New Season, New Projects
Are you like me? Do you like to do seasonal DIY projects? In my home with every new season comes new projects…but I especially love that about spring and fall. Every year, this time, I will inevitably come up with a new project, good or bad. The one I am sharing with you today is fun and unique. Perfect for any outdoor space!
One of Just a Few Projects…
A few years ago my dad helped me cement (3) 2×4’s into 3 flower pots, just so I could hang lights from them around our much-used firepit area. But that is a project to share another day. It did however turn out better than I ever thought.
Supplies Needed:
- (2) 10″ Terra Cotta Pots
- (2) 4″ Terra Cotta Pots
- Gray and White Acrylic Paint (just a small bottle from the craft section at Wal-Mart will do)
- Inexpensive small paintbrush or sponge and a paper bowl
- Sandpaper
- Bag of Pea Gravel Pebbles or any small pebbles
- Hurricane Globe or small glass candle holder
- Favorite Flower, I chose purple pansies
- Planting Soil
- (2) Candles
Step By Step How To:
We are going to start the process by painting the larger terra cotta pots. I chose to use white and gray paint, but you can do whatever colors that suit you and your style. That is the awesome thing about DIY’s, we can do the same project but they all come out differently depending on our personalities and style
Step One:
I started by pouring both the white and gray paints together in my bowl and mixing them up together. The gray helps to tone down the brightness of the white paint, which I really liked in the end.
Once the paint is mixed to your liking, apply a thick coat to the (2) 10″ pots. I did apply 2 coats just for myself. Now let them dry. If you are doing this project outside and it is warm, it will not take long for the paint to dry.
Step Two:
While you are waiting for the paint to dry, you can fill up the 2 smaller pots with the pea gravel or small pebbles you have. You will want to fill them up to the top of the pot.
Step Three for Terra Cotta Lantern:
Now that the paint has dried, we are ready to sand the terra cotta pots to add a rustic look. This job you will want to do outside as it can be a little messy. I used 180 grit sandpaper, but any will do and did a quick once over of the pots.
After 2 coats of paint 
The look after a quick sanding
Let’s Build Our Lanterns
Now everything is ready to build the lanterns and I can’t wait for the outcome!! Fill the 10″ pots about 1/2 full of potting soil, then sit the 4″ pot, with the pebbles, in the center of the larger pot. Place your plants around the small pot. Finish by gently filling up the 10″ pot with soil, making sure that the small one stays centered.
1/2-3/4 full of potting soil 
Place plants on top of soil, around the smaller pot
Final Step…The Finished Product:
Finally, to finish up our unique lanterns, easily place the hurricane globe or glass candle holder into the pebbles in the smaller pot. Now sit the candle of your choice inside the globe and place your now finished lantern on your patio or outside sitting area.
Lantern with Hurricane Globe 
Lantern with Glass Candle Holder
Final Thoughts:
I am so excited about how the Terra Cotta Pot Lanterns turned out. We list them almost every night now that the weather is warmer.
Of the many things we hope to do on this journey, one of them is to encourage you to get creative. We all have a creative side…get out there and find it.
Blessings always, Amanda
How cute are these? I love doing DIY projects, and these would be a great addition to out outside patio area!