Ever since I came across this picture of the Keukenhof Tulip Fields in Holland, I’ve wanted my own version of rainbow garden.
The problem is I’m a terrible gardener. I don’t even like gardening very much (just the finished product). But I’m determined to do some digging the dirt with the kids, and armed with inspiration, I’m giving it another go. I’ll blog the process in three steps (as we do them). The first step is an activity for the children: painting the pots for our garden.
Materials
While researching what paint to use for our garden project, I discovered outdoor paints is available in large tins. An alternative in smaller amounts, is outdoor craft paint, but there is only limited (and boring) colours. A little more reading, and I decided to use non-toxic acrylic paint, and seal with an outdoor gloss varnish for protection. Bright is ALL part of this garden, so happy colours are a must!
Pots (I bought pots from Ikea but Terracotta pots work well too)
Acrylic paint (and paint brushes)
Outdoor Gloss Varnish (I used Jo Sonja’s Gloss Varnish – Indoor & Outdoor Use)
Rainbow Pots
I let the children loose with blobs on paint a piece of paper, water in plastic cups and paint brushes. (We have a dedicated collapsible craft table so I don’t stress about mess).
After the paint dried on the pots, I did three coats of varnish. I did this over a few days, just when I thought about it. The varnish took about 1 hour to dry between coats.
So, step one of our garden project is done and I love it! For the next step in the process, I’ve asked dirtgirl from dirtgirlworld to help me with gardening tips and what to plant, so look out for that post soon.
More
Part 1 Rainbow Garden: Paint Pots
Part 2 Rainbow Garden: Planting Nasturtiums
Part 3 Rainbow Garden: Watching it Grow
Another post from dirtgirl: 10 Winter Gardening Tips for Kids
13 Comments
Emma @ Family Life Central
March 14, 2013 at 1:14 pmThese look adorable! Can’t wait to see the finished project.
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
March 16, 2013 at 6:44 amThanks Emma! Just hope we don’t kill the plants!
Penny
March 15, 2013 at 5:30 amThose bucket are so, so lovely. Why not plant a different coloured flower and each and viola, you have a rainbow garden with stunning rainbow pots. Love!
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
March 16, 2013 at 6:46 amOn it.
Susanna Brown
March 18, 2013 at 2:03 pmYeah, agree with Penny. Plant some flowers on the pots and share it with us.
Can’t wait to see the outcome.
More love.
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 3, 2013 at 8:10 amThey are coming along nicely 🙂
Rainbow Garden Step 2 — Planting Nasturtiums
March 19, 2013 at 5:14 pm[…] 19, 2013 Last week, we painted pots for our rainbow garden. I’ve enlisted help from dirtgirl for the next step in the process: the planting. dirtgirl: […]
Shin
April 7, 2013 at 8:28 pmHi I linked to your beautiful picture of the tulip fiels. Hope you don’t mind. Great project BTW
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
April 7, 2013 at 8:52 pmGlad you came to visit! Don’t be a stranger. Kelly
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September 7, 2013 at 11:11 am[…] Part 1 Rainbow Garden: Paint Pots […]
Rainbow Garden Step 3 – Watching it Grow
October 19, 2013 at 7:55 pm[…] first step was the children and I decorated vibrant pots. Next, we asked dirtgirl to write us a post about how to plant nasturtiums (because they are […]
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August 4, 2014 at 9:36 pm[…] Kelly has had success using an outdoor varnish over projects like this to help to preserve colour. Jo Sonja’s Gloss Varnish – Indoor & Outdoor Use works well […]
Part 1: Creating an Art & Craft Space When You Have No Space | Be A Fun Mum
August 8, 2014 at 7:18 am[…] Painting our Rainbow pots […]