Making a Clay Pot Toad Abode

Materials:
1 clay pot - in this case, 5"H x7" Diameter
Portland cement or mortar
Pond pebbles

Tools:
Razor knife
Sandpaper
Vice grip
Small hammer
Small chisel
Putty knife

You will need to cut a door in the clay pot. There is no size rule, just be sure that it is large enough for fat toads to enter! You can use a dremel saw but I used a chisel.

Steps:

1. Soak the clay pot overnight in water to soften it.

2. Lay the clay pot on it's side and fasten firmly to a table with the vice grip. See photo 2 attachment.

3. With the razor, etch an outline of your desired door shape in the side of the clay pot. Go over the groove again and again until it has some depth, cutting as deeply into the pot as you can.

4. Line the chisel in the razor groove and very gently tap along the door outline until the door piece comes free. If the pot cracks or breaks, it can be mended with the mortar.

4. With the sandpaper, smooth the door edges. This is very easy to do while the pot is still damp from the overnight soaking. Photo 3 attachment is before sanding.

5. Let the pot dry out.

6. Mix your mortar or cement, making it very thick.

7. Spread the mortar or cement mix over the outside of the clay pot with the putty knife.

8. Press the pond pebbles on to the mortar, using the mortar mix as an adhesive.

You can apply the pebbles by the handful and go back and stick individual stones where there are spaces using a dab of mortar on the pebble as an adhesive. You can also individually stick the pebbles to the pot for a more careful look. If you choose to put the pebbles on the pot one at a time, I would advice working with small sections of mortar on the pot, applying more as you go along. The mortar dries quickly.

Let the toad house dry out completely and place in a moist shady area of your garden. Enjoy!