Decorating DIY Home Decor DIY Home Accents Make a DIY Teardrop Plant Hanger When Ashley Mayes of Bigger Than the Three of Us needed another perch for her plant collection, she got out her jigsaw. Now a creatively curvy hanging planter showcases her favorite foliage. By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Instagram Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on March 31, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Project Overview Working Time: 2 hours Total Time: 8 hours Skill Level: Beginner This DIY planter from blogger Ashley Mayes elevates ordinary houseplants into statement style. Trust us—you won't be able to find a planter like this in the store. Using her trusted jigsaw, she was able to cut a unique teardrop shape that is perfect for holding large, draping plants. Discover how to make the project and download the free template below. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools 1 Scissors 1 Pencil 1 Jigsaw 1 Cordless drill 1 Sander 1 Sandpaper 1 Paintbrush 1 Rag Materials 1 3/4x24x48-inch plywood board 1 Stain, optional 1 Clear polyurethane 3 1-3/4-inch deck screws 1 Ceiling hook 1 Jute rope Instructions Purchase Materials Purchase a panel of void-free, 3/4-inch plywood that's at least 24 inches wide and 32 inches long. Most home centers stock this material with an outer face of birch or similar-looking wood. Why void-free? Because the edges will show in the completed project, and standard plywood has voids in its plies (layers) you don't want showing. If you can't find void-free plywood, use standard plywood and fill the voids with wood putty after cutting the parts to shape in Step 4. See Step 5 for how to disguise plywood edges if that's the look you prefer. Outline Shape Enlarge the teardrop and circle patterns (download below) 400 percent at a print center. Cut out the teardrop shape, following the solid lines (the dashed lines show the position of parts after assembly). Cut out the circle (platform) pattern. Trace the teardrop and platform shapes onto the plywood. Mark the placement of the screws on the circle. Download the pattern here. Cut Wood Use a jigsaw equipped with a fine-tooth blade intended for making smooth cuts in plywood. If your jigsaw has an orbital setting, adjust it for no orbital action to minimize chipping along the edges. Carefully cut the teardrop and platform to shape, slightly outside the traced lines. Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes through the platform at each screw location. Sand Sand cut edges smooth, taking pieces back to the traced lines. Sanding is an important step to make sure paint and stain stick to the surface. It will also make the final product look clean and professionally done. Related: How to Choose the Right Sander for Your Project Prep Plywood If you're using void-free plywood, you can skip this step. If you're using standard plywood, fill the voids on the edges with wood putty. If you'd like to completely disguise the plywood edges, apply paint primer to them, followed by paint (brown or black are two good choices). For the smoothest results, lightly sand between the primer and paint coats. Don't worry if you get a little primer or paint on the surface of the plywood; it will come off in the next step. Smooth Edges Use 100-grit sandpaper on the fronts and backs; repeat using 150-grit sandpaper. If you plan to stain the wood, do another sanding with 220-grit paper. Gently round any sharp edges during the final sanding. Stain and Assemble Stain the teardrop and platform, if desired. Apply three coats of a water-resistant clear finish like polyurethane, letting dry between coats. After the finish dries, center the platform holes on the teardrop as shown in the drawing and at each hole drill a 1/8-inch pilot hole into the teardrop. Screw the platform to the teardrop using 1-3/4-inch deck screws. Hang Attach a ceiling hook, being sure to sink it into a ceiling joist for stability. Finally, tether the teardrop to the hook with a length of jute.