Practically Perfect Patio Server!

I can’t wait for Mother Nature to decide whether it’s spring or winter!  She needs to make up her mind quick and stop tempting us with a couple gorgeous days followed by the reappearance of Jack Frost!  But I guess that’s April in Ohio!  Spring SURELY will soon be here to stay, and I guess these chilly days mixed in between are an opportunity to clean up and dust off all the packed away patio items…maybe even make some new ones!  I’ve spent several of those cold and rainy days crafting up some fun things for the summer months ahead…and I’m so anxious to use them!  The summer-like weekend we had a while back motivated me to head to the garden shops…and while I was checking out all the blooming options, I decided to pick up some terracotta pots for my flowers AND some crafting!  It’s really easy to use items like these to transform into things that are useful, adorable, and resistant to the elements which makes them just right for patio entertaining!  Terracotta pots aren’t just for flowers anymore…there’s so many wonderful ways to use them!  They’re casually cute and come in loads of sizes so you can get completely creative in a multitude of ways!  Since my family lives around our fire pit (even when the temperatures are cool) I decided to make a server for outdoor entertaining that would be especially useful for campfire snacks!  See how simple it was to turn some terracotta pots and trays into a practically perfect serving station!  It’s Friday so it might be time for…

serving up some springtime s’mores!

i love the casual aspect of outdoor entertaining…and i love items that are easy to maintain even if left outside!  so when it comes time for some patio gatherings i always head for my buckets, tin trays, and now, terracotta pots for serving up the goodies!  the wonderful thing about clay pots is that they’re plentiful AND cheap!  so if you want to create a patio server that’s perfect for summer, all you need to get started are some clean pots and trays…

now you could leave them in their original form, just a coat or two of a clear sealer would do…but since i use so much white when i entertain i decided to paint them!

the clay pots often show lots of crazing, tiny straw marks, and imperfections…but if you love the casual look this will play right into the end result!   so choose your color or colors–you can paint them solid, with stripes, or dots…whatever you love!  just give it a topcoat of clear sealer when you’re done.  and you don’t need to take time to paint the inside of the little pots…that part won’t show once you stack ’em all up!

start with the largest tray and pot for the bottom layer…you get the drift!  i like to use a strong, clear glue to make sure they stay secured together.  run a bead along the rim of the pot and turn it upside down onto the tray…

repeat with the smaller pot and tray…and then put a hefty bead of glue on the bottom of the larger pot and stack them on top of each other!  the glue won’t set solid right away so you have some time to line them up if they’re not quite straight…then let them set for the suggested time.  E6000 glue usually sets in 24 hours.

i’m going to have so much fun with this guy all summer!  let me share his first job…

s’mores are a regular summertime snack or late night treat at our house…and i make sure to try and keep the makings for them in the pantry at all times!  this way it’s easy to whip up a favorite gooey delight, even if it’s last minute–and now i can serve them up in summer style!

some mini chocolate bars, graham crackers, vanilla wafers, and these adorable flower-shaped mallows look so sweet all layered up in the tower of clay!  i found these precious marshmallows in Target…almost too cute to eat…almost

it’ll be so easy to throw all kind of goodies in this server…but i have a feeling that the ingredients for s’mores will have many repeat appearances!

create a tower of pots and trays for your outdoor parties or everyday celebrations!  a little clay, paint, and glue will make…

a practically perfect patio server!

what will you put in yours?