We all love an aesthetically pleasing bookshelf. Or what about a balanced credenza? There are plenty of ways to decorate places like this; framed pictures, little trinkets, potted plants, the list goes on. Do you want to know my favorite? Funky vases! I love a vase with character. That being said, most vases that have even a touch of character cost way more than something you either put flowers in or, more likely, do nothing with but set it on a table.
I don’t know about you, but I can immediately think of at least a dozen things I should pay for before going out and getting a pretty pink vase. So instead, we are going to look at two ways to spice up that empty space without hurting your wallet.
The most important thing you'll need is clear glass. A mason jar, that random vase that came with a floral arrangement six years ago, Dollar Store glass, or my absolute favorite: the oddly shaped Goodwill vase.
So, you have a vase or jar? Wonderful! Is it clear? Yes? Try this out!
There are two ways to do this, both of them involving Mod Podge. If you plan to use the vase to hold fresh flowers or, you are going to need Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge.
Mod Podge is water soluble, so pouring water on it is going to create a gooey mess no matter how long you let it dry. For any other end use, you can stick to Original Mod Podge or your personal favorite. They all work for this.
If you want to have a transparent finish, you will be baking the glass in the oven. If you want an opaquer finish, you’ll just let it air dry and leave it as is.
Now that you have your Mod Podge of choice, you’ll need to get a hold of is food coloring and something to stir it in.
Mix the Mod Podge to whatever color you want. Are you going with the transparent method? Mix the color a lot darker than you planned, because the heat will bake out some of the color.
For both methods pour the Mod Podge mixture into the vase and swirl it around until the entire inside is coated. Flip it upside down onto a drying rack with some cardboard underneath it. Let the excess drip out, wipe away the drips every once in a while, and let it dry completely.
You either are done with your project and have a beautiful piece of artwork or you can go on and bake it. Set your oven to the lowest temperature it can go. Put your project upside down on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum and check it every 10 minutes or so. You will see the fogginess and streaks slowly start to clear up. You can do this up to about 40 minutes, just watch that the glass doesn’t crack. Once you are happy with the look, carefully take it out and let it cool. Once it’s completely cool, it is ready for display!
