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How to Make a Toad House

Turn a flower pot, some rocks and clay into the sweetest toad abode.
Course Crafts
Cuisine Clay, Gardening
Keyword Toad House
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cost $4-10

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Flip a terra cotta pot over so the lip is on your work surface. Use a pencil to draw a semicircular shaped entrance. Using a Dremel tool and cutting wheel, while wearing eye protection, cut the door shape out of the clay pot.
    Flip a terra cotta pot over so the lip is on your work surface. Use a pencil to draw a semicircular shaped entrance. Using a Dremel tool and cutting wheel, while wearing eye protection, cut the door shape out of the clay pot.
  • Apply a small amount of glue onto the flattest edges of stones and adhere around the outside of the flower pot and around the door opening, leaving the top uncovered. Hold the stones in place until they hold on their own. Allow the glue to cure several hours to overnight.
    Apply a small amount of glue onto the flattest edges of stones and adhere around the outside of the flower pot and around the door opening, leaving the top uncovered. Hold the stones in place until they hold on their own. Allow the glue to cure several hours to overnight.
  • Mix up your grout using package directions. Using a craft stick, chopstick, or similar item push the grout into the areas around the stones. Try not to get much on the surface of the rocks themselves.
    Using a craft stick, chop stick, or similar item push the grout into the areas around the stones. Try not to get much on the surface of the rocks themselves.
  • Right after applying the grout use a dry chip brush or a paper towel to remove the excess grout from the visible parts of the stones. It won't all come away but get the bulk and any chunks off now. Let the grout sit 15-20 minutes.
    Right after applying the grout use a dry chip brush or a paper towel to remove the excess grout from the visible parts of the stones. It won't all come away but get the bulk and any chunks off now. Let the grout sit 15-20 minutes.
  • Wet a sponge and then squeeze out the excess so it is just damp. Wipe the excess grout off of the stones as needed. Rinse the sponge and wipe away the grout as needed until the stones are mostly clean. Make one last pass over the stones with a dry paper towel. Allow the grout to dry overnight and then polish your stones to remove any trace of grout left behind.
    Wet a sponge and then squeeze out the excess so it is just damp. Wipe the excess grout off of the stones as needed. Rinse the sponge and wipe away the grout as needed until the stones are mostly clean. Make one last pass over the stones with a dry paper towel. Allow the grout to dry overnight and then polish your stones to remove any trace of grout left behind.
  • Cut the leaf shape from the larger leaf template in the free printable PDF.
    Roll out your polymer clay slightly thicker than 0.25" and slightly larger than the leaf template.
    Cut the leaf shape from the larger leaf template in the free printable PDF. Roll out your polymer clay slightly thicker than 0.25" and slightly larger than the leaf template.
  • Place your clay onto something cut safe, like a self-healing cutting mat. Trace around the leaf template with a craft knife cutting all of the way through the clay. Gently remove the cut away pieces.
    Place your clay onto something cut safe, like a self-healing cutting mat. Trace around the leaf template with a craft knife cutting all of the way through the clay. Gently remove the cut away pieces.
  • Lay the clay on top of the flower pot. With dry fingers go around the edges of the clay rubbing away any obvious signs of cutting and making the shape more organically shaped. Lay the clay back onto the parchment paper and cover.
    Lay the clay on top of the flower pot. With dry fingers go around the edges of the clay rubbing away any obvious signs of cutting and making the shape more organically shaped. Lay the clay back onto the parchment paper and cover.
  • Place a fresh leaf with the vein-side down onto a section of the leaf and roll over it gently with the mini rolling pin to transfer the impression. Repeat to texture the entire leaf.
    Place a fresh leaf with the vein-side down onto a section of the leaf and roll over it gently with the mini rolling pin to transfer the impression. Repeat to texture the entire leaf.
  • Place your clay leaf on top with the textured side facing up and moving until you're happy with the placement. Gently press the clay into the pot around the edges to mold it to the shape.
    Transfer the pot and clay to a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet on a rack in the center of A COLD OVEN. Close the door and set the oven to the correct TEMPERATURE as indicated on your polymer clay package. Once the oven heats to the proper temperature, set the timer for the TIME indicated on your clay's packaging. Once baked carefully remove from the oven and allow to fully cool down.
    Transfer the pot and clay to a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet on a rack in the center of A COLD OVEN. Close the door and set the oven to the correct TEMPERATURE as indicated on your polymer clay package. Once the oven heats to the proper temperature, set the timer for the TIME indicated on your clay's packaging. Once baked carefully remove from the oven and allow to fully cool down.
  • Thin some dark green acrylic paint with water by 50%. Brush the paint onto the cool leaf shape allowing the paint to collect in the veins. Allow to dry and repeat until you're happy with the color and visibility of the texture.
    Thin some dark green acrylic paint with water by 50%. Brush the paint onto the cool leaf shape allowing the paint to collect in the veins. Allow to dry and repeat until you're happy with the color and visibility of the texture.
  • Seal the leaf with a clay safe sealer and allow it to fully dry.
    Seal the leaf with a clay safe sealer and allow it to fully dry.
  • Apply a thin line of Original Gorilla Glue around the top of the flower pot, about a half of an inch away from the edge. Lightly spritz with water to activate and put the leaf into place. Apply some light weight to the top of the leaf. Let the glue cure overnight to 24 hours.
    Apply a thin line of Original Gorilla Glue around the top of the flower pot, about a half of an inch away from the edge. Lightly spritz with water to activate and put the leaf into place. Apply some light weight to the top of the leaf. Let the glue cure overnight to 24 hours.

Notes

Don't have a Dremel Tool? Take a somewhat heavy hammer and tap at the rim of the clay pot where you want the hole to be. Break out enough of a hole for a toad to enter. Sand away any sharp edges with a rough grit sandpaper.