With warmer days ahead, my kids and I have been spending more time outside — and one of our favorite activities is planting. These drip-painted flower pots are the perfect project: simple, colorful, and ideal for kids. They’re a fun craft to make together and create beautiful containers for seedlings or small plants.
🌷Why This Craft is Awesome
- Kids love watching the paint drip and blend into new colors.
- These rainbow-style pots make thoughtful gifts for Mother’s Day or teacher appreciation. Start seeds at home and present the teacher with a sprouted plant in a hand-painted pot.
- A great way to refresh old terracotta pots and give them new life.
- Each finished pot is unique, so every child’s creation is special.
🖍️Supply Notes
- Terracotta pot — I used 6-inch planters, but any size will work.
- Acrylic paint — Choose a variety of colors. Squeeze-bottle acrylics with flip-top lids are easiest for dripping.
- Tray — To keep the mess contained while painting.
- Waterproof sealer — Optional but recommended if the pots will be placed outdoors to protect the paint.
📋Step-by-Step Instructions
STEP 1: Put the pot upside down on a reusable plastic tray to catch drips. Prepare paint bottles with flip-top lids and have children choose their colors.
STEP 2: Hold a paint bottle over the rim and squeeze so paint drips down the sides. Rotate colors around the pot and add drips to the top as well.
STEP 3: Continue adding colors until the pot is mostly covered. Let the paints mix naturally as they run.
STEP 4: Move the pot to a new spot on the tray so paint drips don’t dry locked together under the rim. Use a finger in the drainage hole to lift and reposition the pot if needed. Allow the paint to dry completely.
STEP 5: If the pot will sit outdoors, apply a clear waterproof sealer once the paint has fully dried. Let the sealer cure according to the product instructions.
When dry, plant your favorite seeds or small flowers. These pots work especially well for starting seedlings and make charming gifts or decor for the patio or windowsill.
✂️Expert Tips
Tip 1: This can get messy, so dress kids in play clothes or smocks. A tray and a drop cloth help contain spills.
Tip 2: Encourage kids to choose several contrasting or complementary paint colors — the drips blend into interesting patterns.
🤷🏻♀️Craft FAQs
Drying time depends on how much paint was applied and humidity. Thin layers can dry in a couple of hours; heavy drips may need several hours or overnight.
No — the decorative paint is intended for the outside only. If planting directly in the pot, avoid coating the interior to preserve drainage and breathability.
🌸Related Posts
-
Popsicle Stick Flowers
-
Rainbow Hand Print Flower Pot
-
Bottle Print Flowers
-
Making Sponge Flowers
🌟If you try this craft, leave a star rating below or a comment with your experience. Sign up for the newsletter to receive more easy kids’ crafts and project ideas.
📖 Recipe
Drip Painted Flower Pots
5 mins
10 mins
2 hrs
2 hrs 15 mins
1
Vicky
Materials
- 1 — 6 inch terracotta pot
- Acrylic paint, various colors
- 1 tray
- Waterproof sealer (optional)
Instructions
- Place the pot upside down on a tray to catch drips. Prepare paint bottles and colors.
- Flip the paint bottle top and squeeze paint onto the rim so it drips down the sides.
- Repeat with different colors until the pot is mostly covered.
- Move the pot on the tray so excess drips don’t harden underneath. Allow paint to dry completely.
- Seal with a clear waterproof sealer if you’ll use the pot outside. Let the sealer dry.
Notes
Supervise children during this craft.
- Wear smocks or old clothes to protect clothing from paint.
- Let kids pick colors and experiment — the drips create unique effects.