Upcycled Botanicals: Easy Mod Podge Projects for Ceramics and Plates

Not long ago we visited Katie at Bower Power and surprised her with a small gift from our shop. In the sweetest exchange, she sent us home with several pages torn from an old Hooker book full of botanical and fruit illustrations she’d discovered at Goodwill. Those delicate, vintage-style drawings sat on our shelf for a while until we finally decided to put a few to use in a simple, affordable craft project.

The idea grew from a practical observation: we already have plenty of framed art around the house, but there are so many other surfaces that could use a little personality. I’m drawn to white ceramics, so when I noticed a few plain white cups and small ceramic containers in our decor stash, I imagined how charming they would be with a tiny fruit illustration on the front. I pulled three cups from the cabinet and grabbed a third container that was currently home to an ivy plant on our windowsill. They felt like the perfect blank canvases for a low-effort refresh.

We began by selecting a few smaller fruit drawings from the torn Hooker book pages. The prints are detailed but simple, which made them ideal for cutting to scale and applying to the curved surfaces of the cups. With a pair of sharp scissors, I trimmed around each image, keeping the cuts close to the artwork but leaving a small margin to help the paper adhere smoothly around the form of the cup.

Next came the Mod Podge. I found an almost-forgotten bottle in my craft drawer and set up a small station with a flat brush and a scrap of cardboard to protect the table. When decoupaging, a thin, even coat performs best: I brushed Mod Podge onto the back of each cutout, pressed the paper firmly onto the ceramic, smoothed any air bubbles, and then brushed a second thin coat over the top once the initial layer had set. That topcoat seals the edges, creates a soft, integrated finish, and helps the image withstand light handling. This technique keeps the look natural and avoids a glossy sticker-like appearance, maintaining the softness of the botanical illustration.

The results were immediate and charming. The cups look cheerful when grouped together, each sporting a different fruit motif that reads like a tiny still-life. Their versatility is a major benefit: they work equally well as mini vases for small blooms, containers for pencils and scissors on a desk, or small planters for succulents or a trailing ivy. We liked them so much that they ended up on my desk, where the pencils and glasses are always within reach, and the ivy continues to offer a bit of greenery and cleaner-feeling air while I work.

There was more artwork left in the Hooker book, including a couple of larger botanical plates that lent themselves to a slightly different idea. We decoupaged two dessert plates by adhering larger illustrations directly onto the surfaces using the same Mod Podge approach. Once sealed and dry, these plates can be hung on the wall, leaned on a shelf, or displayed on a plate stand in the dining area for a playful, food-themed accent. The plates add a subtle vintage touch and extend the botanical motif beyond the windowsill and desk.

One of the best parts of this project is how low-cost and low-effort it was. All of the supplies were either repurposed or already in the house, which meant the total project cost was essentially zero. Beyond the budget-friendly appeal, upcycling these thrifted botanical prints breathed new life into both the illustrations and the ceramic pieces. The finished items feel curated, thoughtful, and personal—exactly the kind of small-scale project that makes a home feel more lived-in and layered.

If you’re inspired to try something similar, keep a few tips in mind: choose paper prints that aren’t too thick so they conform to curves, trim carefully, apply thin coats of adhesive, and smooth from the center outward to reduce bubbles. And if you enjoy switching up your displays, these pieces are easy to rotate into different rooms or give as small, handcrafted gifts.

Have you upcycled any thrifted finds lately? Scored a stack of vintage prints or given an everyday object a fresh twist? We’d love to hear about your experiments with botanical art and repurposed décor—share what you’ve created or stumbled upon and how you made it your own.