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Drip Paint Pots

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Author by Amanda Davis on June 6, 2025 Updated on June 6, 2025

Using beautiful colors of your choice, you can create stunning drip painted clay pots that are fun for everyone.

little boy holding drip paint pot

Have you seen those drip paint pots out there and wondered how to make one? Such a pretty clay pot craft that’s awesome for both kids and adults.

Why this project is a hit

First of all, how fun! Kids and adults alike will enjoy creating these drip paint pots without the need for any painting expertise or talent.

These pretty drip pots are useful too. They are perfect for children to make as gifts for parents or grandparents, but also make a great project for seniors!

RELATED – You might also like this project – DIY Tea Towels

two drip painted pots with flowers on stairs

Expert Tips & FAQs

We recommend using a combination of acrylic paints and a sealer, or if you want to keep your pots outside, go with Patio Paint, which is specifically formulated for the outdoors.
The trick here is to not squeeze too much paint out at once so you don’t end up with a big blob of muddled shades. Use small amounts because you can always add more, but can’t take any away.
Be certain you use something to elevate the pot so that the rim is not touching the work surface. If you place the pot right on the work surface, the paint will gather around the rim and dry there, causing a messy looking jagged rim. We used a jar to hold our pot, which allowed the paint to drip off onto the protected work surface.
You can use your decorated pot to hold office supplies, bookmarks, crayons, scrunchies, bracelets, or anything else you can think of!
Important Note – if you allow water to sit in the tray after watering your plant, it can soften the paint around the bottom of the pot and cause it to peel.

Craft supplies you will need:

You can print the full supply list and instructions at the end of this post!

Terra cotta pot
Painter’s tape
Acrylic craft paint (or Patio Paint) in white and your choice of colors
Clear outdoor sealer (if keeping pot outdoors)
Paintbrush
Jar or other cylinder
Newspaper or plastic tablecloth

Helpful Project Information:

Age Level: 5 and up – smaller children may need help
Mess Factor: Medium – paint
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Time to Complete: 20 minutes active, 24-48 hours dry time
Cost Estimate: Less than $2.50

How to Make Drip Paint Pots

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this project. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!

Preparation

Start by covering a large work surface with 2-3 layers of newspaper, or line with a disposable plastic tablecloth.
Cover the hole in the bottom of the pot using painter’s tape. This will keep the paint from dripping through.

Decorating Your Pot

Paint the outside of the terra cotta pot with white paint, including the rim. Do not paint the inside of the pot.
When white paint is dry, place the pot upside down onto a jar or similar cylindrical object to keep the pot suspended.
Choose a color of paint to start with. Squeeze enough of that color onto the bottom of the pot, enough to cover the bottom so that it begins dripping over.
Next, squeeze the second and any additional colors slow and sparingly in the areas you want those colors to drip down. The rest is up to you! Use as little or as much as you want, and as few or as many colors you want.
Now you have to be patient and wait. It can take anywhere from 24-72 hours to dry, depending on how much paint you used.
If you will be planting any live plants in your pot, be sure to use a skewer, fork or knife to poke a hole through the paint and the painters tape once the pot is dry. This will allow for drainage as the original pot intended.

Optional

You can paint a terra cotta trap to go with your pot!

Making drip paint pots is a fun garden craft for kids and perfect for the outdoors. Adults will love this project too!

More Clay Pot Crafts

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Drip Paint Pots

Using beautiful colors of your choice, you can create stunning drip painted clay pots that are fun for everyone.

Prep Time5 minutes

Crafting Time20 minutes

Dry Time2 days

Total Time2 days 25 minutes

Age Group: Adult Crafts

Project Type: Spring

Makes: 1 pot

Supplies

Terra cotta pot
Acrylic craft paint or Patio Paint in white and your choice of colors
Clear outdoor sealer (if keeping pot outdoors)

Craft tools

Painter's tape
Paintbrush
Jar or other cylinder
Newspaper or plastic tablecloth

Instructions

Preparation

Start by covering a large work surface with 2-3 layers of newspaper, or line with a disposable plastic tablecloth.
Cover the hole in the bottom of the pot using painter’s tape. This will keep the paint from dripping through.

Decorating Your Pot

Paint the outside of the terra cotta pot with white paint, including the rim. Do not paint the inside of the pot.
When white paint is dry, place the pot upside down onto a jar or similar cylindrical object to keep the pot suspended.
Choose a color of paint to start with. Squeeze enough of that color onto the bottom of the pot, enough to cover the bottom so that it begins dripping over.
Next, squeeze the second and any additional colors slow and sparingly in the areas you want those colors to drip down. The rest is up to you! Use as little or as much as you want, and as few or as many colors you want.
Now you have to be patient and wait. It can take anywhere from 24-72 hours to dry, depending on how much paint you used.

When the Pot is Dry

If you will be planting any live plants in your pot, be sure to use a skewer, fork or knife to poke a hole through the paint and the painters tape. This will allow for drainage as the original pot intended.

Optional

You can paint a terra cotta trap to go with your pot!

Expert Tips & FAQs

We recommend using a combination of acrylic paints and a sealer, or if you want to keep your pots outside, go with Patio Paint, which is specifically formulated for the outdoors.
The trick here is to not squeeze too much paint out at once so you don’t end up with a big blob of muddled shades. Use small amounts because you can always add more, but can’t take any away.
Be certain you use something to elevate the pot so that the rim is not touching the work surface. If you place the pot right on the work surface, the paint will gather around the rim and dry there, causing a messy look, jagged rim. We used a jar to place our pot onto, which allowed the paint to drip off onto the protected work surface.
Important Note – if you allow water to sit in the tray after watering your plant, it can soften the paint around the bottom of the pot and cause it to peel.

This post originally appeared here on June 5, 2020.

Author
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Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.