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Two marbled terracottta pots. One in blue and green edge and one fully covered in a red, white and blue theme.
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How to Marble Clay Pots with Spray Paint

Learn how to make beautiful marbled terra cotta pots with basic spray paints in this very easy tutorial.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time20 minutes
Drying Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes

Equipment

  • Disposable aluminum pan
  • Wooden skewer or plastic knife

Materials

  • Terracotta pots
  • spray paints in different colors
  • Painters tape Optional
  • Plastic gloves

Instructions

  • Work in a well ventilated area or outside, and cover the area with newspaper or other coverings to protect furniture.
  • Clean and dry your terracotta pots.
  • Tape off the area just below the rim with painters tape if desired.
  • Fill the aluminum pan with water.
  • Spray paints on top of the water about 8 inches in short bursts.
  • Use a wooden skewer or a plastic knife to swirl the paint giving it a marble effect.
  • For painting the top rim, dunk the top of the pot upside down into the paint just until you get to the painters tape and lift up.
  • Continue dipping the top into the paint and/or adding more paint if needed until you get a look you like.
  • To paint a full pot, dip the pot into the paint on its side and roll it around until you get it covered. Continue adding more paint to the water and dipping the pot until you get a look you like.
  • Place the pots on newspaper to fully dry.

Notes

Make sure that you work in a well-ventilated room or outside due to the paint fumes.
Also, make sure that your surfaces are well covered so that there is no overspray from the paint.
The spray paint is likely to dry fast, so you will need to work quickly.
Once the pot is mostly dry, you may notice a bubble or two in the paint. If this happens, simply press it out with your fingers.
You can use brush-on or spray polyurethane for a clear finish if you like, but you may not need it with spray paints.
Tried this project?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram