Terracotta pots and saucers are perfect for crafts and here is one that I found ages ago that I absolutely adored. They’re called Terracotta Turtles and they’re made out of a terracotta saucer and a few wooden balls.
You’ll Need:
1 Terracotta Saucer (size is dependent on the size turtle you want!)
4 small wooden balls (with 1 side flat!)
1 wooden ball (slightly larger) for the head
Deco Arts Outdoor Patio Paint
Colors: Fern Green
Sage Green
Sprout Green
1″ thick sponge
To begin with cover the saucer, turtle feet and turtle with a thick base coat of the fern green paint, then set aside to let the dry completely before continuing.
Cut a flat sponge into a rectangle piece and edge the sponge with scissors to make it look like a turtle shell pattern. The size will depend on how big your saucer is.
Squeeze a bit of Sage Green and Sprout Green paint onto a paper plate or piece of tinfoil. Wet the “shell” sponge and wring it out thoroughly, the dip into the Light sage green and tap it out to remove any access paint. Apply the darker green to the edge of the sponge with a paintbrush, dabbing it on, then apply the sponge to the saucer, much like a “stamp”. Repeat until your turtle shell saucer has been fully painted with the pattern.
Glue the turtle feet onto the saucer “shell” using strong craft glue, we recommend E6000 glue. Then attach the turtle head to the front of the saucer. Be sure to paint on a face first, it’s easier to add the eyes and smile before gluing it on.
If you can’t find wooden balls for feet you can paint Small terra cotta pots in the fern green color instead.
Photo Credit to Chef Ping
This is darling. Thanks for sharing.
This is so adorable! Definitely going to try this! Does it need to be sealed with polyurethane or anything, or is the paint sturdy enough to brave the outdoor elements, without peeling off of the smooth terracotta surfaces?
I think i’d seal them anyway, it definitely wouldn’t hurt!
I use a waterproof sealant (usually Mod Podge Brand) it can be used over water-based acrylic paints without yellowing.
I made these Terracotta Turtles with my kids, and they turned out so adorable! 🐢🎨 We painted each one with different patterns and added a shiny clear coat to protect them. We even used one as a little planter for succulents, and it looks great on the windowsill!