Project by Stephanie Rutkowski of Mission Viejo, Calif. When Stephanie painted a flower pot as a birthday gift to her sister, she had no idea the kind of great response it would get. These days she makes a delightful painted snowman flower pot that's a great accent for the holidays. Materials: acrylic craft paint: blue, white, metallic silver, burnt sienna, green, red, black, orange
6" terra cotta pot
26 tomato and 24 lime vitreous tiles
tile adhesive
tile nippers (optional)
safety glasses
sandpaper
low tack for posters
1" flat, #6 round, #3 round brushes
rhinestones
tweezers
toothpicks
paper towels
snowflake rubber stamp
water-based clear gloss sealer Steps: 1. Check over the pot to be sure it sits flat and does not have any rough edges along the rim. If it does, sand it smooth. Wipe pot after you are done with a paper towel to remove excess dust from sanding. 2. Using the 1-inch flat brush, paint the entire pot (except the rim) with blue paint; it may need three coats for complete coverage. Also paint the bottom of the pot. Let dry completely between coats and when done. Tip: If at any time you are unhappy with something you have painted or need to start over, you can remove the paint with wet/dry sandpaper and water. Be sure to let the pot dry out completely before applying any paint. Once you have sealed the pot with the clear glaze, it will be almost impossible to sand off a mistake, so check carefully BEFORE you seal. 3. Paint the rim with the 1-inch flat brush and white paint. Paint the bottom of the pot with snow hills using the #6 round brush. Several applications of white may be needed to completely cover the rim and make snow hills. 4. Using the #6 round brush and the white paint, paint icicles dripping down from the white rim of the pot. Vary them in thickness and length all the way around the pot. Using the same brush and white paint, lay the pot on its side (be sure the icicles are dry) and paint a small scallop pattern all the way around the inside of the rim, making them no larger than about 1/4-inch wide and long. Several coats may be needed for complete coverage. 5. Using the #6 round brush and white paint, paint the snowmen sitting on top of the snow hills. Position the two snowmen around the pot opposite of each other. Several coats may be needed for complete coverage. 6. Using the #3 round brush and silver paint, place small dots along one side of the icicles and around the edges of the scallops inside the rim. 7. Paint a black top hat on each snowman with the #3 round brush; then add the buttons, smile and eyes. 8. Add the snowman's orange carrot nose using the #3 round brush. 9. Using the #3 round brush and green paint, paint two small holly leaves on each snowman's top hat; then paint green stripes for the scarf, leaving spaces in between for red stripes to be added. 10. Use a #3 round brush and red paint to add three small holly berries between the two leaves on the hats; then paint the red stripes of the scarf next to the green ones and add the fringe end of the scarf. 11. Paint each snowman's stick arms with the #3 round brush and brown paint. Two coats may be needed for coverage. At this time the two trunks of the pine trees should be added between the snowmen so they are opposite each other on the pot. 12. If desired, you can add a wreath to one of the snowmen, using the #3 round brush, in the two-fingered stick hand of the snowman. Then add small red dots. 13. Using the #6 round brush and green paint, paint the pine trees, starting at the top of one tree above a trunk in small sweeping motions, getting larger as you go down toward the trunk. Sweep the brush down and out to create the boughs of a pine tree. Overlap the trunk a little bit; then start the next tree (as described above) right next to the first tree, allowing the second tree's branches to overlap the first tree. 14. Embellish the trees with silver rhinestones by using the tile adhesive and a toothpick. Using the toothpick, dab small dots of glue on the trees, doing about three at a time (glue may dry out if you do more than three at a time). Pick up the rhinestones with the tweezers and place gently on the glue dots; press lightly. If there is excess glue around the stone, use a toothpick to remove it. Let dry completely before continuing. 15. Add silver snowflakes to the night sky by applying a thin coat of silver paint to a rubber snowflake stamp and stamp on the pot using gentle even pressure. Note: Do not use stamping ink to add snowflakes; it will smear when the sealer is added. 16. For the tile rim embellishment: Sort through the red and green tiles; choose 26 red and 24 green tiles that are nicely square and have smooth edges. Note: It may be necessary to nip some of the tiles apart: Wearing safety glasses, slide the tiles to be nipped into the tile nippers, centering on the seam. Apply gentle pressure with the nippers. The tile should snap apart. In some instances, you can separate tiles using your hands; be careful not to cut yourself. 17. After you have chosen the tiles for the rim, wash your hands. The tiles can be dusty and you can transfer the dust to the white areas of the pot, making them look dirty. 18. Start by positioning a red tile over one of the snowmen. Turn it on its end so it looks like a diamond and adhere the tile with a small dot of low-tack glue. Put a green tile on either side of it; these should be placed so they look like squares rather than diamonds. Going around the rim from the two green, alternate green and red until you get to the other side above the second snowman. Position that tile (which should be red) so it looks like a diamond. Once all the tiles are attached with the low tack glue and you're happy with the placement, you are ready to glue them on permanently. 19. Remove one of the diamond tiles and pull the low tack off the back; if any is left on the pot, use some low tack to remove it. Remove the tile next to it as well; this will make it easier to set the tile and it will help keep it placed after it is glued down. 20. Place a small dot of glue on the tile and place it back on the rim in the spot from where you pulled it. Press gently; the tile will be set after about 5 minutes (hold just until it's firmly attached). If the position is not right, slide it slowly and gently into place before the glue sets up. Repeat the process until you have gone all the way around the rim. Let dry overnight. Tip: Before sealing, you may want to add a personal message or your signature to the bottom of the pot. 21. Use a 1" flat brush to seal the entire pot inside and out, twice, letting it dry between coats. 22. Add some filler to pot and top with tinsel, Christmas ornaments, holly or other festive decorations. It makes a beautiful centerpiece or gift; simply fill it with an assortment of small items or a plant. We apologize no guest contact information is available.
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