Welcome to the IHC Craft Room! I’m Mary, and in this beginner-friendly tutorial, we’re ditching the fancy dotting tools and using good old household items to create two adorable dot-painted terra cotta pots. If you’ve got a pencil, the end of a paintbrush, and a toothpick, you’re already more prepared than you think.

Whether you want to add some personality to your indoor plants or just try something new, this step-by-step guide covers all the techniques, tips, and sealing secrets to make your DIY flower pots not only beautiful, but built to last.

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Materials You’ll Need:

From the Dollar Store:

• Two 4″ terra cotta flower pots

Paints (acrylic):

• White, Black, Tropical Blue, Christmas Red, Christmas Green, Tutti Frutti, Bright Yellow, Lavender

Finishes:

• Liquitex Matte Varnish
• Minwax Polycrylic Clear Gloss

Tools (aka: whatever you already own):

• Pencil (eraser side)
• Wood skewer
• Paintbrush (end + bristles)
• Toothpicks
• Q-tips
• Parchment paper
• Wet rag
• Water cup
• Painter’s tape (optional but helpful)

Step 1: Prepping Your Pots (a.k.a. Don’t Skip This Part)

Before any painting happens, scrub off those frustrating stickers (pro tip: use a heat gun, not rage). Then wipe down the pots to remove dust and debris.

Apply 2 thin coats of Liquitex Matte Varnish to the outside of the pot only – skip the inside and bottom. This sealer is critical because:

• Terra cotta is thirsty and porous
• Matte varnish helps paint sit on the surface
• It gives you a do-over option if you mess up

Why Two Sealers? (A Tale of Two Finishes)

Think of it like this:

• Matte Varnish = Prepares the canvas (seals the clay)
• Polycrylic Gloss = Protects the artwork (seals the paint)

Gloss sealer comes at the very end, only on the painted areas, and makes your designs durable, glossy, and water-resistant.

Want all the sealing steps in one easy-to-follow format?
Download my free 4-page Sealing Terra Cotta Pots Guide – beginner-friendly, printable, and packed with real tips that actually help.

Now that our flower pots are sealed & ready to go, let’s get started on the first of our two simple & fun designs!

Design #1: Explosion of Dots

This one’s playful, bright, and full of personality.

• Rest the pot on a painter’s tape roll or hold it steady
• Start with your biggest dots using the eraser side of a pencil
• Dot randomly around the rim with your first color
• Work your way through the paint palette, using smaller tools as you go (toothpicks, skewer, tiny brush ends)

• Fill the space but don’t overload it. Its ok if you overlap your dots, just take your time & enjoy the process of dotting – this technique in particular can be very zen.
• Finish with a trim of tiny dots around the top lip. I did a 3 dot pattern but any variation will look lovely!
• Let dry for 48 hours before sealing with Polycrylic Gloss.

Design #2: Half Mandala

This design is a simple and classic mandala. Here’s the row-by-row breakdown using basic tools from around the house:

1. Center Dot: Start with a large black dot using the eraser side of a pencil.
2. Surrounding Dots (Row 1): Use a small-topped paintbrush to add small black dots around the center dot.
3. Next Ring (Row 2): Without changing tools, simply add more paint to create slightly larger dots evenly spaced around the previous ones.
4. Third Ring (Row 3): Switch to a small/medium-topped brush and add a slightly larger black dot between each of the Row 2 dots.
5. Start of Petals (Row 4): Using a medium-topped brush, place five large black dots spaced evenly around the mandala.
6. Walk the Dots – Petals: Use a small-topped brush or wood skewer to “walk the dots” outward from each petal. Start with a loaded tool and dot without reloading to create a tapered trail.
7. Repeat – Second Walk: Add a second set of walked dots next to each petal using the same technique.
8. Small Dots Between Petals (Row 5): Use a medium-topped brush to dot a black circle between each petal. These serve as centers for the next set of petals.
9. White Petals: Switch to white paint. Use a combination of a small-topped brush and a skewer to walk white dots around the black dots from Row 5.
10. Black Petals: Switch back to black paint & continue using the tool combination of small-topped brush & wood skewer to walk the black dots around the white petal. 

Top Dots Phase:

• Use the medium-topped brush to place a large white top dot in the center black dot.
• Add white top dots to the black dots in row 2
• Add white top dots to the petals in rows 4, 5, and 6 using tools that will make a dot slightly smaller than the black dot (medium, small/medium, skewer).

Final Accent – Red Top Dots:

• Use a small-topped brush or skewer and alternate adding red top dots to the white top dots in Row 2 (one yes, one no).
• Add red top dots to all other white dots in rows 4–6.
• For petals in rows 5 and 6, also add a small red dot to the tip of each petal.
• Let dry for 48 hours before sealing with Polycrylic Gloss just on the painted areas. Use a Q-tip for touch-ups.

Final Thoughts: Imperfect is Perfect

One of my petals was wonky. One of my recordings failed. But guess what? Both of these pots turned out super cute, and I didn’t use a single traditional dotting tool. That’s a win in my book.

Try it for yourself, let your creativity lead, and don’t forget to share your results with me in the comments over on YouTube!

Want more crafty inspo? Check out my other tutorials on wreaths, candles, and more! You can find them on YouTube at IHC Craft Room!

Until next time: stay creative, stay curious, and never underestimate the power of a pencil.

🎨 Ready for your next project? If this tutorial got your creativity flowing, there’s a whole library of beginner-friendly DIYs waiting for you. Whether it’s dot painting, wreath making, or candle crafting-you’ll find step-by-step videos that make it feel doable (and fun!).

👉 Subscribe to IHC Craft Room on YouTube so you never miss a new tutorial, and check out the full playlist for more project ideas you can try today.

Let’s keep crafting, one dot at a time. Toodleloo!