Creative Containers

Use crafts materials to individualize plain vases.

Glass hurricane vases make beautiful candleholders and flower containers, and they need only a touch of creativity to become even more special. Here we show you three easy projects that you can do in an afternoon. Get creative and have fun.

With masking tape and a spray can of frosted glass finish, you can easily embellish a vase with wide, translucent stripes or other designs.

Another means of individualizing a vase is to apply etching cream through a stencil. Choose your design from the huge array of plastic stencils found in crafts stores. (Be sure to follow manufacturer's instructions for all products.)

Simplest of all, just set a pillar candle into a pretty glass container, and surround it with strands of glass beads purchased at a crafts store. The beads will catch the light of the candles, but they'll still look festive even when the candle isn't lit.

Frosted Finish

Step 1 : Wash and dry the vase. Apply pieces of masking tape vertically and at equal intervals, or slant them slightly to give a spiral effect. (You can also make polka dots with circular labels or checks using square ones.)

Step 2: Apply the frosted glass finish according to manufacturer's instructions, and allow to dry. Remove tape or paper labels.

Etched Designs

Step 1: Wash and dry the vase. Tape a plastic stencil to the container, and apply etching cream to stencil openings using a foam brush.

Step 2: Wait the time specified by manufacturer for etching to occur. Remove the stencil, and then remove the etching cream according to manufacturer's instructions.

Step 3: Reposition the stencil on the vase, and create more etched designs, if desired.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation May 2004
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