This craft is so simple all you need is glass vases and paint. I used several old vases that I had on hand and then scored a few more for half off at goodwill. The immediate cost, not counting what I had on hand, for this project was $2.33. If you don’t have a lot of paint samples on hand then you could always buy a cheap can of oops paint from one of your blue box stores and then mix with different shades of cheap craft paint to get a large volumn of paint for little. I would not just use craft paint for this project.
All you need to do is pour the paint in the vase and then swirl it around and slowly lean it down until the paint pours out the top of the vase. We held the vase back over the paint can if we were using a single color.
One two vases we got a little creative and swirled the paint before pouring it in the vase.
If you choose to swirl the colors than you need to barely mix them before pouring them in the vase. The black looks harsh now but it will soak into the surrounding color as it dries, it also pulls down into streaks thanks to the gravity but I really like it.
This is the same vase right after I swirled the colors and again the next morning when the paint had settled. I also tried swirling with white but but it was very hard to see, just gave it a delicate little detail.
After all the extra paint has poured out the top of the jars, set them upright to dry. I found that it helps to wipe all the paint off the rim of the vase so that you still have a clear edge.
So now I have one shelf filled and I think I’m going to get more vases from Goodwill and keep going across to the other side since the lantern full of twine isn’t really pulling it’s weight.
Now I just to get the other shelf filled and the picture of the nice anonymous couple that came with the frame replaced and this place might actually start to look acceptable.
Let me know if you make painted vases, I would love to see how they turn out! This would be a great project for those people overseas, let’s say… Belize…because you could paint pickle jars, hide the top ridges with twine and have some great easy decorations. Let’s get crazy with paint people!
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I LOVE THIS! I have several vases that I keep stored away that will be getting a fresh look 🙂 And…I might be a touch jealous of your built ins! They look beautiful!
Thanks, this is a great idea to do with all those old vases that you just can’t bring yourself to toss. Whoever first thought of this was a genius.
I’ve seen these before and really, really, REALLY want to try this! When I finally do, I hope it turns out as great as yours! I, too, love your built-ins. Hmmm, wonder if I must move to TX to get some. It just might be worth it.
You need to try it soon, I could not believe how easy it was. One of my friends was over and we did the first four vases in about 20 minutes, and that was the first time we did them. Our area that we live in was built mainly in the 70’s and 80’s so every single house has built ins. I love them but it is a lot of shelves to fill! I still have built in shelves in the dining room and playroom upstairs with nothing on them at all. I don’t want to put toys on the upper playroom shelves because I have kids that would climb to get them. But moving to TX is a great idea!
How cute! I am definitely going to do this. I have been looking for a vase in a specific color but haven’t had much luck. I am going to paint today, I already have the perfect size vase!
I love it when things like that work out!
I LOVE these! I think I even have some vases catching dust under my sink 😉 I’m feeling another craft night with you!!
Yes! I’ll try to wait to do more until you can come over. It’s really fun so it’s gonna be hard to wait.