Holiday Craft Ideas Using Terra Cotta Pots

Last updated October 27, 2025
This Christmas, get crafty with terra cotta pots and make festive decor like a Santa Trio, Gingerbread Village, Peppermint Dessert Plates, Gnome Ornaments and a whimsical assortment of Snowmen centerpieces. Read on to learn how to transform basic terra cotta pots and other materials into festive decor to display on your mantel or holiday table.
Table of Contents
Santa Trio
Holiday Gingerbread Village
Peppermint Dessert Plates
Gnome Ornaments
Tabletop Snowmen Centerpieces
Santa Trio

- 12-inch Santa: (3) 4-inch and (2) 6-inch terra cotta pots
- 18-inch Santa: (3) 6-inch and (2) 8-inch terra cotta pots
- 24-inch Santa: (3) 8-inch and (2) 10-inch terra cotta pots
- 5 Paint pens in black, white, gold, pink, blue or brown
- Satin finish spray paint: 1-3 cans red,1 can black, 1 can white
- 1 2-inch foam brush
- 1 roll painter’s tape
- 10 oz. tube of construction adhesive
- 1-2 yards of white faux fur
- 1 can of clear, waterproof sealant
- Craft paper
Below are the basic steps to make each Santa.
- Cover work area with craft paper. Use clean craft paper between each painting step.
- Paint one small pot black and the other white. Spray the 2 large pots red. Let dry.
- Use paint pens to draw Santa’s beard and face.
- Attach the head to one large pot and the feet to the other. Let dry 1-2 hours.
- Make the body by gluing and stacking the large pots together. Wait 24 hours.
- Using painter’s tape, outline a belt around the body and paint it black. Let dry.
- Use a gold paint pin to create Santa’s buckle.
- Cut strips of faux fur and glue them on to trim Santa’s hat and coat.
Holiday Gingerbread Village

Perfect for a tabletop or mantel display, make your own gingerbread village scene using the materials, tools and steps below.
- Different size terra cotta pots and saucers for houses, large building and evergreens
- 3 bottles of acrylic paint: brown, white and green
- 4 paint pens: white, black, metallic gold or silver
- 10 oz. tube of construction adhesive
- 1 can of clear, waterproof sealant
- 1 bag of faux snow
- 24 inches of cotton batting or a white table runner
- Fairy lights, fresh or faux greenery (optional)
Lay down a drop cloth or newspaper and follow the directions below.
- Small home: paint a 4-inch pot and 6-inch saucer brown. Let dry and glue saucer upside down to create the roof.
- Bigger home: paint two 4-inch pots and a 6-inch saucer brown. Let dry. Glue the two pots together and glue the saucer upside down to make the roof.
- Large building: paint a 10-inch pot and 8-inch saucer brown. Glue the saucer upside down on the pot. Optional: Attach a wood cross or clock face above the door.
- Trees: Paint 1-inch, 2-inch, and 4-inch pots green. For a large tree, use 2-inch, 4-inch and 6-inch pots. Glue the pots upside down, largest to smallest.
- Use a white paint pen to make icing decorations like scallops, windows and snow.
Tip: Add a chimney to any building by painting a 1-inch pot brown, detailing it and gluing it to the roof.
Peppermint Dessert Plates

Craft beautiful serveware to display holiday cookies, cakes and treats using the materials, tools and steps below.
- Different size terra cotta pots and saucers below
- (1) 2 oz. bottle of soft pink acrylic paint
- (1) 2 oz. bottle of bright pink acrylic paint
- (1) 2 oz. bottle of white acrylic paint
- 10 oz. tube of construction adhesive
- 16 oz. can of food-grade polyurethane
- Foam brushes
- Drop cloth or newspaper
Lay down a drop cloth or newspaper and follow the basic steps below.
- Paint: Cover the pots and saucers with white acrylic paint. When dry, paint peppermint swirls and stripes on each piece and let dry.
- Assemble: For cake stand, glue the rim of a 6-inch pot to the underside of a 10-inch saucer. For small cookie stand, glue the rim of a 4-inch pot to the underside of an 8-inch saucer. For a two-tiered dessert stand, glue the 4-inch pot to the bottom of the 8-inch saucer to make the bottom tier. Glue the 2-inch pot to the bottom of the 8-inch saucer for the top tier. Once dry, center and glue the assembled top tier to the bottom saucer.
- Seal: Apply a coat of food-grade polyurethane and dry for 24 hours before use.
Tip: To protect the painted surface, use it like a charger plate. Simply place a clear glass plate on top for the food items.
Gnome Ornaments

Create a whole bunch of these charming ornaments. Materials and steps to make one gnome are below.
- 2 1/2-inch terra cotta pot
- 4 paint pens: white, black, metallic gold or silver
- 10 inches ribbon
- 1/2-inch jingle bell
- 5 yards of thick yarn (for beards)
- 3/4-inch wood ball or pom-pom
- Glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
Using a paint pen, give your pot a festive or dramatic color. Let dry.
- To hang the ornament, thread a 10-inch piece of ribbon through a jingle bell. Tie yarn ends into a knot. Use a yarn needle to pull the ribbon loop through the clay pot’s hole from the inside. Secure the bell inside with hot glue.
- To make the beard, wrap thick yarn around your four fingers about 50 times. Tie the center of the yarn with another piece of yarn. Cut the looks and fluff out.
- Glue the beard to the inside rim of the pot, with strands facing down. Trim as desired.
- Glue a wooden ball or pom-pom in the beard for your gnome’s nose.
Tabletop Snowmen Centerpieces

Make a fun centerpiece with a classic assortment of snowmen. Materials and steps to make these festive pieces are below.
- Terra cotta pots in different sizes
- Tea lights
- 1 can of white spray paint
- (1) 2 oz. bottle of black acrylic paint
- (1) 2 oz. bottle of orange acrylic paint
- (1) 2 oz. bottle of red acrylic paint
- 10 oz. tube of construction adhesive
- 5 small wood knobs or foam balls per snowman
- Foam orange ear plug (carrot nose)
- Ribbon, fabric scraps, felt, sticks, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, buttons
- Glue gun and sticks
Paint all pots white and let them dry.
- For a candlestick, use a 6-inch, 4-inch and 2-inch pot. Glue pots upside down, large to small. Paint a jolly face on the top pot. Make a hat from felt and add pipe cleaner arms. Glue on buttons
- For tabletop statue, glue 2 8-inch pots together at the rims. On the top, glue a 2-inch pot right side up for the head. Let dry. Paint on face and buttons. Attach a festive scarf, hat and arms.
- For a candy holder, decorate a 3-inch pot with a simple face, ribbon, buttons and felt.
These holiday craft ideas using terra cotta pots will add hours of DIY fun and lasting memories to the season. Use these to decorate your home or give them as gifts. The Home Depot is your DIY headquarters. Looking for a product to complete your project? The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them.








