Calling all crafty people with far superior knowledge to mine!

[ILiveInAFairyHouse]

Several years ago, I painted some cheap terracotta flower pots to look like fairy houses as an inexpensive summer holiday activity with my daughter.

As it was a bit of an ad hoc idea, I used tester pots of emulsion paint and a spray craft varnish. They were fine for about 3 or 4 years, out in the garden in all weathers, before they became too tatty.

If I wanted to do something similar again, what would be the best paint and varnish to use? Tbf, the emulsion worked well enough and had a great range of colours obviously! But I'd definitely want something better varnish wise.

Past experience tells me that natter how random a question, someone on here always knows the answer! So, here goes and TIA.

Also l, if anyone has done something similar and has any photos, I'd love to see them for inspiration! And to be humbled! 😂

I haven't done this myself (I have painted flower pots though) but I would use 'yacht varnish'.

I should have suggested 'satin finish' rather than shiny stuff.

You can get paints designed for use on monumental masonry. They come in small pots but I'm not sure about the range of colours.
Or if you use stencils, you could use spray paints. Judging by the longevity of our local graffiti artist's work, they withstand all weathers for decades.

That's true! 😁

Thanks. I'll have a look.

Thank you!

Yes, would prefer a satin rather than shiny finish.

For pebbles that really last all weathers, it’s yacht varnish. The only possible difference I can see on a pot is that it’s porous from behind the painting if that makes sense which could eventually affect it. But that’s what I’d use.

What I’m not sure about is what type of paint. Again due to how the water can seep from within the pot. For pebbles I use either acrylic or thick water colour .

Tbf, the emulsion worked quite well on reflection.

I'd assumed acrylic would he best but I wasn't really expecting the ones we made before to last beyond the summer. They did though.

I wonder if maybe a primer might be useful?

The emulsion tester pots certainly gave us a wider range of colours.

Maybe a good varnish would be enough.

Primer might help bond the paint to the pot