31 May Patriotic Bandana Covered Planters

This is such a fun time of year! Adding new plants to the front porch, outdoor deck and backyard patio… and finding cute flowering gifts to give to dear friends and family. There’s something magical about flowers and plants that brings so much joy. Each one has a personality of its own!

And if you’re looking to add a little bit of your own personal touch to your potted plants this year, this quick and easy tutorial will step up your gardening game in a jiffy. The supplies are simple: a classic bandana, a terracotta pot, some Mod Podge and a whimsical wooden plant skewer in honor of your trusty four-legged Summer sidekick. 🐾

Now with the 4th of July holiday just around the corner, we decided to give this DIY a patriotic twist. So we’re using bandanas in red, white and blue, but feel free to be creative and use whatever colors fit your own personal style!

You’ll need…

1. Make a fold in the bandana about 8 inches from the bottom and cut along the fold. (Basically, you want the height of your bandana to be a little bit taller than your terracotta pot by about 4 inches.)
2. Paint a vertical stripe of Mod Podge down the front of your pot that’s a couple of inches wide.
3. Place the center of the bandana over the Mod Podge then press and smooth it in place. The bandana should be lined up so there’s a little extra fabric hanging over the edges on the top and bottom.
4. Continue adhering one side of the bandana down with Mod Podge. When you do, you’ll notice the bandana will curve upward as you go with lots more fabric hanging over the top edge. (This is perfectly ok!)
5. Cut off that large excess triangle of fabric from your bandana along the top. Be sure to leave a couple of inches to fold over the top edge of the pot later.
6. Use Mod Podge to paste the triangle of fabric along the bottom edge of the pot that is exposed.
7. Then work your way around the other side of the pot, adhering the bandana with Mod Podge to keep it in place. Cut off any excess fabric where the two ends of the bandana meet.
8. Brush Mod Podge along the top inner rim of the pot and fold the bandana over to secure it in place.
9. Do the same on the bottom of the pot to finish it off. Be sure to trim away any excess fabric so it doesn’t block the hole.
10. Repeat these steps to make as many bandana covered pots as you’d like. Then fill with colorful plants and….. you’re almost ready to enjoy!

Of course our favorite feature of this project is next. ‘Cuz if you’re a devoted dog mom like us, you’ll wanna make a few festive plant stakes in honor of your furry best friend! Here’s how it’s done…

1. Use a touch of white paint to decorate one side of the wooden paw print.
2. Trace and cut a piece of leftover bandana in the shape of the paw print and glue it to the back side.
3. Attach a skewer to the back of the paw with glue and tuck it into the planter for a decorative doggie touch!

Aren’t these the cutest planters you’ve ever seen?! Decoupaging fabric to terracotta pots is such a breeze – even the kiddos can help with this one. And they turn out so pretty… especially when you make several and place them together. And in red, white and blue, they’ll make the perfect centerpiece on your picnic table for family backyard BBQs all Summer long! 

Let us know in the comments if you give this one a try!

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