DIY: Beaded glass vase

Give a plain old glass tumbler a fresh spring makeover

A pretty beaded-glass vase of fresh flowers is the perfect accessory for a girlie dressing table. What’s more, you don’t have to part with your heard-earned cash in an overpriced gift shop to get your hands on one.

Make your own beaded-glass vase

We love the translucent pastel and whitewashed versions in this easy DIY project on the Damask Love craft blog.

Here, they’ve used Martha Stewart products. But for those who don’t want to wait around for their craft supplies to sail their way across the Atlantic, here is our home-grown version with all supplies sourced from the UK.

What you’ll need:

  • Surgical spirit
  • Cotton wool balls
  • A glass tumbler (cheap ‘n’ cheerful will do)
  • A tube of ‘liquid glass’ (available at art and craft stores)
  • A plastic plate or paint palette
  • Transparent glass paint in your chosen colour (available at art and craft stores)
  • Glass paint thinner (available at DIY stores)
  • White matt spray paint (available at DIY stores)

What to do:

  1. Wipe your glass with cotton wool dipped in surgical spirit.
  2. Apply dots of liquid glass – evenly all over the glass or in your chosen design.
  3. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours.
  4. Empty a little paint onto your plate or palette.
  5. Mix a little thinner into the paint until you reach your desired transparency.

TIP: Substitute the glass paint for white matt spray paint for an elegant white finish – the perfect foil for a brightly coloured bouquet.