A flower pot with a face is immediately noticeable on any gift table – especially if there are a few rolled banknotes stuck between the curlers in the “hair”. The recipient suddenly holds a small figure in his hand: glasses on his nose, wobbly eyes, pink cheeks, and a real plant growing out of his head. This seems more personal than an envelope and funnier than the tenth bouquet of flowers when you say goodbye. The idea is primarily intended for retirement and birthdays, where money is often given away anyway. And the best thing: Materials for the pot, face and decoration are usually less than ten euros.
In short
- Face – Googly eyes, a painted mouth, a wooden bead as a nose and pink cheeks turn the clay pot into a face in no time.
- Glasses – Large decorative glasses or old reading glasses give the figure character; the bigger the frame, the funnier.
- Hair rollers & money – Rollers glued to the edge of the pot hold loosely rolled banknotes that look like a curler hairstyle.
- Plant as a hairstyle – A bushy flowering or houseplant grows as “hair” out of the pot, indoors or outdoors depending on the location.
This is what a flower pot with a face needs
The heart is the face, and you need surprisingly little for it. For the eyes, use large wiggly eyes from the craft supply that are ready to stick on, or you can paint two round eyes with acrylic paint. Googly eyes appear more lively because they rotate with every movement.
The nose can be plastic. A wooden bead, a craft bead or a small wooden ball, glued in the middle, gives the face depth. If you like, you can shape them from leftover modeling clay.
For the mouth, use waterproof acrylic paint in red or pink. Waterproof is important if the pot is later left outside. Alternatively, stick on lip stickers or a small decorative element. Two pink splashes of color on the cheeks, with acrylic paint or a little blush from the powder compact, immediately give the face a friendly expression.
The glasses bring the biggest laugh. Old reading glasses, craft glasses or cheap decorative glasses are sufficient. As a rule of thumb: the larger and rounder the frame, the weirder the little figure looks. Leave the rest of the pot plain or get other ideas for decorating flower pots.
Attach hair rollers: permanent or removable
The curlers are the real highlight. They sit like a hairstyle directly under the upper edge of the pot and later carry the banknotes. Before sticking it on, it’s worth thinking about it briefly: Should the decoration last forever or can it be removed later without leaving a trace?
The hot glue gun is the method of choice for permanent attachment. Place the curlers in a ring just below the top edge; six to eight pieces are enough. On smooth plastic pots, the glue will hold much better if you lightly roughen the glued areas with fine sandpaper beforehand.
If you want the recipient to continue using the pot as normal afterwards, choose a removable solution. Double-sided mounting tape, strong adhesive pads or thin craft wire hold the winders just as securely, but can be removed again without leaving any residue. However, on raw terracotta, assembly tape sometimes removes some of the surface; Craft wire is the gentler choice here.
Banknotes instead of curls: the gift of money in your hair
Now the actual gift comes into play. Roll the banknotes loosely into small rolls, not too tightly, otherwise they will look like cigarettes instead of curls. Fix each roll with a small rubber ring or a decorative ribbon and place it in one of the winders. Overall, it looks like a cocky curler hairstyle with money everywhere.
How much you hide depends on the occasion: a few small bills for a birthday, a larger sum for retirement, when colleagues often collect together. If you like the style, you will find suggestions for the next occasion in another creative money gift idea.
Pro tips for budget and durability
- Budget: Googly eyes, beads and rollers together rarely cost more than ten euros in the craft store, and many of them are already in the craft box anyway.
- Water protection: Terracotta absorbs water. Plant in a small plastic inner pot or insert some foil so that watering water does not loosen the paint or the glued rollers.
- Money last: Only insert the banknote rolls shortly before handing them over and keep them away from the pouring zone so that the banknotes remain dry and wrinkle-free.
- Sequence: First paint the face and let it dry, then stick the rollers and lastly plant the plants. Damp soil and fresh paint don’t mix well.
Which plant goes with which hairstyle?
The plant is the hairstyle. Depending on what look you want and where the pot should be, a different variety will suit.
For a lush, fluffy mane, choose voluminous balcony flowers: bluebells, bacopa, fairy mirror, busy lilies or magic bells fall over the edge and look like thick hair. These plants feel comfortable outdoors and show their best side, especially in the warm season.
If you like it more modern, grasses look great. Blue fescue, pennisetum grass or Cyprus grass stand upright and give the figure a cheeky, structured hairstyle, also more suitable for balconies and gardens.
If you want the gift to be kept indoors and last for a long time, choose a robust houseplant. Ivy plants, spider plants and Fittonia can cope with normal room light and provide joy for months. Especially if you don’t know how green the recipient’s thumb is, these three are a safe choice.
The right idea for birthdays and retirement
A few details decide whether the whole thing looks playful or festive, depending on the occasion.
For your birthday, match the colors, bows and flowers to the birthday child: your favorite color as a bow around the edge, plus a small greeting card that you stick between the plants. This turns the craft project into a very personal gift.
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Gift ideas
Make your own “your first million” cash gift
Retirement can be a warm one. Include a card with personal wishes; Beautiful, suitable retirement sayings will help if you are at a loss for words. Because colleagues often collect together, a larger sum can be neatly stored in the “hair” without it looking like a sober envelope. It’s best to hand over the pot freshly planted and watered, then the little figure will be in full bloom when you unpack it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove the hair rollers without leaving any residue?
The best way to remove hot glue is to briefly warm it up with a hairdryer: the glue point becomes soft and the roller can be removed. Then carefully rub off any remaining glue with your finger. Simply pull off winders that are attached with mounting tape or adhesive pads. When using raw terracotta, do this carefully so that no clay particles come along.
Which plant lasts the longest in the flower pot face?
Robust houseplants are the most enduring. An ivy or spider plant can easily survive indoors for several months and only needs occasional water. Balcony bloomers such as Bacopa or Busy Lieschen look more lush, but usually only last one season. If you want the gift to last a long time, the houseplant is the safer choice.
Is the idea also suitable as a gift for a man?
Yes, with a few adjustments the pot will look more masculine. Give him a beard made of wool or a piece of faux fur, choose bolder, darker shades and perhaps a pair of distinctive horn-rimmed glasses; Then leave out the eyelashes and blush. The plant can also be coarser, like a grass. Our overview of monetary gifts specifically for men offers further suggestions.
