Easy DIY: distressed vases

11 May 2017

Bring a touch of French country to your home with these pretty distressed vases, made using Resene testpots in soft, nature-inspired colours. Sarah Herring shows us how. 

You will need: glass jars, a few paintbrushes, masking tape, Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, Resene testpots in Resene Half Moonbeam, Resene Escape and Resene Melodic, fine sandpaper and a craft knife.

Step 1: Wash the glass jars thoroughly in soapy water and dry them off. 

Step 2: Use the tape to mask off the segments you wish to paint. 

Step 3: Apply one coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer. This helps the paint to stick to the glass, and is the best way to prime a smooth surface for painting. Leave the sealer to dry as per the instructions.

Step 4: Paint the first coat of each colour onto your glass jars. Leave the paint to dry overnight. This will keep the paint from peeling.

Step 5: Carefully peel off the masking tape. 

Step 6: Give the jars a vintage feel with sandpaper, using it to gently rough up the paint. If the jars have logos, use the craft knife to carefully etch off the paint to expose the letters.

Step 7: Wrap some rough twine around the jars to add to the charm. Fill your jars with fresh flowers or tealight candles, and enjoy as a table centrepiece or just as a decorative feature. 

This DIY is brought to you by Upcycling for Good, a collaboration between Resene and The Salvation Army family stores. The project asks keen DIYers to upcycle second-hand items using Resene paint – look out for this regular feature on Habitat by Resene.

Published: 11 May 2017