Yo-yo Flower Pot

These flower pots {yo-yo pots} are super easy to make, extremely versatile and super adorable. You can customize the flower/yo-yo pots to suit your style and/or needs.

So you bought seeds to plant and they grew, but then one of the following scenarios happened:

• They shriveled up despite proper watering
• The guy that cuts the lawn at your apartment air-headedly decapitated your two-foot tall zinnias
• Some mysterious insect decided to nom-nom the leaves
• You decided to skip the seeds, get some, say, red bell peppers, dahlias and lilies from your local hardware store on separate occasions; after the third plant dies you have decided that growing plants isn't your thing--or that the hardware store's greenhouse doesn't know what they're doing.

Either way, you decide to maybe try again next year. But this year, right now, you like flowers and you have a bunch of ceramic pots and decorative planters now empty or full of shriveling plant remains. (This is when you also realize that you have minimal storage space and decide to utilize what you do have.)

Thus, the first step: admit you have multiple problems. Then trash the dry, potentially molding, bug-infested soil from those planters and sanitize!

Any sort of planter will do just fine. For starters, I recommend something shallow, small and ceramic in order to maximize cuteness. Try to avoid vases with a narrow opening.

I got this 2" ceramic pot in a pack of 10 for 2.99 at Goodwill. Did I mention these are also cheap to make?

You can get quilting fabric for super cheap and it's easy to sew.  "Fat quarters" (18"x22", a quarter of a yard and half the fabric width) are a nice option as well because you can choose from a variety of patterns without the commitment of fabric by the yard.

The final size will be roughly half the size of the circle you make. Example: 4" diameter circle = 2" diameter yo-yo. Simple enough. Because yo-yos can be as small or as big as you want, varying the sizes of each yo-yo can make your "arrangement" more interesting.

For this example, I'll be using three yo-yos; two yo-yos with solid fabric and one with patterned fabric to accent the others.
 

The title of this step says it. The thread really won't be showing but in case it does, it's nice that it matches.

These items are available at craft stores:

• Fake moss
• Styrofoam
• Glue - hot or all
• Needle
• Floral wire, pipe cleaners, twigs, or whatever you think will properly erect your yo-yo
• Scissors 
• Cardboard for circle template

A rotary cutter that cuts circles came in handy when I had to make 240 circles. This should not be necessary if you have to cut a few circles; scissors will do. But, in case you feel like cutting a bunch of circles....the rotary cutter is awesome!

Trace different sized circles onto cardboard, then use them as templates for the fabric. Anything round - a CD, a roll of masking tape, a bottle, etc. You get the idea.

Fold the edge over about 1/4".

Sew through the top of the fold. Then go through the same spot again (backstitch) and tie a knot to secure the thread.

Sew a running stitch all the way around the top of the folded edge. When you get to the first stitch, pull the thread so the circle gathers.

Note: The shorter you make the stitch--the wider the opening in the finished yo-yo. A longer stitch will result in a tighter yo-yo.

Finish by tying another knot close to your starting point. Flatten the yo-yo.

1. Cut a very small slit, just big enough to slide the wire into.
2. Cut about 6" of wire and shape it like a question-mark.
3. Slide the end of the circled side into the small slit until only the straight end is showing.

Line the pot with glue and place (or jam) a circular piece of foam in the pot. Next, cut a circle of fake moss and glue it to foam. 

Stick your yo-yo's through the moss and into the underlying styrofoam.

You did it! Now be amazed at how precious your final result is.