DIY Painted Glass Vase (Pottery Barn Knockoff)

It’s time for a craft session…make this DIY painted glass vase in about an hour…and for way less than our inspiration vase at Pottery Barn!

Before we get into the craft, I have a quick story to share. A while back, my daughter showed me a vase from Pottery Barn, and neither of us could believe the price. At first, I thought it had to be a mistake…but it wasn’t. We quickly agreed that we could make our own version, as long as we could find a similar shape. It didn’t have to be identical, just close enough. An hour with some tape and spray paint, and about ten dollars later, we had a beautiful vase we both loved. Here’s how we made it, step-by-step, so you can create one too.

Make This Vase

• First, carefully consider the shape of the vase. If there’s a curve, like the one we chose, it’s tricky to get the tape on straight. The vase should be between 8 and 10 inches tall, and if the sides are straight, your tape line will be super easy to apply. A cylinder vase like this or this will work well. If you have access to IKEA, there are good choices there at reasonable prices. This one is very close to the Pottery Barn inspiration vase.
• Place the tape that is going to create your line, and press it firmly to the glass with your fingers.

• When your main tape line is in place, cover the top of the vase with any kind of paper. Since we had loads of packing paper at the time, that’s what I used. Make sure to tape the paper securely to the vase.

• Now it’s time to paint. Place the vase upside down and apply the paint lightly. Plan on at least 3 coats to make sure the glass is covered properly. I used a 3 oz. can of spray paint, and was able to cover two vases with 3 coats of paint each, but I drained the can dry. A larger can of spray paint would guarantee that you won’t run out.

• Let the paint dry completely before removing the paper and tape. When you are removing the tape that creates the line, pull it down at an angle. This will help keep your paint line perfect.
• This vase can be used with fresh flowers that require water, but be careful when you wash it. Don’t submerge the vase in water…it’s best to wipe the inside with a damp cloth. Use a soft towel to gently dry it. I made two of these gray vases for my daughter, and for the holidays, she filled them with small round silver ornaments. Faux or dried flower stems would work well too, and that choice would eliminate the need for water.

The day we painted these vases, the house on Sutton Place was in complete disarray. We were in the middle of moving, the dining room was packed up, and the furniture had already been taken away. I had always used the dining room table for photo shoots because the board and batten made such a perfect backdrop. Taking these pictures was a challenge, but when there’s a will, there’s a way.

I’ll end with a gentle reminder to take time for yourself. It’s easy to think you don’t have time for a project like this, and maybe some days you truly don’t. But it was fun, it was relaxing, and it felt like a little gift to myself. Not just the vase, but the gift of time. That day, there were a million other things I should have been doing, but when the vases were finished, I was so glad I had made it happen. So, when you find a little pocket of time, pick up a paintbrush and see where it takes you. You’ll have something beautiful to show for it, and a moment you can truly call your own.