Pretty Pen Pot

A Great Mother's Day Gift

How to turn ordinary pens into pretty and practical desk accessories.

These flower-topped pens make great gifts for any occasion, but why not make a few for yourself?

This Mother's Day, you can give Mom some flowers that don't fade and die in a few days!

Pen Pot Materials

• 5-6" tall clay pot and matching saucer
• Acrylic paints in blue, white, orange, yellow and two shades of green
• Acrylic paint sealer in satin finish
• Small and large artist paint brushes
• Glue gun or Aleene's Tacky Glue
• 5 Bic pens - not retractable
• Green floral tape
• Curved nose pliers or regular small pliers
• 5 flowers of your choice - example shows Gerber Daisies in different colors
• Dried beans of your choice - enough to almost fill the pot

Assembling the Pen Pot

Wash and dry the pot and saucer thoroughly. Let dry completely before painting.

Paint the pot as desired - example shows rolling hills with flowers and a blue sky with clouds - an easy landscape that even a "non-artist" can manage. Paint the saucer to match.

When paint is completely dry, brush on two coats of the sealer letting each coat dry completely.

Using a glue gun or tacky glue, glue the saucer to the bottom of the pot. Set this aside for filling later.

Remove the small cap from each pen by using pliers to gently squeeze around the end of the pen to push the cap out.

It may take a few tries to get it to come out. When it pops out just a bit, grab and pull it all the way out.

Prepare the flowers by cutting each one leaving about 3" of stem connected (as shown in the Supplies photo above).

[ Tip: If the stems don't feel too secure, add some glue to make them stronger. ]

Insert the 3" stem into the open end of the pen taking care not to place the stem into the ink but rather between the ink tube and the inside of the pen.

Use some glue to hold the bottom of the flower tight against the end of the pen.

Starting at the top of the pen just under the flower start wrapping the floral tape.

As you wrap the tape pull on it slightly so it stretches. This will allow for a tight wrap.

Continue on down the pen and then back up to the flower.

Do the same for each pen.

Fill the pot with dried beans to about 1" from the top of the pot. Insert the pens.

This is a cute addition to any desk or wherever pens are needed quickly.