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I’m always a little tardy to the party regarding trends, but after seeing the trash-to-terracotta trend on Instagram, I knew I had to try it myself.
I only had to watch 483,092 Instagram reels before finally feeling confident enough to try it. So, I figured I would provide written instructions for weirdos like me who find it hard to follow a video tutorial.
Here’s how I turned my thrift store trash to terracotta treasure!
Gather Your Materials
This is a simple project that doesn’t require many supplies. Thankfully, it was all stuff that I had on hand.
To turn your trash to terracotta, you will need:
- ugly/outdated vase or bowl
- acrylic craft paint (the cheap 50-cent kind)
- baking powder
- paint brush or sponge brush
As you can see, these are very basic supplies. You can get everything you need from Wal-Mart or the dollar store. And those are my favorite kinds of projects!
FolkArt Terra Cotta Acrylic Paint Set, Sun-Baked 6 Piece DIY Terra Cotta Acrylic Paint Kit Featuring 6 Colors For DIY Indoor & Outdoor Multi-Surface Craft Projects, 7594Bates- Foam Paint Brushes, 16 Pack, 2 Inch, Sponge Brushes, Sponge Paint Brush, Foam Brushes, Foam Brushes for Painting, Foam Brushes for Staining, Paint Sponges, Foam Sponge Brush
Mix Baking Powder & Paint
This first step was the one that made me hesitant. With trial and error, I figured out that it was best to mix the paint and baking powder in a 2:1 ratio (more paint than baking powder, obviously).
You want enough baking powder in your paint that it gives it a grainy texture. If you add too much baking powder, the paint will be too dry and clumpy to spread.
Paint Your ‘Trash’
After you stir the baking powder into the paint, it’s time to paint your ‘trash’.
I used a sponge brush to paint my bowl, but you can use a regular paint brush too.
It took me 3 coats to achieve the finish that I wanted, letting it dry completely between each coat.
I am very happy with how my trash to terracotta project turned out.
This little bowl and stand was on the clearance rack at World Market for $3. I loved it, but the colors just did not match my decor.
Trash to terracotta projects are cheap and easy. While this one was my first, I doubt it will be my last!
