Simple, charming, and totally addicting garden crafts to try this season!
Spring on the homestead is a beautiful chaos—muddy boots, seed catalogs scattered across the kitchen table, and that giddy feeling when you realize you survived another winter. And while I love planting and prepping, sometimes I just want a creative little side project that doesn’t involve hauling compost or arguing with the goats.
Enter: terra cotta crafts.
There’s just something about those classic clay pots that screams spring. They’re affordable, versatile, and practically begging to be transformed into something magical. Whether you’ve got leftover pots stacked in the barn or you’re hitting the garden center just for fun (don’t worry, we all do it), here are some super cute and simple terra cotta projects to try this season.
1. Painted Herb Pots
Let’s start easy. Grab a few small terra cotta pots, your favorite acrylic paints, and get artsy. You can stencil the herb names, do fun patterns, or go full farmhouse with white paint and hand-lettered labels.
Tip: Use chalkboard paint if you want to change the labels later. Then plop them on your kitchen windowsill for instant rustic cottage vibes.
What you’ll need:
- Small pots
- Acrylic or chalkboard paint
- Paint pens or stencils
- Herb seedlings
2. Clay Pot Bird Bath
This one is ridiculously easy and looks like you bought it at a fancy garden store. Stack a couple large terra cotta pots upside down, glue them with heavy-duty outdoor adhesive, and top it with a large saucer. Boom—bird spa.
Optional: Paint the pots or add a mosaic design to the saucer with tile pieces for extra flair. The birds will love it, and so will your Instagram feed.
What you’ll need:
- 2–3 large terra cotta pots
- 1 large saucer
- Outdoor adhesive
- Optional: tile glue, broken china/mosaic bits
3. Mini Terra Cotta Beehive
I cannot with how cute this project is. Stack and glue three mini clay pots (upside-down), then paint them yellow with black stripes to look like a cartoon-style beehive. Add a little faux bee or two for a whimsical touch. These make adorable garden ornaments or shelf décor.
What you’ll need:
- 3 mini pots per hive
- Yellow and black acrylic paint
- Small wooden bee embellishments (check craft stores)
4. Terra Cotta Candle Holders
Flip a small pot upside-down, glue a saucer on top, and you’ve got a rustic candle holder! These are perfect for outdoor tables, porch dinners, or even cozy living room corners.
Use citronella candles for double duty—pretty and mosquito-repelling.
What you’ll need:
- Small to medium terra cotta pots
- Matching saucers
- E6000 or hot glue
- Candles
5. Fairy Garden in a Pot
Okay, these are a whole thing—and I’m obsessed. Layer small pots with soil, pebbles, moss, and tiny fairy garden furniture. Add succulents or mini ferns and you’ve got a little enchanted scene perfect for the kiddos… or let’s be real, me.
What you’ll need:
- Large or broken terra cotta pot
- Potting soil
- Moss, pebbles, and fairy garden accessories
- Small plants or succulents
6. Stacked Planter Tower
This vertical planter is not just functional—it looks super fancy on your porch. Place a large pot on the bottom, fill it with soil, then insert a stake or rod in the center. Thread smaller pots down the rod at angles so they look tilted and stacked.
Plant trailing flowers like petunias or herbs in each one and you’ve got a blooming tower of garden goodness.
What you’ll need:
- 3–5 different-sized pots
- Sturdy stake or dowel rod
- Potting mix and plants
7. Terra Cotta Wind Chimes
Use mini pots, twine, beads, and bells to make a soothing wind chime that looks adorable hanging from your porch. You can keep it rustic or go full boho with bright colors and patterns.
What you’ll need:
- 3–5 mini terra cotta pots
- Strong twine or jute
- Wooden beads or glass beads
- Small bells
8. Clay Pot Smoker (Yup, Really!)
Okay, this one is for the adventurous DIYers. With a large clay pot, a hot plate, and a grill grate, you can DIY a tiny smoker for backyard barbecues. This is more advanced and definitely not for the kiddos, but it’s been done—and it works!
Search “terra cotta smoker” on YouTube for tutorials and safety tips.
What you’ll need:
- 2 large clay pots
- Small electric burner
- Grill grate
- Wood chips and safety precautions galore
Where to Find Terra Cotta Pots on the Cheap
- Local garden centers often run spring sales
- Facebook Marketplace (you’d be surprised)
- Thrift stores
- Farm auctions or estate sales
- That one shed you haven’t cleaned since last fall (guilty)
Final Thoughts
Spring is the season of fresh starts—and nothing freshens up your space like a few handmade touches from the heart. Terra cotta pots are basically the blank canvas of the gardening world, and you can do way more with them than just plant tomatoes (though we do love our tomatoes around here).
So next time you’re out potting up seedlings or cleaning up the porch, grab an extra clay pot or two and try one of these fun little projects. It’s a great way to unwind, get creative, and bring some charm to your homestead—without breaking the bank.
And hey, if your goat knocks it over by accident… well, that’s just homestead life for ya.
