Venetian Plaster Pots

Alicia W
by Alicia W
5 Materials
$14
3 Days
Easy
The Venetian style is everywhere this spring and I just love it! I have a lot of plants in my home so I decided to DIY Venetian plaster pots to show off those plants - real and faux.
I began with a pot that I picked up at the dollar store. I was surprised at how big the selection was. I chose this one because I liked the shape.
If youā€™ve ever looked closely at Venetian plaster pots, youā€™ll notice they have raised designs on them. I purchased a silicone mold and paperclay to add the designs to my pots.
A-I begin by rolling a length of clay into a ā€œsnakeā€ (like you used to do when you were a kid :)
B-I laid the clay snake into the design and pressed it into the mold
C-Using a puddy knife, I scraped the excess clay off of the top of the mold
D-Then carefully removed the clay from the mold
I placed the clay onto the pot to dry. Youā€™ll do this so when the clay dries, itā€™s in the shape that you desire.
Allow the clay to dry at least 24 hours.
Once the clay was dry, I used hot glue to glue the clay to the pot.
I thought I would easily spray the pots with textured spray paint and I would be done. WRONG!
The pots that I chose had a coating on them so when I sprayed the pots, the covering began to disintegrate!
After getting over my failed attempt, I scraped the coating and the textured paint off of the pots being careful not to remove the clay designs.
I had some joint compound left over from another project so I smeared it all over the pot being careful not to put too much over the clay designs.
I allowed that to dry for 24 hours.
Once the pot was dry, it was time to add some color.
I used Parchment and Burnt Umber. I didnā€™t mix them together, just put a little of each color on the end of a dry brush and dry brushed them onto the pot. I wanted some of the white of the joint compound to show through so by dry brushing, the color was added to anything that was raised.
I also wanted a mossy effect so I mixed English Moss and Parchment together. Using a dry cloth, I gently dabbed the color onto the pot.
To add even more depth, I used Burnt Umber and gently dabbed that onto the pot using a dry cloth. It really made the clay designs pop.
I allowed the paint to dry then added a faux Topiary to this pot. I love the worn affect the paint gives to the pot and Iā€™m glad my spray paint attempt failed because the joint compound gives it a great texture.


If I would use the pot outside, I would spray it with several coats of sealer to ensure that it is weatherproof.


You may say, ā€œYou spent $14 to make this pot, why didnā€™t you just buy one for that amount of money?ā€ And I would answer, ā€œBecause the pot is 1/4 of the weight of a stone pot, I have enough supplies that I can made 20 more pots, and I have the pride of saying I made it myself!ā€
Resources for this project:
Joint Compond
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 5 questions
  • Tami Tami on Mar 04, 2018

    Could this possibly work if you need to trim a curved piece of wood?

  • Susie Susie on Aug 05, 2018

    Did you start with plastic pots?? Is that why, when you sprayed it, the coating on the pot came off?

  • Susie Susie on Aug 05, 2018

    I wonder if Hobby Lobby has the clay and the silicone molds similar to this?

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  • Dl.5660408 Dl.5660408 on Mar 04, 2018

    Well done!šŸ™€šŸ˜»šŸ˜»šŸ˜»

  • Susie Susie on Aug 05, 2018

    Me, too, Mary Howard! I think maybe she kind of covered up the mold look too much, by the end. I did love the pot when it showed a more green "mold" look! I'm with you, Mary! šŸ‘šŸ˜‚

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