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This cute DIY Polka Dot Planter started out in someone else's kitchen as a hard-working stockpot. It probably held soups, stews, and all kinds of delicious recipes over the years. But, these days, it's packed with dirt and flowers (and love!) for its second lease on life. See how to make your own polka dot planter below.

This vintage stockpot was given to me by a friend when she cleaned out some cabinets. I love a fun container of any kind and the wheels started turning on how to transform this great little pot. Polka dots are kind of my go-to-no-fail pattern for pretty much anything, so that's the direction I headed. See how I upcycled this stockpot into a polka dot planter below.

This post is also a part of our monthly Thrifty Style Team series. All of my friends' thrifty projects are listed at the bottom of this post...they never cease to amaze me with their creativity.

DIY Polka Dot Planter

When my friend, Susan, gave me this pot, she mentioned her sister had once used this as a planter. Great minds, right? I was delighted to do the same thing with it...but with my own spin.

The above was where this began...I see these kinds of stockpots a lot on junkin' trips, especially at thrift stores. I may pick up a few more and make myself a set next time I'm about and about. Wouldn't a set of upcycled kitchen pots and pans into whimsical planters be pretty cute?

How to Make a Polka Dot Planter

Supplies:

• old stockpot or metal container of any kind
• drill and drill bit (we used a standard 1/8" drill bit)
• base color of paint (I used white)
• To make sure your paint adheres to your container (especially if it's a metal container like ours), you'll want to use chalk-style paint. I used Rust-Oleum's Chalked Ultra Matte Paint in Linen White/White. You can grab the same kind I used here on Amazon (the price is better on Amazon than my local hardware store).
• top color of paint (I used yellow)
• Again, chalk-style paint works well for this. I used Waverly's Maize color. You can grab a bottle here on Amazon, but it's available at Walmart for a better price.
• vinyl polka dots
• I cut my dots with my Silhouette. If you don't have a Silhouette, Cricut, or similar, you can also grab a set of pre-cut 1.6" vinyl dots here on Amazon.
• paint brush(es)
• acrylic sealer
• I like this UV-resistant sealer from Krylon that you can get here on Amazon.

Directions:

• Start by drilling several drainage holes in the bottom of your pot.
• Turn it over and spray it with your base coat of paint (I talked about which kind of paint is best for this above). I didn't spray the bottom of my pot.
• I used two coats of my base color.
• Let it dry thoroughly.

• After your piece is completely dry, apply your vinyl dots all of your pot. I just placed mine on in a random pattern...no rhyme or reason here.

• I used my Waverly Maize paint to coat the entire thing (this is the BEST yellow, y'all!). I brushed it on.
• When it was *almost* dry, I removed the vinyl dots. I like to remove these at that stage so they aren't glued on with paint once the piece is completely dry.
• After it was completely dry, I gave the pots two coats of my sealer.
• Once your sealer is dry, fill with dirt and a pretty plant. I added a fun red/orange flowering plant to contrast with my yellow for a fun pop of color.

Doesn't this polka dot planter look super cute in my favorite patio spot? I love the extra pattern this brings to the patio. I also made the small coffee sign, too. And the DIY Ring Toss is another project that we still enjoy (especially when we have friends or family over).

Funny story. See that pretty, lush vine growing in the background of this photo? When we moved into this house, everyone thought I was so weird to put a privacy fence on one side of the yard and a chain link in this one portion that is behind the garage (my poor mother did not understand my "need" for a chain link fence in this little spot). There was already this thick vine growing in that area and I just knew it would look so pretty growing in and on and over a chain link fence. Fast forward one year and you can barely even see the fence. It looks like it's been there as long as this old house. I'm feeling a lot more justified, y'all...now, if I could just get some honeysuckle growing within this vine, it would be perfect.

Looking for More Thrifty Projects?

Be sure to check out all of these projects from my fellow Thrifty Style Team members below:

• Laura, from Duke Manor Farm, shows how to paint your kitchen backsplash for a great new look (without breaking the budget).
• Julie, from Redhead Can Decorate, shares some great tips for updating a brass planter. She always does wonders with thrift store finds.
• Erin Spain always has such great decor ideas. This month, she shares how to update thrift store frames. 
• Vanessa, over At the Picket Fence, has some lovely Mother's Day Ideas to share...that are completely budget-friendly.

More DIY Patio Projects

We love outdoor projects the most. You can see in the video below how our entire patio came together with lots of little projects. Below the video, I've listed out our reader-favorite patio projects for you, as well.

• Our DIY Sturdy Planted posts (from our previous home) have been a BIG hit and have been featured in lots of publications and duplicated by many of our readers with much success.
• My Tin Can Flower Garden is another fun polka dot planter project, but this time using upcycled cans.
• Our DIY Window Box is a great tutorial for all skill-levels. It results in a lovely planter for any window area. 

Where would you use a polka dot planter?