Do this outside in the grass, if you can, to reduce cleanup. If you do it inside, or even in a garage, you may want to lay newspaper down so the dust doesn’t get everywhere. It’s also probably best to wear old clothes.  You don’t need to spend too long on this, just check for any bumps or especially rough spots. If you don’t see anything, then you don’t need to worry about sanding. Even if the pot does have bumps, you have the choice of leaving them to add texture to the look after you paint it. This is good for new pots because it will loosen any stickers for easier removal. It is also good for pots you have planted in before because it will loosen any dirt. If the pot has no stickers and you can tell for sure it is clean, it may be alright to skip the soak.  Although you’ll have to leave the pot to dry at various stages in the process, while it soaks, you can use the time to gather your other supplies and set up your paint area. If you don’t want to leave it for an hour, check it at 10 minute intervals and if it seems clean to your satisfaction, move forward with the process. While soaking the pot may loosen the dirt, used pots are likely to need a scrubbing to get them completely clean. The paint will not go on even or stick properly if there is any dirt or debris.  Your pots may need a soft brush so you don’t scratch them too much, but if there are any stubborn spots you can switch to a wire brush for extra strength. If you happen to scratch the pot any while brushing it, there’s no need to worry because the paint will cover it and even it out. Painting the pot while it is still wet will cause the paint not to stick, so set it out to dry. If it’s a sunny day, put it outside to dry the pot faster. The time it takes to dry may depend on the size of the pot. Drying may take a few hours, so plan ahead for this part so you don’t waste your time while you wait.
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One-sentence summary -- Sand the pot to smooth any rough spots. Soak the pot for 1 hour. Scrub the pot with a brush. Let the pot dry completely.


Use the standard five paragraph essay format. This format will structure your letter in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. It consists of an introductory paragraph, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Your introduction should focus on your immediate educational and career goals. This sentence is already written in your preparation stage so you should be able to place it right into this part of your outline. You will briefly discuss how your particular interests within your chosen field of study developed and state why you want to continue your education. Remember that these bullet points are for your reference so you can see just how much you’ve accomplished thus far. When you write, it’ll be up to you to turn this list into a compelling "story". In this paragraph you will focus on your strengths and leadership skills including academic achievements, extracurricular activities, community and/or volunteer, and awards. Again, you have these listed. Now put them in a bulleted list here. Were you class president? Did you write a story that won a competition? Did you write for the school newspaper? Were you captain of the Lacrosse team? Did you volunteer in a political campaign or at the food bank? Do you hold down a job with management responsibilities? Do you work with kids? Have you been nominated for academic awards? This paragraph will develop your reason for applying for this particular scholarship and why you should be considered. Be professional and direct and do not say that you need the scholarship money but rather mention what you will be using it for. Examples would be to help pay for tuition, housing, books and supplies. This is the part of the story about the future. How do your goals and vision match up with theirs? And what would you pay for if you had that opportunity? Now that you’ve told them about yourself, show them that you are deserving of their scholarship and how you will wisely use their funds. Highlight your ability to successfully complete the college program for which you are requesting a scholarship as well as a clear intention on what you plan to do with your course of study. Remember: you are investment. They want to know you'll pay off.  This an expansion of your introductory paragraph regarding your academic and career goals. Now you provide greater detail that illuminates just how strong your knowledge and passion are and how you could you change your life and the lives of others with this scholarship. You’ve already shown them who you are, "now show them who you will become and how that will benefit them". Reiterate within this closing paragraph your interests in applying for the scholarship. Then explain what you – and by extension they – will gain from you having received this particular award. Remember, they want to award successful candidates. Their success going forward is contingent on choosing candidates who successfully complete their education and move on to productive careers. Be sure you let them know this is exactly your plan.  Be careful not to use redundant words or phrases from earlier paragraphs. Think of this paragraph as one in which you are paraphrasing an article, paragraph, or even a book: summarize but do it in a different way. Make it new, unique, and fresh. As they say, “Take it to the next level.”
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One-sentence summary --
Organize your paragraphs. Outline your introduction. Create bullets for paragraph two. Create bullets for paragraph three. Create bullets for paragraph four. Outline your conclusion.