Experts
This one’s a bit more of a challenge, but they turn out super cute and make great decorations.
Step 1
Paint the rim and base of a little pot in white. (Make the base wobbly to look like snow dripping off the roof). Let it dry.
Step 2
Paint little details. You can add a little door, windows, lollies, candy canes, or tiny plants. Get creative!
Tip: If you want them to be shiny and last longer, you can finish them off with a clear vanish.
Step 3
Add a ribbon and hang it on the tree.
Read more: Personalise your Christmas gifts >>
