Transforming a thrift store vase is a fun and easy DIY project. Plus, you are giving new life to something that someone else no longer wanted – bonus! A fantastic upcycle DIY project!
I found my glass vase (which looks like a water pitcher) at my local thrift store and immediately grabbed it. The shape was exactly what I wanted for the Safari tablescape theme I was working on. But the color was completely wrong!
No worries, I knew it would be easy to makeover the glass pitcher into a gorgeous-looking vase. I was going to spray paint and then embellish it with jute twine. Easy-peasy!
Supplies for your thrift store vase transformation
- Thrift store vase: $3
- Spray paint: $5-7
- Jute twine: $4
- Glue (I prefer hot glue in this project)
- Total: $12-14
Step-by-Step Instructions to makeover your thrift store glass vase
Step 1: The first thing you need to do is wash your glass vase with warm soap and water. This will remove any dirt or grime, and it will help the paint adhere better to the vase.
Step 2: Set up an area for spray painting. Either outside, in a garage, or another well-ventilated area, layout newspaper or a plastic drop cloth. Make sure and cover a larger area than you think you will need, as spray paint can travel pretty far.
Step 3: Rested the thrift store vase on paint sticks, so it won’t stick to the newspaper. Spray the vase. Be sure and start spraying just before the vase and continue to spray past it. This will help prevent directly spraying on the vase and reducing the possibility of paint drips. You will need to spray multiple coats of paint, to completely cover the whole vase. Let the paint dry in between coats of paint.
Step 4: After the vase is completely painted, determine what section of the vase you would like your twine to cover. Glue an end of the twine to the top of the area you have defined.
*Tip: Angle the twine end down a little. This will enable you to cover the end as you wind the twine around the vase, thereby hiding the raw end.
Wind the twine around the vase until you have covered the whole area you wish to cover. As you can see, I chose to cover only a portion of my vase. However, you can wind the twine down to the bottom of your vase, if you prefer the way it looks. After all, it is your vase transformation project!
Step 5: Glue the bottom end of the twine, just under the last loop of twine you wound around the vase. Do this by slightly lifting up the twine, gluing, and tucking the raw end under. This will hide the raw end and give the vase a polished look.
*Note: depending on how much you will be winding around your vase, you might prefer to put a few dots of glue on the vase as you go, to secure the twine to it.
Step 6: Step back and marvel at what a great job you did of transforming and upcycling your thrift store vase. Doesn’t it look great!
Fini! Go here to learn how easy it is to make the matching Safari napkin rings.
~Nicole
PS: this vase looks amazing on my Safari tablescape. Check it out!
This is a great idea for an unusual dinner time theme. It congers some interesting ideas for a “wild” kind of tropical menu of papaya, mango, kiwi, cheeses, sausages, vegetables, and breads in interesting shapes. Add a banana and honey dessert for a final delicious treat.
That sounds like a wonderful menu! I am salivating!!