Get Creative: Make a Marbled Plaster Hanging Vase for Wall & Window

published Jul 26, 2017

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Nothing beats coming home to a vibrant vase full of flowers. On the off chance I have extra room in my grocery tote, I’ll snag a bouquet of peonies or a bunch of eucalyptus to freshen up my home. And occasionally, instead of throwing them in a boring glass vase on my kitchen counter – which is every time – I look for new ways to display my florals. Enter the CB2 Teardrop Bud Vase. It has everything: flat back for walls and windows, a hole in the back for easy hanging, and it’s less than $5! I’m just going to go ahead and apologize to the CB2-SOHO shoppers, because I’ve practically bought all of them already.

What I love most about this vase, and others like it, is that it’s perfect for easy DIY projects. And it’s so cheap – did I already mention that? – which makes them perfect for getting creative and experimenting. For me, that meant making marbled plaster-dipped vases.

What You’ll Need

Materials
Wall-mounted teardrop vase from CB2
Small suction cups
Plaster of Paris
Gold paint or gold leafing
Plastic container (I cut off the top of an empty Clorox Wipes container)
String or thin rope for drying
Disposable stirring stick

(Image credit: Amelia Lawrence)

Note: Before beginning, create a “drying rack” with string before starting your project, as the plaster is very time sensitive. I tied one end of string to a chair back in preparation for stringing the wet vases between two chairs.

Step 1. Following the instructions on the Plaster of Paris container, mix your plaster. The plaster should have a similar consistency to thick pancake batter. Keep in mind you’ll want to fill your container up enough to be able to dip the vase inside without the plaster overflowing.

(Image credit: Amelia Lawrence)

Step 2. Add a few drops of gold paint or gold leafing and lightly swirl around in the plaster to create a marbled effect.

(Image credit: Amelia Lawrence)

Step 3. Carefully dip your teardrop vase into the mixture, coating it as little or as much as you like; you can also play with different angles for each vase. Gently pull the vase out of the mixture making sure the plaster lays flat and doesn’t clump up too much in any areas. Tip: I used the back of the stirrer to smooth out thicker areas and cover thinner areas where the plaster didn’t stick as well.

(Image credit: Amelia Lawrence)

Step 4. String your vases up on your makeshift drying rack, and allow to dry for at least 45-60 minutes before using.

(Image credit: Amelia Lawrence)

Step 5. Attach your suction cup and carefully hang in your favorite window, or in your bathroom against some bathroom tile. If hanging vases on your window scares you, pick a sun-drenched wall and hang using a simple nail. Add your favorite buds and branches, and you’re ready to go!