How to Make Terra Cotta Pot People

Figure C

Steps:

1. Prepare the legs for assembly by painting all six of the 1-3/4-inch standard pots denim blue and allow to dry. Create the legs by cutting about a 20-inch length of 20-gauge wire. Using one of the shoes of choice, poke a small hole through the sole of the shoe and string one end of the wire through it. Crimp off the wire underneath the shoe.

2. Add one of the leg pots on the shoe by stringing the wire up through the pots drainage hole and sliding it down on the shoe. Add a spacer (1-inch wooden spool) on the wire and then slide on another pot. Add one more spacer and pot and leg one is finished. Now do the same thing in reverse on the other side of the wire for the other leg.

Figure D

3. Push the folded top end of the wire up through the drainage hole in the 5-inch rose pot so that the legs dangle out from underneath the opening of the pot. Using a bead or a button bigger than the drainage hole, crimp or tie off the wire so the legs dangle securely out the bottom of the rose pot.

Figure E

4. Glue the overturned 4-inch standard pot to the top of the rose pot using the Aleene's adhesive or Liquid Nails creating the head.

Figure F

5. Create the face by adding the two 1-inch wooden split balls side by side on head about 1-inch from the top. Add the mini terra cotta pot directly below the eyes for a nose. Glue with Aleene's adhesive; you may need to hold them in place with painter's tape until the glue sets.

Figure I

6. Make the arms attach directly to the rose pot using the 1" x 1-1/8" split wooden flower pots, two for each arm. Glue one pot upside down toward the top of the rose pot, flat side against the pot. Attach another one protruding out from the first at a slight angle towards the middle of body to create the illusion of a shirtsleeve with a slightly bent elbow. Add a wooden split egg for the hand poking out from under the sleeve. Do the same for the other arm. Allow all the glue to dry overnight. You may need blue painter's tape to hold things in place until the glue sets.

Figure J

7. Using white acrylic paint, base coat the shirt area. Add red strips on the shirt front, back and sleeves. Add overalls in denim blue adding straps up over the shirt. Add some details in black, like pockets and stitching lines on the jeans.

Figure L

8. Paint the eggs (hands) and face (entire head), in your skin tone color of choice. Paint the bottom half of the eyes white. Add a blue circle for the iris and a black dot for pupil. Add a dot of white to highlight each eye. Outline the eyes with black. Add a black smile under nose.

Figure O

9. After all the paint has dried, paint on the antiquing medium. Wipe off the desired amount with a damp cloth leaving the desired amount behind to add depth. Paint the eyes with high gloss polyurethane to make them shine. If desired add a coat of satin polyurethane to protect the entire piece. Allow all surfaces to dry.

10. Create hair by looping yarn around hand several times. Tie off in the center of the loop and cut both ends to create the look of shaggy hair on both ends. Glue in place and do a touch up haircut once on head. Glue a doll hat on head. If desired, add other embellishments, such as real buttons on overalls, toys or bags in hands, or glasses.