This eleant planter started life in a much less sophisticated guise - as an orange-coloured plastice garden centre bought planter. A simple paint technique transforms the fake terracotta into a deceptively realistic faux lead finish, which complements plants beautifully.
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Tools & Materials
Medium grade sandpaper,
Plastic chimney pot planter, or similar,
Spray can of white acrylic primer,
Matt emulsion paint in white and charcoal grey,
Paintbrush,
Acrylic scumble glaze,
Plastic carton,
Spray can of exterior acrylic varnish, in either matt or satin finish
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- Using medium grade sandpaper, sand the plastic planter so as to provide a "key" for the paint, enabling it to adhere well. Working in a well-ventilated area, spray the planter evenly with white acrylic primer - all over the outside and on the inside at the top of the planter.
- When the first coat of primer has sufficiently dried (follow the manufacturer's directions for drying and re-application times), apply a second coat of white acrylic primer - sufficient to cover the planter uniformly. Leave to dry thoroughly - preferably overnight.
- )Paint the planter evenly with the charcoal-grey emulsion paint and leave to dry for at least 3-4 hours.
- Place a little acrylic scumble glaze in a plastic carton and tint it with white emulsion paint. Add water until the glaze has a runny, milky consistency. Briskly brush the glaze all over the planter, allowing the glaze to run unevenly down the surfaces, forming pools that are opaque in some areas and watery and translucent in others. Wash randomly over the glaze with a little water, taking care not to dislodge the glaze in areas where it has formed naturalistic patterns. Leave to dry for several hours.
- Add more of the same glaze to some areas of the planter to give an impression of age-encrusted salts. Add water to soften any hard unnatural lines. Flick splatters of the glaze randomly over some parts to give a further weathered impression. Leave to dry thoroughly - preferably overnight.
- Working in a well-ventilated area, finish the planter by spraying it with acrylic varnish. Apply several coats, following the manufacturer's directions for drying andre-application times. Finally, leave the planter until it has thoroughly dried.
- When completely dried the planter is then ready to be planted out with your favourite bedding plants. Ensuring that the planter has some drainage holes, simply place some stones or broken pot pieces in the bottom of the planter. Next mix some compost and wetting agent together and fill the planter.
- A planter of this type is well suited to almost any type of planting, from geraniums, violas, and fuchsias to strawberries, herbs and trailing plants. The choice is endless and so is the enjoyment!
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