Clear Glass Flower Vases DIY Project

Transform Clear Glass Flower Vases

You know the clear glass flower vases you get with a bouquet from the flower shop? They all seem to be the same shape and size. Once the flowers have died, all you’re left hanging on to is the generic vase. Then you start to accumulate too many of them. So you donate them or drop them off at a second store. There’s usually an entire shelf of these vases there.

I was cleaning out my cupboards and decided I needed to either pitch them or reinvent them. So guess what happened.

I dug out my spray paints.

This project is for the Less is More Thrifty Thursday series! I’ve joined up with Junette from Windmill & Protea, Elizabeth from A Well-Purposed Woman, and Martina from The Lived-In Look to bring together this series and inspire you on ways to turn second-hand, thrifted, or older items into new and exciting decor! Check out their projects at the end of this post.

Supplies

• Clear Vases

• Spray Paint

• Cardboard Box

Instructions For Clear Vase Makeover

It could not be any simpler. I mean, you can get fancy if you want to use painters tape to block off areas and create patterns. But for these flower vases, the makeover was kept simple.

You can also use frosted vases, textured vases, or outdated vases for this transformation. It’s not just for clear glass flower vases, we’re inclusive here.

Clean the vases with warm soapy water. You want to get off any sticker residue, dust and grime from the outside of the vase. Make sure it’s fully dry.

Set vase in a cardboard box or on a tarp, etc. This is just to prevent overspray so you don’t end up painting everything around your vase along with it. If you set yours upright, then the trim along the top of the vase will also get painted. Which I think is more important than the bottom matching the vase.

Using short, even bursts, spray paint a light first coat all over your vase. Let it dry for the amount of time suggested on the paint can. Then go in with a second coat.

I did this for two of the vases, making them a solid color. On the third vase, things were mixed up a bit for fun. And also because the spray paint cans were running low. The two spray paints were both used on the third vase to get a marble effect.

Marble Painted Vase

After cleaning and preparing your vase as directed above, have both spray paints shaken and ready to go. In short bursts, you’re going to randomly cover your vase in the first color. It will look blotchy and horrible and you’ll regret how it looks. But keep going.

Do the same thing with the second paint color and try to fill in the gaps between the first color. There will likely still be clear spots, but don’t worry, you’re doing more than one coat.

Once the recommended drying time has passed, go back over it with the first paint color. You’re aiming to mostly cover the same spots you already paint in that color, but you also want them to expand out to the other color and overlap for a smoother coverage and look. You can use more of a sweeping motion as you spray to achieve this instead of short bursts.

When you’re done with the first color, then you go back in with the second paint can. Follow the same sweeping bursts motion to get a nice flowing marble look happening with the first color.

Let it dry and reassess. See if there are any areas that need a third coat. Do you see any clear gaps or drip marks? Touch up as you see fit, but keep in mind that at some point you just have to stop nitpicking and enjoy it as unique art.

New Decor From Old Vases

It’s fun to display these metallic flower vases together. It makes a bigger impact than when they are used separately, although they can be split up too. You can use your vases as decor on a shelf or bookcase all year round or use them for flower containers again. They are a lot more fun the second time around.

Enjoy your new-to-you vases. I would love to hear and see how yours turns out. Are you going to attempt a pattern? I haven’t attempted it yet, I only thought of it after the fact so I may have to try it and update you on how it went. It’s a good excuse for another bouquet of flowers. The closest I’ve done were these Christmas Joy wine bottles I DIYed for holiday decor.

Less Is More, Thrifty Thursday Series

This fun DIY flip is part of the Less Is More Thrifty Thursday series. These amazing designers are also sharing their project ideas for transforming old items into new pieces! Please go check out their creative brilliance. Here are the before shots:

Now go see how they transformed these items into beautiful decor! You will be amazed at the changes!

Windmill & Protea: Blue and White Porcelain

The Lived-In Look: Wire Napkin Rings

A Well-Purposed Woman: DIY Magnolia Wreath

Pin It! Flower Vase Makeover