With the weather warming up, we decided to make plant containers using plastic bottles. It’s a good way to recycle materials you already have lying around the house, plus kiddos really enjoy working with plants and getting their hands dirty. There’s nothing like being given permission to throw around some dirt. Then, I threw in a bonus activity because you’ll already have the materials out from your plant pots. Happy making!
Animal Plant Pots
Materials:
- plastic bottles (or any other plastic container you have on hand)
- acrylic paint
- soil
- plants
- exacto knife (for adult use only)
- small rocks or gravel for drainage
- permanent marker/Sharpie
- optional: yarn, hot glue, glitter glue
Directions:
Step 1: Take your plastic bottle and draw on your animal shape. Kinsley and I made a cat and unicorn, so I drew that accordingly with a Sharpie. Then, take your exacto knife and cut it out.
Step 2: Paint your pot containers with acrylic paint. Let dry and then add a second layer of paint.
Step 3: Once dry, draw on your faces.
Step 4: Add a thin layer of gravel at the bottom of your pot for drainage. Then, add soil according to the size of your container. After the soil has been added, add your plant, breaking up the roots as you insert it into your soil.
Bonus step: For the unicorn, we took yarn and glitter glue for extra embellishments. For the tail, we cut about 5 or so 4 inch yarn pieces. We then knotted the pieces together and hot glued them to the back of our unicorn. And then we added glitter to our unicorn horn. Not necessary, but really fun. Kinsley was really excited about using the glitter glue, which I just had happened to find when I was out grocery shopping.
Bonus Activity! Flower Paintings
Materials:
- plastic bottles
- acrylic paint (we used the leftover paint from our pots)
- paper
- markers
Step 1: Prepare your acrylic paint by putting it on a workable surface (such as a paper plate or bowls) that you can dip your bottles into.
Step 2: Lay out your paper and then use the bottles as flower stamps, gently dipping the bottoms into the paint and then pressing the paint onto your paper.
Step 3: Once paint has dried, draw on your stems and the center of your flowers using markers (or paint for more advanced). Then, you’re done!
All photos by Hannah Pomante
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this blog belong solely to the Spokane Art School Artist-in-Residence, and not necessarily to the Spokane Art School.
Special thanks to Washington Trust Bank for sponsoring this video series.
