DIY Cat Planters

If you’ve ever called yourself a plant lady and/or a cat lady, then these DIY cat planters are for you! Although I don’t identify as a plant lady (plants die on me every few months) or cat lady (we don’t have any pet cats, just rabbits), I still really enjoy these pastel kittens. They’re kind of like grown-up chia pets! They’re really simple to make — they just need a little bit of drying time in between steps.

I really like the idea of making these as gifts or party favors for friends. You could even try sculpting different animals, too — dogs, rabbits and foxes could all work nicely! For now, though, I’m keeping my litter of kittens on my windowsill in the sun. —Kathleen

Supplies

-Clay (I used Das air hardening modeling material, but polymer clay could work, too)
-Scissors
-Paint
-Paintbrushes
-Fine tip permanent marker
-Wooden skewers
-Waterproof sealant (I used dishwasher-safe gloss Mod Podge)

Instructions

Step 1: Use your hands to shape the clay into a bowl shape.

Step 2: Continue sculpting and smoothing the clay and use the scissors to cut a smooth top edge, with two triangle ears at the front.

Step 3: Use water to smooth any rough edges.

Step 4: When you’re happy with the shape of your cat planter, use a wooden skewer to poke a few drainage holes in the middle. Use the flat end of the skewer to make four indents on the bottom of the bowl — don’t poke these ones all the way through. You’ll be attaching the cat’s legs into these spots later, so space them as evenly as possible.

Step 5: To make the legs, cut four equal pieces of wooden skewer. I made longer legs for the bigger planters and shorter legs for the baby ones. Cover the skewer pieces in a layer of clay, rolling and sculpting to keep them smooth. Cover one end of the skewer completely, but leave the other end a little bit exposed — later, you’ll fit them right into the indents in the planter.

Step 6: Make as many legs and planters as you like – let dry completely.

Step 7: Paint the planters and legs in matching colors. Let dry.

Step 8: Glue the legs into the indents in the bottom of the planters and let dry.

Mine didn’t line up perfectly, so I added a bit more clay on top to hide the gaps and smooth the transition from leg to planter. Let dry and touch up with matching paint. You can skip this step if you were able to match yours up without any gaps.

Step 9: Draw cute faces onto your cat planters using the permanent marker.

Step 10: Apply at least one coat of sealer, making sure the drainage holes stay open. Let dry.