Farmhouse Style Speckled Planter {Rae Dunn Copycat}

This farmhouse style speckled planter is a perfect Rea Dunn copycat. A little paint and vinyl on a pot makes this an easy DIY project to add to your spring decor.

Farmhouse style continues to be a clean and classic home decor trend. One of the biggest names in this style is Rea Dunn. I have found some Rea Dunn items at TJMaxx, but to be honest it can get pricey. Making a Rea Dunn copycat item is actually quite easy- especially thanks to my Cricut MachinesCricut Machines.

HOW TO MAKE A FARMHOUSE STYLE SPECKLED PLANTER

Here are the supplies you will need to make this farmhouse style planter:

• Cricut machine (I used my Maker, but the Cricut Joy would be perfect for this little project too.)
• Terracotta clay pot and saucer (can be found at your local craft, hardware or dollar store – I’m using 4” pot and saucer).
• Paintbrush
• White, black and tan paint (chalk paint works best, but craft paint is fine too)
• Toothpick or pen
• Light blue grip Cricut mat
• Cricut weeding tool
• Cricut scrapper tool or old gift card
• Black permanent vinyl
• Transfer tape
• Masking or painters tape

1. Begin to paint the planter pot and saucer with white chalk paint. You will need about 3 coats for it to appear opaque. Let both completely dry before the next layer and steps.

   *Note, if you are using a bristle paintbrush it will leave small, faint streaks as the paint does not soak into the clay as it would other mediums. However, the texture gives it more of a rustic character.

2. Next, use a toothpick and black paint to create a pattern of random sized speckled dots (less towards the middle and bottom).

   *Note: Create these first before the bottom layer of tan paint.

   

3. After speckles are dry, tape off the bottom about 1/2 an inch and paint that area tan.

   * Note: Taping off the bottom allows for clean, crisp lines. Free handing will give the same result and a little less exact line will add to the rustic feel.

   

4. A copycat Rae Dunn font can be found here (Cami Rae), free for personal use.

   In the Cricut Design Space™, prepare the design with any phrases you would like. A short one-word phrase works best for this project.

   Depending on the size of the planter chosen, will depend on the size of the font. For a 4-inch planter pot, I have sized it approximately 2.5” width and 1.15” high (the width will automatically adjust based on the length of the phrase chosen).

5. Load the black vinyl onto the mat, into the machine, adjust the material dial or setting in the app to “vinyl” and hit make it.

   

6. Once the vinyl has been cut, use your weeder (dentist looking tool) and remove the excess vinyl around and inside each letter. Cut off enough transfer tape and remove the carrier sheet. Lay the sticky transfer paper onto the weeded vinyl and apply pressure with a scraper tool or old gift card- rubbing it back and forth.

   Flip the design face down and slowly remove the vinyl’s backing leaving the vinyl adhered to the transfer paper.

   

7. Now, apply the vinyl attached to the transfer tape to the surface of the planter pot.

   *Note: Because the pot’s surface is rounded/curved, in order to get letters on straight, work on adhering 2 letters at a time. Leave the vinyl’s backing on the rest of the letters until ready. Move and adjust the next two letters and repeat.

   Use the scraper tool on the surface while applying pressure to the adhered vinyl. Slowly and carefully remove the transfer tape off and away from the pot. The vinyl will remain and adhere to the pot.

Now your sweet little speckled planter is ready for a plant! You can find a nice live tulip or even greenery like a succulent. The instructions above are meant for decorative purposes. If you would like to use outdoors, be sure to select outdoor paint vs. chalk paint and or seal the planter after.

OR if you don’t have a “green thumb”, use a piece of styrofoam in the bottom of the pot and add some nice silk flowers. Of course, you can find these at your local craft store, but don’t forget to check Dollar Tree too- they have some awesome options too (like the tulips I used in my jelly bean jar vase)

I am a Cricut Influencer.  I receive Cricut cutting machines and products to facilitate fabulous DIY projects like this one. All opinions are my own.