Using Stones and Pebbles to Decorate Plinths or Pots

If you would like to create a custom look for your outside flower pots or plinths using stones and pebbles to do so can give you a very stylish and unique look. You can design the stones in any fashion you wish to give your garden or yard a finished and cohesive look, or you can decorate them to stand out on their own.

First you will need to gather your supplies. You need the following:

Chalk

Terra cotta plant pots or plinths

Flat stones and pebbles in the colors you will be using for your design

Exterior cement adhesive

Cement Applicator

Steel wool or wire brush

Use chalk to create the designs you will be making with your stones or pebbles.

Mix your exterior cement adhesive together as directed by manufacturer's instructions. You are going to be working in small sections so you need only mix a bit at a time. Apply with a cement applicator of choice to the first area you will be working on. Remember that the mix dries rather quickly, so you have to section off your work. Place the stones and pebbles onto the adhesive in the manner that you would like them to be. It helps tremendously if you have created a dry run of the design so you know exactly which pebbles or stones you will be using and where they will go. Make sure your stones or pebbles are as close together as they can get and still allow you to achieve the look you would like. It is best to sort the pebbles out and make sure you are using ones that most closely relate to each other in size. You can use different colors of stones or pebbles to create just the right look for your craft piece.

Allow project to dry for twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Use a steel wool pad or wire brush to rid the project of excess cement or cement that has scattered on the stones or pebbles.

Additional Notes: If you are covering a plinth, fill in areas or columns with stones and leave some terra cotta showing in swirls to create a custom look. You can also use the pebbles or stones to decorate along the bottom section of the plinth, even if the bottom comes with custom designs, as many do. Leave the bottom section terra cotta to complete your look. You should do a dry run with the pebbles on a plinth, to be sure, because you want to make sure the stones are not to high once in place. They should sit even with the terra cotta strips once applied.

You have now created a special look to personalize your outdoor space. You can use this technique as well, for any other items you have outdoors, that are made of terra cotta. Ideas for this type of project could include table tops, table trivets, or decorative patches for your garden area. You can use this technique for any size decoration or project, and it really adds to the overall appeal and design of your outdoor space.