Transform An Old Plant Pot Into The Cutest Fall Scarecrow Decor For Your Porch

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Symbols like the scarecrow embody the fun of fall. It's common to see these crop-eating-bird-scarers at places like pumpkin patches, on hayrides, and if you're craftsy, on your front porch as a part of your DIY fall home decor. You can use any number of items to construct a decorative scarecrow for your front porch for fall. One of the cutest and simplest versions of the DIY scarecrow is made from three terracotta pots, some second-hand clothes, and a few craft supplies.

Scarecrows go all the way back to ancient Egypt. In the U.S., they were a common fixture until World War II, when people began to use synthetic chemicals to rid the harvest of pests. However, the importance of the scarecrow as a decorative symbol of the fall harvest season lives on. In this case, your DIY scarecrow, which is made from three repurposed terracotta pots, is one way to honor this tradition in your decor.

This scarecrow really starts to take form when you put an old plaid shirt, a pair of denim shorts, and a rope belt on the clay planters. These elements form the body and will stay in place with the help of a pair of scissors, a glue gun, and a Mod Podge Decoupage Kit with craft glue and foam brushes. The strawman's body also needs straw; PEVOGON Khaki Easter Filler Paper Shreds sets you up there. And you won't leave his face blank. Some acrylic paint, a marker, and two black buttons for eyes give him his scarecrow identity. Finally, you'll need something to cover his head — a straw hat or a potted plant will fill the space nicely.

Start by slipping the plaid shirt over one of the pots. Position the collar near the pot's base. (This becomes the neck area.) A child's shirt works best for this because it's small enough to fit around the pot with less fabric left over at the end. Glue the bottom of the shirt inside the opening of the terracotta pot with your glue gun. Then tuck the arms behind the scarecrow's back.

You'll fit him with pants in a similar fashion. The second planter's wide base becomes the scarecrow's waist. The zipper and the snap go on this end of the pot. Glue the ends of the jeans inside the pot as you did with the shirt. Then, glue the scarecrow's torso to the lower body. Once it's dry, wrap a rope, like this Dollar Tree Decorative Nautical Rope, around the waist area, tie it in a knot, and glue it in place to create a belt.

To create the head, paint the third pot with white or beige acrylic paint. Glue the buttons on to create the eyes, paint on a nose, and draw the mouth with a marker. You can also add two pink dots on his cheeks if you want him to have rosy cheeks. To make him look like the harvest, glue some of the Easter grass on the lip of the pot, then glue his head onto the body. Glue some grass to his neck, or tie a red bandana around it instead. Fill the "head" pot with a plant or top it with a straw farmer's hat.

This little guy is totally sweet on his own. However, if you'd like to make an even more impressive display for your front porch, give him a family. For example, make a Papa scarecrow from bigger pots, followed by a Mama scarecrow from slightly smaller pots, and a baby from the smallest pots. In the latter case, you don't want the baby pots to be too small, because you still want to see them from the street. Additionally, if it's tough to find clothes for the smallest family member, try looking for doll clothes at second-hand stores. Customize your scarecrow family to reflect your own.

If you'd like the scarecrow to have a pumpkin head instead of the terracotta planter, you have a couple of options. First, you can try constructing a head out of papier-mâché to make a papier-mâché jack-o-lantern. Or you can swap out the plain pot for this Generic Pumpkin-Shaped Resin Planter. In these cases, you've given yourself a canvas on which to paint a more traditional jack-o-lantern face. This is something to consider if you're making this porch decor for Halloween specifically.

Finally, you can use the pot that forms the head for a couple of different purposes. If you leave candy out for trick-or-treaters, make the scarecrow's head your candy dish on Halloween. Or amp up the fall vibe by filling the head with mini pumpkins or apples. Then, surround the base of the scarecrow with those and other fall fruits. A couple of dried cornstalks standing behind your scarecrow will add an air of authenticity to this fall exhibit.