This vase was a mere $6, but transforming it into something far more important than an inexpensive vase was easy. I found the pretty paper napkins somewhere in my travels and knew they were perfect for this project.

Materials Used:
Pretty Napkins
Clear Glass Vase
Perfect Paper Adhesive – gloss
Duo Adhesive
Gildenglitz – Variegated
Soft Brush
Studio Paper
Detailing Scissors – ‘Miones’

Begin by washing the vase and drying it thoroughly. Next it’s fun time! Cut out the napkin designs you like best. It’s easiest if you leave all the layers of the napkin together until you’re ready to glue them to the vase. IMPORTANT: Before gluing them to the vase you must carefully remove the two back layers, leaving only the printed top flower.

Carefully apply the adhesive to the back of the paper napkin flower. Just as carefully, lift and place it onto the vase. I found that for tiny pieces, tweezers came in handy. Apply the PPA over the top of the flowers too. This will protect them and firmly adhere them to the glass. If too much glue gets onto the glass, you can easily remove it easily with a cotton swab and water. I looked the vase over at the very end, and found some seemingly dried adhesive. Once wet it still came off fairly smoothly. But I wouldn’t wait too long to do the clean-up, because the adhesive dries rock-hard within an hour or two.

After adhering flowers all over the bottom part of the vase, I decided to add them to the base too. I turned the vase over and adhered the flowers to the bottom of the base.  Then I got the bright idea to add gilding. When the PPA was completely dry, I applied a light coat of Duo Adhesive. (Say to yourself, “When it’s white, it’s not right. When it’s clear it adheres.”) In other words, let the Duo dry completely.

When it is completely dry, apply the gilding leaf. I used Gildenglitz – Variegated, but plain gold or silver would have also looked nice. Remove the excess with a Texture Sponge. Apply a generous coat of PPA-gloss to the gilding. This will protect it from getting scratched when the vase sits on the table.

When dry and right side up, the gilding glows through the glass base, giving the vase a rich appearance.

Here is the completed vase, ready for a fresh bouquet of flowers, straight from my garden.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this project and will try it yourself!  The vase doesn’t have to be this large.  After all, flowers look pretty in jelly jars too.  And, jelly jars can be made even prettier with some napkin collage embellishing!