Coffee Shop Terra Cotta Crafts

Coffee Mugs

Using very small terra cotta planters, found in garden and craft stores, you can transform the planters into large coffee mugs, suitable for the true coffee lover. Purchase pots without drainage holes or plug up the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot by applying non-toxic epoxy which when dried will form a waterproof seal. Fashion a handle out of clay, attach to the side of the pot and allow to dry. Using acrylic paint, write the word "Coffee" in various locations along the outside of the pot. Once the paint has dried, coat with a clear acrylic spray to keep the paint in place and give the piece a shiny finish. Though this is a decorative item, it is suitable for a coffee shop. If making your own cups or mugs from terra cotta clay, allow ample time for the clay to dry before decorating.

Using terra cotta pots, in various finishes if available, create handmade wind chimes which use the terra cotta in various ways. Wrap the pots in a thick, heavy towel and break the pots in to smaller pieces using a hammer. Use a wood or terra cotta top base, such as the leftover bottom portion of the pot, and attach multiple wires or strings to the top. Punch holes in individual pieces of the broken terra cotta and thread through with the string so the pieces hang down. Make sure to group multiple pieces together so when the wind blows the terra cotta bangs together and makes noise.

One craft that you can sell and also use throughout your coffee shop, is individually decorated flower pots. Though some people use plain terra cotta pots on their own for planting flowers, you can make unique pots to sell. Consider making pots in various styles, patterns and sizes. Use acrylic paint and clear coat sealer to preserve the artwork for each pot. To incorporate the coffee shop theme, make sure to create a few pots with pictures of coffee cups, pieces of biscotti and even steaming mugs of cappuccino to depict what is available in your shop.

Using terra cotta pots to create centerpiece displays is a craft that can be modified throughout the year. Decorate or paint the outside of a plain terra cotta pot to match the season. Line the inside with Styrofoam and position silk flowers and other decorative accents in the pot to create a centerpiece. Options include painting the pot in red, white and blue stripes for the summer season and sticking sand on top of the foam with seashells attached to pieces of driftwood throughout the display. For the holiday season, decorate the pots in red and green with stems and sticks of pine cones, cinnamon sticks and silk holly stems being the center focal point.