DIY found pottery using mud

How to make your own vintage pottery

Anyone else loving the found pottery trend lately? Those large oversized vases and vessels that look like they’ve been around a long time make beautiful statement pieces. They come with quite the price tag though! I’ve seen a lot of people making their own version for much cheaper, so I decided to give it a try using two different methods and some vessels I already had on hand.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see my disclosure policy.

You might also love...

• Favorite sources for printable art
• How to build a farmhouse table
• How to clean a white kitchen sink

Found Pottery

If you’re not familiar with what I mean by found pottery, here are a few beautiful examples.

via Studio McGee

via Studio Mcgee

Most of them aren’t in my decorating budget! I can’t say the DIY turned out perfectly, but it was worth it! Here’s how I did it!

Materials

• Assorted vessels (vases, pitchers, etc.)
• Black spray paint
• Garden lime
• Paint brush
• Water
• Dirt

How to fake your own vintage vessels

First, clean your vessels. Paint doesn’t stick well when dirt and oil from your hands are present.

Then, give them two coats of spray paint.  This is my go to black spray paint.

To get the aged look, I tried two different methods.

For method number one, I used garden lime. Mix a 1:1 ratio of lime and water, and use a paint brush to spread it over the vessel. FYI, the longer your lime mixture sits, the thicker it gets.

Let it sit for a few minutes, but not long enough to dry completely. Then rub away excess.

I found this method to be tricky to get a consistent finish, but I did love the color and the way it built up on the pitcher handles. I think it would work well on a vase that has some texture. All of mine were smooth so it just looked like I brushed orange stuff on it 🤷🏻‍♀️ I might try again on something else...

For method number two, I just rubbed slightly damp (but not muddy) dirt on it with my hand. I let it dry and then rubbed off the excess. 

This isn't super noticeable in photos, but it was just enough to take away that spray paint look and make it more authentic.

This turned out much better visually (hard to tell in photos)... but when I tried to put water in the vase for my flowers, it washed the dirt away. You could try a clear coat. I just rubbed more dirt on it 😂

Not a perfect DIY, but better than spending hundreds on a vase! That’s a DIY win in my book! 🙌🏻 Have you tried this hack yet??

Pin it for later!

Related Posts:

Office makeover