Updated: Aug 11, 2023
Did you color in coloring books when you were a child?
I did! A lot!
And I remember the distinct feeling of sheer joy as I watched the one-dimensional black and white drawing come to life with every color and layer that I chose to add to it!
That is how I feel to this very day about paint!
Each painted project seems to come to life with every color and layer added!
My client brought it to me just like this in solid white. It was beautiful, just as it was with its simple and stately design.
However, with just a bit of creativity and paint, it came alive with personality and dimension!
It is truly amazing what paint can do!
I painted this in my brand new private group, Curiously Creative with Tracey, where our focus is "small projects" that are much less overwhelming than furniture!
And because it was created in my group, I don't have a YouTube video to share with you. But I can share with you the products, tools, and a few tips that you'll need to create your own!
I painted this planter in a single coat of Fluff (white) by Dixie Belle paint.
It was already white., and had been painted by someone else, so I just added a fresh coat.
Had it been the original finish, I would have given it a coat of Slick Stick before the paint.
PRO TIP: If you want to paint your own planter and it is a plastic or resin material, I highly recommend Slick Stick first.
I then used a ruler and a pencil to draw out my checkered design in the center of each side of the planter.
Then, I took the outer edges out at an angle to create the perspective illusion.
I love this whimsical pattern, and this planter box was the perfect shape for it! Anytime you have an outer framed area surrounding a center recessed area, this perspective look is a great option!
When my drawn lines were complete, I traced over them with a sharpie marker to set them in place.
I painted every other square with two coats of Midnight Sky (black), making sure to paint over the marker.
I also chose to paint the top and bottom of the planter in black as well.
When fully dry, I used Triple Thick Spray to give it that super high-gloss shine!
While this blog is short, do not be fooled.
The project was not!
These detailed checked projects take a lot of patience and time, but I absolutely love doing them!
My client is thrilled with the result, and that makes me happy!
I may need to do one of these for myself!
If you enjoyed this and want more of a deep dive into home decor and DIY processes, I would love it if you joined my exclusive online creative group, Curiously Creative. I show up LIVE to guide you through every step of updating, upcycling, crafting, and creating on-trend home decor and gift-giving ideas!