Get a handle on it Give a plain glass vase a new lease of life, using paint and a couple of crafty ideas

Give a plain glass vase a new lease of life as a double-handled jug, using paint and a couple of crafty ideas

Hack your homewares for new deco pieces

Inspired by the ceramic handled jugs that are on-trend right now, this project is a great way to upcycle one of your inexpensive glass vases. You just mix white paint with bicarb soda to create a textured effect, and make the handles out of curtain rings cut in half. Clever!

EASY STEPS TO YOUR HANDLED VASE

Gather your supplies

• Timber curtain rings

• Glass vase

• Water-based enamel gloss paint in White

You’ll also need Sharp knife; cutting board; measuring tape; marker; construction adhesive; medium-grit sandpaper; acetone; plastic container; spoon; bicarbonate of soda; paintbrush

Here’s how

STEP 1 Remove screw eye pins from 2 curtain rings and cut in half using a sharp knife. STEP 2 Use a measuring tape to find locations for handles on opposite sides of the vase, and mark. Trim rings if needed so their edges sit flat against the glass. Apply construction adhesive to the ends of 1 curtain ring half.

STEP 3 Press ring half against vase and hold in place until adhesive grabs. Repeat with remaining ring halves. Let adhesive set.

STEP 4 Sand glass vase to create a key for the paint to adhere to. Remove sanding dust, then clean glass with acetone. Make sure handles are clean, too.

STEP 5 Put 250ml paint in a plastic container, then scoop in 1 teaspoon of bicarb soda and mix.

STEP 6 Using a paintbrush, apply 3-4 coats of paint mixture to glass and rings, leaving to dry after each coat. You need this many coats to achieve a textured effect. Leave overnight so paint dries completely.

FOR PROJECT SUPPLIES, SEE OUR STOCKISTS PAGE

STEP 1

STEP 3

STEP 2

STEP 5

STEP 6

MATCH JUG SIZE AND HEIGHT TO YOUR ARRANGEMENT – FROM BRANCHES TO BLOOMS. show off your jugs! With a simple sandand-paint technique – plus crafty curtain ring handles – you can turn any vase into a ceramic-look jug, so go to town on your glassware.