They turned out great. MY DD did some with the kids & thought they had sealed both pots but 1 is peeling off like crazy so I'm going to have to empty it out & seal & redo outside. They really do have to be sealed. Is the car undercoat painted over then? Why do you use it? Is it better than Kylon product??Cheaper?? Just wondering! Jan

I think they turned out great! Your technique really gives it an interesting finish. Did you use anything over the paint on the outside? They look so shiny, is why I was wondering. Or was it high gloss paint? Latex or enamel (enamel, is that what the other kind is called? It's been so long since I painted anything I can't remember) You know what I mean, water based or oil? Oh, btw, you got a great deal on those pots. I saw a big round terra cotta jug at GW last week, I fell in love with, but they wanted 8-something for it. I didn't want to give that much for it at the time, but I'm thinking now, it had little flowers incised around the top that would look pretty in this 2 color thing you did here.

Hi Jan, Someone on this forum suggested using car undercoat spray on the backs of mirrors used outside to keep the silver from flaking off. It sprays on like spray paint, but is thicker and rubbery, very easy to use, and is paintable . There are several brands, so be sure the one you get is paintable. I use the undercoat inside the pot and use good quality house paints for the outside. It's possible that the water goes through the pot if the inside isn't sealed, then lifts the paint off the outside. This is just a guess. It may be even better to undercoat the whole pot inside and out before painting. The exterior house paints hold up really well. I haven't had much luck with spray paint or brush on Krylon type paint holding up outside. The undercoat is $5 a can at Pep Boys and one can would do at least 5 large pots, maybe as many as 10. It sticks to just about anything, including wood, since it's made for cars, which have a lot of different materials underneath. You could also use that roof patch tar stuff for sealing the pots inside. It's probably not paintable, so not too good for the outsides and much messier to use.

There's a paint guy at a nearby swap meet who gets DE, SW, and other good brands form job ends, etc. and they're $10 a gallon, sometimes less. I'm not sure exactly where you live but there are paint guys at a lot of the swap meets in the area with good paint. Habitat Restore also sells lots of good brand exterior paints cheap. Linda

Hi Garden, The blue paint is glossy Sher/Will latex exterior paint. The red is either glossy or semi-gloss, probably Behr. I try to avoid using flat paint on stuff, thinking that it may not hold up as well in the weather. I just rolled on the first coat, trying to get in every little nook and cranny to seal it, then brushed on the red, but first brushing it on a paper plate to make the brush drier, then lightly brushing it on the pot just to catch the high spots. Good brand exterior house paints don't need a lot of coats. Most of the red in these pots is the first coat. If it's not bright enough, just do it again after a couple of hours. I went back with a small brush and filled in some, but not sure I like it that part. Linda

When I was studying them I was wondering if you had gone back and filled in some parts :) Everyone's taste is different, personally, I like where you did it on the top picture. Thanks.

I filled the top 'petals', but will probably repaint them blue. Looks like a little kid painted them. Linda

Linda I think you've done a good job. They a re very pretty. Will look good when you get em planted and set outside.

Kathy

They are beautiful...Love the blue nd red one...I was wondering if implament(sp)paint would be good for outside projects?

Good job. Very pretty.
kathy

Linda,

Those pots will look wonderful with the colbalt blue accessories. You have beautiful taste.

Susie

Good job Linda. I need to get some of that paint and keep onhand. I need to take the time to get to Rehab store as soon as I clean up the back yard. DD headed back to Iraq tomorrow am. Then I can make a mess as I clean and leave it if I get tired, LOL. June

Thanks June, DS said that the freeway interchange is finally finished over by Restore. I'm always confused over there, so go to her house and she goes too. When they get too much paint, they give it away with any purchase. There's always something good there. BTW, as soon as you're done in your back yard, mine needs cleaned too, lol. Linda

Hey, what a great makeover on your pots. Love how the blue and red turned out, love that first one the most. Will look good with all your cobalt things. Luvs

Lovely pots!! Can't believe you get them for $1. I had to stop & look to see if we had Habitat store around, no such luck!! We have Swap meet but I've never seen paint there! Don't go very often! GF's DH goes & gets best stuff out of trash. Got a lovely sterling round covered butter dish-antique before xmas. It's mostly dollar store type stuff & clothes & shoes. I will be going to PEP Boys & getting some undercoat!! Thanks for the tips on painting!! Jan

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT Job ! Ms Linda
Thanks for sharing the pics & the instructions and
Ideas !!!!
You are Really gett'n Jiggy with it out
there in CA in that SUNSHINE ..... while
I'm shoveling this WHITE STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Burr Rabbit.... it's cold out side !!!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless !
SusieSunshine
( I've got my Hat on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very cool! I love the bright colors....makes me long for summer! Great job!

Miss susie sunshine, I love your little pic you do with the glasses, and now with your hat,(tee-hee!)you ALL-WAYS makes me smile!
woooo-Linda,girl, that red is puurr-ty! Great job! Cant wait to see them all planted up and overflowing, they're gonna be gorgeous!
blessings-sherri

nice job well done
just love them

OMGosh, those look so bright and cheery...patriotic red and blue! Those will look awesome with potted plants...do you put potting soil directly on that "undercoat paint" or do you put pots in the pots???? I hadn't heard of using that undercoating spray...but sounds like it would weather good.

Great buys...and great re-vitalizing! Jeanne S.

Thanks, Although the undercoat dries pretty quickly, I wait for a few days, then the dirt goes right into the pots. I put clean styrofoam in the bottom half of them, either the popcorn stuff or just break the bigger stuff into 'rocks' and throw them in. Most succulents don't have deep roots, so it saves on soil. It will be interesting to see how well these pots hold up, since they had already deteriorated a lot when I found them. I've started buying a yard of soil and pumice at a time, which is far cheaper than the bags. Linda

good job! I bet they will look good in the garden!

nice to know about the under coat paint!