Under the Umbrella

I have been wanting an around the umbrella pot of succulents for our patio table.  All the pots I found that go around table umbrellas had no character.   So I was on a mission to create my own.  I searched the internet and stores for ideas.  Then I saw the perfect thing at Walmart.  From a plastic umbrella stand to this!

I started with this plastic umbrella stand.  It was about $7.  It was two pieces the base and the vertical umbrella stand.  They just snapped together.  When I saw it, I immediately thought of cutting it at the mold seam and re using the umbrella stand around our umbrella.  I brought it home.  Hubby thought I was crazy and didn't see vision.  He started searching for pots online.. HA HA

I cut around the mold seam using a sharp xacto.  It took about 3 new blades and a few times needing mine and Hubby's hands to cut all the way around on the seam.   This was about 45 minutes of cutting.  Not an easy task.  Hubby was still looking online for a pot and thinking I was crazy.   Heres what it looked like once cut.

Once apart,  I was happy to find that the umbrella stand brace did fit in the base upside down (aka my pot). I then checked to make sure our umbrella would slide thru the pot on the table and into the real umbrella stand below.  Yippee it did.  Hubby finally stopped looking for pots!  I drilled some drainage holes  and gorilla glued on the umbrella holder.  And let it dry. 

I primed the pot with plastic spray primer, followed by the new Valspar outdoor spray paint in a aquamarine.  I then added some dry brushed clay and purple.  I glazed the entire piece.  Then sealed it with a few coats of matte clear.

The new pot was pretty deep for succulents.  In my inspiration searching I read that succulents like shallow pots.  This pot was quite deep.  I added broken bricks to help with drainage and create a shallower pot.  This weight also helped flatten the pot to the table.

Time for planting.  I bought some succulents at Home Depot.  Living in zone 6, almost all the fun colored succulents are annuals not perennials.  I found most of my plants in the indoor cactus area at HD. The kids had fun helping me pick them out.  A "fuzzy one", "tall one", and "soft one"  were the kids choices.     The kids helped me arrange the plants by color .

I love the finished look.  After a few dinners out there, it does take up some space but it sure does make a nice centerpiece.  

Hubby said it was a keeper!  Has your husband laughed and doubted?  Did you prove him wrong?  Built any succulent pots for summer?

shared on: Tip Junkie

Uncommon

Ginger Snap Crafts

Primp

Embracing Change

Crafty Scrappy Happy

live laugh rowe

at the picket fence