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Flower pot present
Plastic Pot
People love to be given a plant, and you can make it really personal by decorating the outside. If you want to keep the plastic pot it will probably be bought in, just stick pretty material onto it. You could do a patchwork pattern with roughly cut-out shapes, or buy glittery braid and stick it round in rings. This looks very attractive but costs a bit. If you have lots of wool, stick this round. You could make it into plaits with three pieces of wool first. Use colours similar ones to the flower. You could also draw anything to suit the occassion, or write a name with fabric. These are just some ideas to get you started, as you will probably have your own too.
Terracotta Pot
If you can move the plant (transplant it is the proper word!) into a terracotta pot, you could use acrylic paints to make a design on the pot. You will need to buy these (they are not cheap, be warned!) and if you want to do a really sophisticated design you will also need carbon paper, tracing paper (grease-proof paper will be O.K. instead) and masking tape, as well as a good brush to apply the paint with.
First of all, make sure the pot is absolutely clean (or the paint won't stick) and dry- leave it overnight to dry after washing to make sure.
You can just draw the pattern or pictures straight on if you like- lightly first in pencil. Christmas trees, flowers, or whatever you like (or what the receiver likes!)
You could do individual ones, or smaller ones going round in a circle round the pot 3 If you want to do a more complicated repeat pattern to go right round the pot, it's important to know how far round it is. Start off by cutting a strip of tracing paper to go round the top of the pot and cut it so it's exactly the right size. With a pencil, draw your design onto the tracing paper, or if you prefer do it on paper first then trace it.
4 Cut a strip of carbon paper a little bit wider and as long as the tracing paper strip. Tape it round the pot with the carbon side towards the pot, then tape the tracing paper over the top. Now using a hard pencil go over the tracing, and the design will be transferred to the pot.
5 Remove the papers and paint it. Mix the acrylic paint with a little water so its like thin cream. You may need a couple of layers of paint. Let each colour set before doing the next one- it may take a while but it will be worth it.
6 These pots look very professional and you may be able to make a small business out of selling them in the spring. They will not take frosty weather by the way.
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