ACCESSORIZE IT: PAINTED POTTERY
Materials
» Large terracotta pot ( 1)
» Assorted acrylic paints
5. Paint the circles.
Base-coat the circles, then let dry. Add contrasting
colors to the top ridges, let dry. Use the head pin
to add dots and squiggles, let dry. Add a coat of
brush-on varnish, let dry.
» Water-based brush-on varnish
» Cardstock
» Scissors
» Box of Sculpey polymer clay
(or air-dry clay will work fine too)
» Craft knife
» Cookie sheet and oven
» Head pin or toothpick
(for painting small details)
6. Attach the circles.
Hot glue the circles around the rim of the pot. Add
more painted designs if desired, and a coat of high
gloss varnish for that extra punch.
Variation: Add glitter to your circles, or make them
in squares or other shapes. Use the clay to spell out
words or other designs. Alternate the sizes of the
circles for a crazier effect. If you absolutely must,
use rubber or foam stamps on clay circles instead
of swirlies.
Now set your festive pot on your windowsill, and
you and your beloved plants will sing out ¡Que bonita!
» Hot glue Other Crafty Chica Ideas
Want to whip up some more Mexicana crafts?
Follow these simple tricks to spice up ordinary
objects without breaking into your piggy bank.
1. Prepare the pot for painting. Visit your local import store to find these goodies —
Base-coat your pot with a paint color of your choice, otherwise they can be found on eBay.
then varnish it and let dry. Set aside.
» Loteria — a popular Mexican bingo game —
2. Make a template. features cards with more than 50 images that can
Use the bottom of the paint bottle to draw a silver- be cut up and glued onto boxes, tabletops, greeting
dollar-sized circle template on the cardstock. Cut cards, journals, and bottles.
out the template. » Get a hold of some old Mexican movie posters,
reduce them by making color copies, then laminate
3. Make the circles. them to make a set of placemats for your next
Working on a clean, flat area, pinch off a hunk of clay, Mexican meal.
flatten it, and use the template to cut out a circle. » Use Spanish-language newspaper, gossip maga-Pinch off another piece of clay and roll it into a long zines, candy wrappers, and other paper items for
skinny snake, about the size of a spaghetti noodle. scrapbook pages or collage art.
Arrange it around the clay circle to look like a border, » Use milagros (small Mexican charms believed to
and cut excess with the craft knife. Add a swirly make miracles come true) to make jewelry, or scatter
design of choice in the center and cut off excess. them around a table to liven up a centerpiece.
Make 10-12 more.
4. Bake the clay.
Bake in oven according to package directions — Kathy Cano Murillo is the founder of craftychica.com and
usually about 15 minutes at 175 degrees. Remove the author of Crafty Chica’s Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas
and let cool. to Liven Up Your Life (Rayo Books).
