When I was planning our chalkboard theme double graduation party I found pictures on Pinterest that coordinated with our chalkboard theme of painted terra cotta pots, which I thought planted with flowers in the kids school colors would make great centerpieces. The problem was I needed 10 and didn't really want 10 small terra cotta pots when the party was over and I didn't want to pay $25 (at $2.50 each) for pots I'd just get rid of afterwards. So I experimented with two packages of 6 plastic pots from the dollar store (yep, six for $1) just to see if I could get the look I was after for $2 instead.
The results? I loved how they turned out - so much so that I am keeping them to use for regular centerpieces and table decor! And since I liked them so much, you know I'd share what I did with you all, don't you? (I'm providing the affiliate links as examples, and if you do buy from Amazon, it helps support this site at no extra cost to you - thanks!)
Easy Steps to Make Dollar Store Chalkboard Pots
- Spray paint plastic, dollar store pots (6/pkg) with 2-3 coats of flat black spray paint until covered. I always keep a can or two of this paint (affiliate link) on hand since I discovered it works just as well as official chalkboard paint.
- Line the pot with plastic and add the potted plant. The plastic helps keep the moisture from running out of the pots, but you'll still need to be careful when watering.
- Condition the outside of the pot by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk all over it.
- Then take a cloth and gently wipe, leaving a dusting of chalk which creates the "chalkboard" effect.
- Add writing with chalk (also from the dollar store!) or a chalk marker (affiliate link). However, if you use a chalk marker, it won't come off easily - you'll need to use a wet cloth and then will need to spray the pots lightly again with paint and recondition them. So I guess I'm not really recommending chalk marker, am I?
The one drawback to the flimsy plastic dollar store pots is that they aren't heavy enough to keep from toppling over in the wind. If using outside like we did for our party, weight the top of the plant with rocks, which worked perfectly.
I planted our graduation centerpieces with .99 marigolds, which I had planned to plant in our vegetable and herb gardens, anyway (they help keep bugs away, or are supposed to anyway, but I like the way they look so I try to plant some each year) and added pinwheels and chalkboard pennant flags with our graduates names. They were perfect and cost a total of $2.17 ($1 for the plant, $1 for the pinwheel and .17 for the pot).
When I realized how cute the pots turned out, I bought a couple of small lavender plants for some, changed the writing and now use them outside in our gazebo and outdoor table.
And then I thought, "wouldn't they look fun on our mantel?" Chalkboards are so versatile, aren't they? How would you use these .17 dollar store chalkboard pots - any other ideas?
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