HOW TO PAINT GLASS VASES AND JARS TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL BUDGET FRIENDLY HOME DECOR
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I loved this project. I can see a new obsession forming for me. This is one of those quick and easy projects. The ones that I love…really love. Want to hear something crazy? I have never painted a vase or a jar before…not even a mason jar. Say whaaaat? I know everyone and their mother probably has painted a mason jar before but I have never jumped on that bandwagon.
My whole reason for attempting this project was this vase from Pottery Barn. While I didn’t try to DIY this project (yet) I thought I should practice on a smaller version first. And I am so glad I did. I had to toss a few dollar store vases in the trash since I messed up on my practice runs.
My main mistake was spray paint…well, it really wasn’t a mistake. It just wasn’t giving me the look I was going for. I wanted a smooth glossy finish. I used a high gloss spray paint and for a hot second I thought it would work. It didn’t. I even braved a Insta story to tell you guys how awesome of an idea it was. It was just semi awesome.
I’m not a professional spray painter and no matter how hard I tried I kept getting drip marks on my vase. I knew I had to find a Plan B. Plan B worked amazingly well. I love Plan B. I will always do Plan B when I paint a vase or jar.
Items needed for DIY Painted Vases:
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- Vase or jar
- Paint (any kind will work if you do my method but I really liked using this)
- Stencils (optional)
- Paint brushes and/or paint pen
- Parchment paper
How To Paint A Vase
First things first, find a vase or jar you want to paint. I was going for the ginger jar look. I have a slight obsession with blue and white and ginger jars are becoming a favorite of mine as you can tell in the picture above. I found my jars at Hobby Lobby in the craft section. Dollar store vases would be awesome too! I know some craft stores sell white ceramic vases you can paint. I know some of those can be a tad bit more money than glass jars and vases you can find anywhere these days. Pour a few tablespoons of paint inside your jar and start moving the paint around inside the jar…..carefully and ideally over a trash can or a drop cloth just in case any thing spills out…I learned that the hard way. Had to clean up some navy paint on those floors.
Keep moving the paint around until your vase is covered with paint. I made two different jars. The first jar I used a high gloss acrylic paint in navy. My second jar I used some left over white chalk paint I had on hand. The acrylic paint went on smoother and easier. The chalk paint worked but I did have to use a few drops of water to get the paint moving.
And I felt like I wasn’t getting an even coverage as I did with the acrylic paint. But it worked and if you have it on hand you can definitely use it. It might not leave a perfect finish inside but it’s hard to tell on the outside.
Once you have the paint covering the inside of your jar place it upside down on parchment paper and let it dry. And, of course, this picture turned out blurry..ugh…look past the blurry picture though and let us all take a moment to acknowledge how amazing our vase or jar looks with the paint on the inside. No brush marks and a nice smooth finish.
This is where I should tell you to let it dry completely but I am too impatient. I let it sit upside down long enough to let any excess paint to drip out and then I started on my fronts of my vase. If you plan of putting real flowers in your vase and need to use water I would make sure your paint can withstand moisture. The acrylic paint I used says to wait 21 days for the paint to cure before exposing to water…just a little heads up.
The final step is the fun one and this is where your creativity comes into play. I am not very artistic, I wish I was but I am not. For my smaller jar I used the help of stencils and a craft paint pen.
(Pretend I dusted before I took this picture…these DSLR cameras show everything-gesh!!)
For my larger jar I went free style and used the high gloss acrylic paint to paint a few brush marks going around the vase. Nothing fancy but it gave it a little modern touch…and was so easy to do. (This is the jar I used the white chalk paint)
Not too shabby for less than $10. The sky is the limit on this one. I have stripes and buffalo check on the brain big time for the next batch I plan on doing. Like I said, this is a new obsession. I’ll still always try to find ways to make pillows but soon there might be as many vases as pillows in my house. Oh my poor husband.
I am not giving up on trying to DIY the Pottery Barn vase either. It’s still on my to do list but for now I am loving these little jars. The kids had fun helping me too and this would make such a cute Mother’s Day gift.
If you want to know any of the sources I used you can find them here:
- Wall Color: Behr Silver Drop
- Area Rug
- Large Ginger Jar
- Small Ginger Jar
- Wall Mirror (mine is from Hobby Lobby) Similar
- Settee (Similar)
- End Table
- Coffee Table (Very Similar)
If you want to save this for late, you can pin it here:
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https://www.lanternlanedesigns.com/diy-no-sew-pillow/
Christina Makri says
Oh they look so beautiful! I love blue color during spring-summer … great idea! I came here through The Creative Circle Link Party!
JennaCampbell says
Thanks for stopping by! One can never have too many blue and white vases!
Shirley says
Oh I love the blue and white vases and drool over them every single time I see them. I was at an antique mall a couple of weekends ago and found 2 small pieces, both vases..blue and white of course. I don’t know why, they were certainly cheap enough to purchase but I left them sit there and could kick myself. I’m sure they’re gone by now but I’m going back today just to check.
ANYWAY…I love your version very very much! Definitely a modern take on it. So now you’ve given me some inspiration to give this a try. I have only painted glass one other time myself so fairly new at this as well. Thank you!
JennaCampbell says
Good luck!! I hope you find your vases. I hate when I leave something I know I should have purchased. I think about it constantly! Have fun painting vases if you get around to it. It was so fun to do!
Runningonempty says
You did very well!
JennaCampbell says
Thank you!
Kelleyn Rothaermel says
So cool! I never knew you could do that!
JennaCampbell says
It was a fun and easy project!
Teresa says
Very pretty! Thank you for sharing your tutorial, I plan on giving it a try! And thanks so much for linking up to Party in Your PJ’s.
JennaCampbell says
Thank you!!
Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home says
I just love these blue and white painted vases! They fit right into your collection. I’ve done the swirl method for DIY mercury glass but never thought to do it with paint! Great job:) Thanks for sharing with Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
JennaCampbell says
Thanks Kathleen! Great idea on mercury glass too!