Create Your Own DIY Flower Pot With This Genius Egg Carton Hack

By Cara Lockwood Benoit
Someone holds an empty green egg carton. Kinga Krzeminska/Getty Images

Have you been tossing your egg cartons into the recycling bin without a second thought? Why not unleash your creativity by repurposing them and making your own original planters, one of many fun DIY projects for your garden like trying to attract more birds to your yard with a popsicle hack. This project is easy and inexpensive. You can even get the kids or grandkids involved.

First, you'll need about two egg cartons (made of cardboard, not Styrofoam or plastic). Get rid of any labels first, and then cut or tear them into smaller chunks about an inch or so big, as demonstrated by @sibster_made on TikTok. It's a good idea to use cartons that are all similar in color to make a uniform base for your project. Tuck the pieces into a bowl and pour enough water to cover the cardboard. Soak them for at least several hours, but it's best to leave them all night. In the morning, add the pulp to a blender.

Then, squeeze out moisture by using a strainer or a cheesecloth. The cheesecloth might be a little easier to coral the pulp, but use whatever tool works best for you. Next, pat dry the soggy bits of paper and toss them into a new bowl. Pour in your flour (about a cup) and add about a quarter cup of water. Knead the mixture together, and you should get a nice thick mound with a clay-like consistency. For stickier, even more moldable clay, add in a cup of white glue.

Next comes the fun part: designing and decorating your masterpiece

@sibster_made

for my paper clay: -I soak my egg cartons at least a few hours or overnight -blend that into a pulp with a little bit more water -put it through a cheese cloth to squeeze out the extra water -put the pulp into a container and add flour (about 1 cup) a little bit more water (I used 1/4 cup) and a sprinkle of salt The ratios will really depend on the consistency you want. If your clay feels too watery, continue sprinkling flour and If it feels too dry add small amounts of water until you reach a clay or dough like consistency. once my clay was just right, l lined a plastic container with it. At first, I was nervous about not using any clear wrap, but I have made small starter pots using applesauce containers before and the clay did not stick so l was hopeful. for the wooden bowl, it would be necessary to line that with saran wrap or the clay would absolutely stick to it and make a giant mess I left both pieces out to dry in the sun, and because our days are getting so much warmer they were dry and less than a day

♬ The Kite Live by Luisa Marion - luisa_marion_music

Now that you've made your egg carton clay, you can put it inside a plastic mold of your choice, such as a large, empty sour cream or yogurt container. It's all about whatever planter size you'd like. If you're worried about the clay sticking to your mold, add a layer of plastic wrap in between. Or, you could also make the plastic mold a permanent part of your project by pressing the pliable dough to the outside of the plastic container. 

Having this internal structure might make it sturdier for kids to decorate as well. An added benefit of having the mold as a permanent fixture is that you can make a three-dimensional design with clay scraps while the pot is still wet, like sculpted flowers, or even the eyes, nose and mouth for a face. You could also press dried flowers, stones, or shells into the design for a more natural look, or even decoupage dried flowers, and use them to decorate the pot. After the container dries, you can paint it or glue on decorations. 

You're truly only limited by your own imagination, and your kids or grandkids might have their own ideas about how to make the pot truly stand out. If you have any intact cartons leftover, remember seeds can grow well in egg cartons, too.

Recommended