DIY Painted Pot Mother’s Day Gift

Updated on February 12, 2025

DIY Painted Pot Mother’s Day Gift Idea. How to hand paint a ceramic pot with Martha Stewart Crafts stencils and paints.

Mother’s Day is a little over two weeks away. I have always thought handmade Mother’s and Father’s Day gifts are the most meaningful. When I was little, I made cards from construction paper and markers.

I wrote this post as a part of a sponsored campaign with Plaid and The Blueprint Social. All opinions and love for Martha Stewart crafts are my own.

How to Paint a Ceramic Pot

My crafts have come a long way, but just knowing I put the time and effort into creating something handmade makes the gifts much more special. Martha Stewart Crafts makes creating beautiful, thoughtful, handcrafted gifts easy with the new line of glass paints, tools, and etching cream.

I created two different projects using the products I received from Plaid. If you follow along with me on Instagram, you will see this big box of goodies I got to play with! Learn how I made the etched glass votive candle holders.

Supplies:

• Ceramic Pot
• Glass Paints or Outdoor Paints
• Silkscreen Stencils
• Squeegee

Note: The supplies below are no longer available as of 2024. I have linked to some comparable products in the supply list above.

I love fresh-cut flowers as much as the next gal, but I often like to give a potted plant for gifts. They last so much longer, and some can even be planted in the garden to enjoy for years to come! 

I didn’t just want to put my plant in a plain, boring pot. I received this package of gorgeous silkscreen designs. Even though I was initially intimidated to try them out, they were a cinch to use.

Prep the Surface

First, cut out your design from the larger sheet of silkscreens. The sheet has guidelines pre-printed.

Next, thoroughly clean your container. The glass paints will work on almost any glass or ceramic surface.

Give your container a good scrub with soap and water. Then, wipe the area you will work on with rubbing alcohol to remove any remaining residues.

Apply Adhesive Stencil

Peel your silk screen design off of the backing sheet. I chose a pretty butterfly design.

Attach to your glass or ceramic surface. The back is slightly sticky.

Apply Paint

Squeeze paint onto the design part of your silk screen. These glass paints are great for smaller designs because they have a pointed applicator tip. 

Smooth the paint over the silkscreen design using the squeegee tool. I used the medium size (1/2 inch) for this small butterfly design.

Before the paint dries, carefully peel off your silk screen, using care not to smudge your design. 

Rinse your silk screen with water and it is ready to use again.  

Note: I re-used this silk screen at least 10 times on this project. But by the end, most of the stickiness on the back was gone. You could probably use spray adhesive to attach it to your next project.

RELATED: More Plaid Paint Projects

I placed random butterflies all over the sides of the pot using Vanilla Bean gloss paint.

Then, I allowed the butterflies to dry for about 30 minutes before I added a design to the top and more butterflies to the sides with the Pool gloss paint.

Don’t be afraid to use parts of a stencil rather than the whole thing. Below, I only used the outside edge of this design to create a pretty border on the top of the planter.

You can air-cure your glass project for 21 days or cure it in the oven.

Finally, if you cure it in the oven, let it air dry for 1 hour, then bake it in a 350° oven for 30 minutes. Once baked, the glass or ceramic pieces will be top-rack dishwasher safe.

Please follow the directions for drying on the particular brand of paint you are using.

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See more great projects using Martha Stewart Crafts products:

You may also like:

• Etched Glass Votives
• Color Block Pillow | Plaid Fabric Creations
• Craft Paint Storage