Day 8: Silkscreen Painted Amaryllis Pot

DAY 8 is brought to you by, the lovely Emily of Peck Life: The fabulous Martha Stewart recently came out with a line of glass painting supplies, and after seeing some of the possibilities, I knew I had to try it! The paints work on glass AND ceramic so I decided to combine this project with one of my favorite holiday displays – amaryllis. Buying amaryllis bulbs and pre-planting pots can save a ton of money (vs. buying them already blooming closer to Christmas) and make a great handmade gift for family and friends.

Here are the supplies you’ll need:

– Squeegee Set

– Silkscreen of your choice {I used ferns}

– Glass paint {I used Metallic opaque in green gold}

– Glass or ceramic pot of your choice

Before you begin, wash your pot and complete the cleaning with a final swipe from an alcohol soaked cotton ball, just to make sure the surface is free from any small particles or debris.

Start by placing the silkscreen directly on the pot in the desired position. Smooth it over the pot and make sure it’s clung to the ceramic and that there are no air bubbles. Once it’s in place, squirt a small amount of paint directly onto the silkscreen and begin spreading it using the squeegee. It’s best if you go one direction when spreading the paint. I ended up starting at the top of the stencil and painting in a downward motion.

When you have completely covered the silkscreen with paint, immediately remove the stencil and wash with warm water. It will need to dry for 20-30 minutes before using it again. You’ll also want to let your newly painted design dry. To completely “cure” the piece, you can let it air dry for 21 days OR cook it in the oven according to the directions.

Once your pots are completely cooked and done, visit your local nursery for some good quality potting soil and amaryllis bulbs. Plant according to package directions and in a few weeks, you’ll have a beautiful plant ready for gift giving! I like to tie mine with some ribbon just to make it festive! My Amaryllis won’t be blooming for a while, so I would like to share some flower photos of the wonderful gift you’ll be giving:

Photo Credit: bulb from Phil Dokas, and flower from Cat Dancing

 – Emily, Peck Life

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A very big THANK you to Emily for sharing this fantastic DIY. Please, be sure to give her blog home a visit.

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