I love Annie Sloan and Annie Sloan products and the proof is in my passion to paint everything with Annie Sloan paint!  Those of you who follow me have seen previous blog projects that have included furniture, painted planters and pots as well as vases from plastic bottles using paint and dark wax.  One thing I have not done is incorporate Plaster of Paris into a paint project.

That is exactly what one of my favorite Instagrammers, Kathy (@r.house_)  did on a project she posted to her Instagram stories.  She incorporated Plaster of Paris while painting a plastic planter from Christmas Tree Shops and I knew I needed to try the technique with my Annie Sloan!  She was simulating an antique cement piece and it came out fabulous!  I had planned to try it on a plastic trophy shaped planter, but I couldn’t find the container I had in mind.

While I was on a Christmas Tree Shops stop, (I go there occasionally to pick up Rao’s sauce.) I noticed the same plastic swan planters Kathy used for her project.  I picked up a small one (they come in two sizes) to use for my experiment.  I planned on just following along with Kathy’s instructions.  You can do the same thing by looking at Kathy’s highlights on her Instagram feed or you can follow the instructions here where I show my results using Kathy’s method.

Original small swan planter.

The only difference with my process was that I used all Annie Sloan paints.  I used leftover paint colors I had from other projects so my colors aren’t the same as the one’s Kathy used, but I did use a gray and a white.

When I purchased the small swan, it did not have a drainage hole and since I planned on using it for a planter, I made a hole by driving a nail into the bottom.  A layer of small pebbles on the bottom of the container can be used as an alternative method for drainage.

Planter painted with gray base coat.

For this project, you will need flat gray paint, flat white paint, Plaster of Paris, (if you don’t have it, borrow it from a crafter – you won’t need much) and the plastic container you plan on painting – in this case, a plastic swan planter from Christmas Tree Shops.  I used a paper bowl for paint mixing, a wide paint brush, and a pair of plastic gloves.  For those of you who didn’t take any art classes, Plaster of Paris is a white powder that hardens when moistened and allowed to dry.  It can be used to make homemade chalk paint, but in this case, we are using it to add texture to our project.

Mixing white paint and Plaster of Paris.

Here are the steps to create a simulated aged cement swan planter:

1. Paint the swan with a gray chalk paint base coat (or any flat gray paint) and let dry
2. Mix Plaster of Paris liberally into white chalk paint (or any flat white paint) in a disposable bowl – it should be thick and lumpy
3. Paint the white paint mixture onto the swan – it was more like rubbing it on for me
4. Let dry completely
5. Dab dark wax (I used Annie Sloan dark wax) on some of the raised areas

White paint and plaster coat on the planter.

Doesn’t the Plaster of Paris add a great realism to the piece?  I love that it is a nice light weight plastic piece since I am using it as an indoor planter, but looks like cement.

Final planter with dark wax added.

Thanks Kathy!

If you don’t already, be sure to follow Kathy on Instagram.  She has a fabulous home and wonderful taste and she is sure to inspire some creativity!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie