I saw a picture on Pinterest of some super cute Cupcake Ornaments made from Terra Cotta pots. I followed the link and found a list of materials. And some very basic directions. I knew I wanted to make them, but I new that tackling something with so few directions could be a little tricky. So I started collecting the items I needed in the summer. Well, come Christmas time, and I just didn't get them done (actually, I didn't even get them started). So I slated them for the following Christmas.
Before we go any further, I imagine you would like a picture of these super cure cupcake ornaments.
Okay, onto the materials list:
Small Terra Cotta Pots - the original post used the very small ones. I used the ones that I found in my parents basement, and purchased a few more. They can be purchased at craft stores for 50 cents a piece- maybe less.
Acrylic Paint (colors are your choice) - You need two colors for each pot (or use white to lighten the color you have), as well as red paint for your "cherries" on top
Styrofoam Balls - I purchased a 6 pack for $2.57 at Pat Catan's ( I used the green floral ones because they were cheaper than the white ones)
Hot Glue Gun & Hot Glue
X-Acto Knife
Wood beads - puchased at pat Catan's for $2.99 for a pack of 30 - more than enough. I used the 20 mm size, but use the size that fits most with your Terra Cotta Pot size.
Snow Tex - I purchased at 16 oz container at Pat Catan's for $7.97. I do not know it is available at Hobby Lobby. It is $2.49 for a 2 oz container or $3.99 for a 4 oz container. If you plan to do just one cupcake, the 2 oz container should be plenty. I plant to make at least 5 of them, so I purchased the largest size. And it was much cheaper that way.
Diamond Dust (also called Glamour Dust) - I purchased this at Pat Catan's for $3.97 for a 6 oz and I have a TON left! I could not find it at Hobby Lobby (this is NOT required, but does make it look more like frosting!)
Small beads (used as sprinkles) - I found a package at Pat Catan's for 95 cents that gave me 20 grams in different colors. You can use all one color, Or a mixture, whatever fits your fancy!
Ribbon - choose a color that you like. I got 1/8 inch thick white ribbon at Pat Catan's. The roll cost 40 cents and has 10 yards. I think I'll have plenty left over.
Popsicle sticks
Step 1: Gather all supplies
Step 2: Clean off the Terra Cotta Pots. The easiest way I found was to just use a damp rag and wipe them clean.
Step 3: Paint the entire Terra Cotta Pot the coll you want the "cupcake liner" to appear. I suggest beginning at the bottom of the pot. it took me two coats (letting dry in between) to make sure it was good and covered and you didn't see the pot color through it.
Step 4: Use either a lighter or darker shade to paint lines that give it the appearance of the folds in a cupcake liner. If you did not buy two different shades of the same color, you can add a drop of white paint to your original color, and it will give you a lighter shade. Or a drop of black or gray paint will make it a shade or two darker. I ended up using white paint with the green I had, because the one in the picture was too bright compared to the color of the pot.
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| Once finished adding lines, it should look like the real pot on the right, |
Step 5: Cut the styrofoam ball in half - you can do this while your paint is drying.
I used an X-acto knife to cut the foam in half.
Don't worry, they don't need to be perfect!
I put the half in the pot and it was a smidge too bit, so I shaved a little off the edge so it fit perfectly in the pot.
Step 6: Poke two holes into the styrofaom ball - make sure it is large enough for you to feed the ribbon through. I used a paintbrush that was sitting nest to me to poke the holes.
**If you don't want to make ornaments, scroll to the bottom for an alternative.
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| This is what the underside of the styrofoam ball should look like |
Step 7: Cut a piece of ribbon that is too long to be the ornament hanger, you can always trim the excess off later.
Step 8: Attach a small piece of a popsicle stick between the two hole, this will prevent the ribbon from pulling through the foam since it is so soft. Trust me, it will do it!!
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| Afterward, the the ribbon through it and secure the popsicle stick with a little hot glue |
Step 9: Hot Glue the half of the styrofoam ball into the pot. Be sure to use plenty of hot glue!
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| You will leave the ribbon stick out until the very end! |
And here begins the hardest, most time consuming, and patience require part! But in all honesty, it may have been my favorite part!
Step 10: "Frost" your "Cupcake!"
Use the Sno - Tex (see below)
You are going to "frost" the "cupcake." Truthfully, it is like frosting a real cupcake, but I should tell you that my cupcakes are never frosted smoothly, I just can't do it!
Except I did feel like I was frosting a cupcake with cottage cheese LOL
I used a popsicle stick to help me spread it around, as you can see it was lumpy. It stuck to the styrofoam, it stuck to the popsicle stick, and it stuck to me!
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| Work your way around the entire pot. I chose to cover the "rim" of the pot, but if you don't want to, you don't have to. |
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| Continue to work your way around the entire cupcake, |
When you get to the top, try your best to fill in around the ribbon. If you get a little on the ribbon, it's okay, It will be covered by the cherry.
Move on to step 11 before the Sno-Tex dries.
Step 11: If you choose to add the diamond dust for extra sparkle, sprinkle it on as soon as you are finished with the Sno-Tex. I didn't take an after picture because it was hard to tell it was on there when the Sno-Tex was still well.
Move right onto step 12.
Step 12: Sprinkle beads onto the frosting (Sno-Tex) while it is still wet.
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| Sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle. |
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| The beads weren't wanting to stick real well, so I used the end of a paintbrush to help push them down into the frosting a bit. |
Step 12.5: Paint your cherries
I rolled them around in red paint. And let them dry.
This can be done at any point. When I was making the cupcakes, I totally forgot about it, so I had to wait for my cherries to dry!
Step 13: While the Sno-Tex is still wet, thread the ribbon threw the cherry.
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| Push the cherry down into the Sno-Tex. I actually put a dab of hot glue underneath to be sure it was secured to the cupcake. |
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| Let Dry. The directions for the Sno-Tex say to let it dry for 2-3 hours, but it also sait that the thicker the Sno-Tex was, the longer it would take. I don't like to chance things, so I let them dry over night! |
Step 14: Tie a knot in the ribbon and trim evenly to make the ornament hanger.
And now you have some super cute cupcake ornaments that look good enough to eat!
Here is the alternative to ornaments. Just super cure cupcake decorations. They would be perfect to put out during birthday celebrations!
The only difference is that you won't need a hanger threaded through the styrofoam and bead. Instead, I filled the top hole of the wooden bead with Hot Glue and painted it red. Then I Hot Glued the cherry right on top!
These cute little cupcakes fit right into my imperfect slice of life.
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