How to Paint Inside a Vase

Painting the inside of a vase makes it smoother and glossier.

Whether you're looking for an inexpensive party favor or simply want to recycle some old containers in style, painting the inside of a vase is as easy as swirling your wrist, as long as you have the proper materials. Glass requires a special type of paint, which you usually can find at your local craft store, but plastic can be painted with acrylics, enamels, oils or watercolor.

Things You'll Need

• Dish soap
• Plastic bottles, plastic containers or cheap glass vases
• Glass conditioner
• Stencils
• Tape
• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Paper towels or rag

Instructions

1. Wash your vase with warm soapy water and let it air-dry completely.

2. Pour a little glass conditioner in the inside of your glass vase and swirl it around to cover all the sides. Pour out any excess. Let this air-dry for about 15 to 20 minutes.

3. Tape any stencils inside the vase that you wish to use to make a design in the paint. Use double-sided tape underneath the stencils so the tape doesn't stick out over the edge. Apply paint directly with a paintbrush if your container is large enough and you want to paint the design.

4. Squirt some colored paint (glass paint for a glass vase, acrylic or otherwise for plastic) into the bottom of the vase. Hold a paper towel or rag over the top and swirl and shake it around until the paint coats all sides. Squirt in two colors simultaneously for a marbled effect.

5. Invert the vase on some paper towels or rags and let it dry upside down so the paint does not collect in the bottom. Repeat step 4 if the color does not dry as opaque as you want it.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint glass vases with acrylics only if you will never fill them with water.

References

• Shim and Sons: A Simple Vase
• Poppy Talk: Bottle Painting = Vases
• Michael's: Glass Painting Basics