Recycled Flower Vase

A recycled flower vase is made from reusing an empty pickle jar. It is very simple to make by taking the most ordinary item, a pickle jar, and turning it into something beautiful with a little bit of paint, time and flowers.

This craft can be made by using any kind of jar including jelly jars, pickle jars or applesauce jars. It is also so easy that a child can do it. It makes the perfect gift for Mother's Day, a Birthday or even Christmas.

Approximate Time: 1 hour

Supplies:

• empty pickle jar
• tea kettle
• cleaning sponge
• sea sponge
• acrylic paint(s)
• flowers

Instructions:

1. Clean out the pickle jar and also clean off the outside of the pickle jar. Soap and water can be used on the inside, but getting the labels off the outside can be more challenging. Boil water in the tea kettle and pour into the pickle jar. Let this sit for 10 minutes. Pour out the water and peel off the label. The steam helps remove the glue from the label. Dry the jar.

2. Dip the sea sponge into the acrylic paint that will be the base color for the flower vase. Dab the paint over the jar covering its entire surface. Use a dark color for the base. Let dry.
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3. Use the sea sponge to add a second layer of paint to the outside of the pickle jar. This color should compliment the base color. Some examples of this are pink base, yellow top coat; green base, red top coat; gold base, silver top coat. Let dry.

4. Add flowers. If adding real flowers, fill up vase with water. If adding fake flowers or silk flowers, insert a green foam pad to hold the flower stems in place.

By Linda from Blakeslee, PA