Painted Vase: Fail and rescue



Today's story is that of a vase that just wanted to be painted, but in the end, the task was not that simple.

Seriously, this project lasted a month and a half for something that should have taken 5 minutes and then a couple of days to let dry.

I was inspired by the Jar-o-Lanterns from Martha Stewart I saw at Halloween. Just add some diluted paint to a mason jar, move it around, pour out excess and let dry. Easy peasy.

I wanted a glass vase that would bring some colour into our bedroom, and I thought I could apply this technique to make a one of a kind vase that would match. I like how, when painted from the inside, there is no painting flaw, and it's nice and glossy.

Here is the finished product, but let me tell you it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be! You'll see...



I found the vase that would do the job at Dollarama.



Supplies:
~ vase, Dollarama, 2$
~ paint, DeSerres, 2$

Total: 4$

(Side note: this made me realize how tiny craft paint bottles are at the craft store compared to the Dollar Store ones! and double the price, too)

So the instructions were to mix in a bit of water with the paint to make a tad runnier so it would coat more easily. So that's what I did.



Tip: Less is more! lol Add a little at a time, test, add a little more, test. Mine was too runny, even though I thought I didn't add much. If you don't add water, then it will go on thick and take longer to dry out, but water is not essential.




I proceeded to coat the interior of the vase, pour out excess, and let dry overnight. Anybody see where this is going? Because never did I think this would happen:




Instead of drying, the paint just ran down the sides. The top portion was fine. It seems like bellow the part where the vase tapers, the air circulation is poor, or non existent, and it doesn't dry.

So I just thought, ok it'll eventually dry, I might have to recoat a fews times, but it'll stick eventually. So that's what I did.


(You can see above how it's suppose to look vs how it ran down)

I lost count of how many times I recoated the walls of the vase. Ugh. I started maybe a week before leaving for Christmas at my parents'. I would recoat sometimes twice a day. Still it wasn't done. I was planning on making a few to give as gifts, but since my test was still unfinished, I opted out of that one.

I gave up then, just left it there for the week we were gone. When we came back, the paint was still just was runny as before I left it!! But I was seeing that it was sticking some.

So I continued and persisted. Lying it on it's side to see if there would be better air flow this way. Tried drying it with a hairdryer. Almost at the end of January did I deem it finished and I could consider it rescued and done.



My bedroom is painted dark purple. Previous tenants had it like that and we didn't paint over, I like it. I'm trying to get teal accessories/decorations in, I love the purple/teal combo! Our furniture is white/pale, so it brings in some brightness.



So at first this failed, but through sheer persistence I managed to rescue it, and I like the final product. But this is warning for anyone who has the same idea, do not get a vase that tapers or has a narrow opening, it will not dry! There is still some wet paint at the bottom of my vase, I dunno if I'll ever be able to put something in it, unless I don't mind it getting some paint on it.

I really wanted to tried this again, but with a different vase shape, and I got an idea for a Valentine's vase, so stay tuned!

EDIT: I did an other vase with a bigger opening (Pink Valentine's Vase), and it dry perfectly. Some people were curious if it would hold up to water, so I put a bit of water in it overnight. It's bubbling the paint and lifting so do not put water in it!!!! Maybe if it were sprayed with a sealer after it could hold up to water though, just a thought.

Thanks for reading!



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31 comments:

  1. Of course, you could have put your vase in a low oven for 30 minutes beforehand, and then poured in the paint and swirled it around the same way. It might have taken fewer coats. Just a thought.

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  2. Had that happen to a few of the Christmas decorations we painted this year...

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  3. Although it took you a while, it looks good. I love the color.

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  4. Hi Gen, stopping by from Mop it up Mondays. That exactly happened to me when I painted a bottle!!! And I tried to fix it doing the same as you did! I thought I was the only one who had failed doing something that seemed so easy! Now I'm a bit relieved :) My bottle turned out fine (at the very end) but it took me much more time than I've thought. I didn't mix my paint with water so that's not the problem in case you want to make another vase.
    I'm following you now!
    Greetings from Spain
    http://www.handmadebyizz.blogspot.com/

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  5. Wow you sure have patience!! Well done you, I am very impressed :) I would have thrown it against a wall I think LOL. Just try not to add water to the vase or you might have to start again!

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  6. I love hearing about fails---is that bad? I guess it makes people more human to me because I have a lot of fails. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. I always wondered if this would actually work. Glad to know that it does...sort of!

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  8. How does the paint hold up if you put water in there like for flowers?

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  9. I had thought about trying something similar but am glad I didn't. I don't have your patience! I just started following you and can't wait to read more.

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  10. Wow! I think the finished product turned out great, but what a long process! I would never had that kind of patience! I tend to think that maybe it was the paint! And I think that are you right about not having to add the water! Angie xo

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  11. This is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Would love it if you would link this up at my turquoise lovin' party!! http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/2012/02/turquoise-lovin-25.html

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  12. Persistence pays off 'cause it looks fabulous -- lesson learned and passed on! I would love it if you would come link up with Busy Monday (through Thursdays) at A Pinch of Joy, a linky party for ideas that make life better, easier and more fun.

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  13. I found a tutorial for this on Pinterest and they used enamel paint. I wonder if that would be easier.

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  14. I think this looks great, and I love the shade of blue that you chose.
    I noticed that your a grad student, me too!!!
    Stopping by from Southern Lovely :-)

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  15. wow that is so neat. glad you were persistant on finishing the project. i woulda probably given up. i'm anxious to see the other one you did.

    following you now. hope you'll follow back :)
    mybagofsunshine.blogspot

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  16. This turned out great! I like that it is still glossy! I would love for you to stop by and link up at our Naturally-Nifty Linky Party!

    http://natural-nester.blogspot.com/2012/02/naturally-nifty-linky-party-2-features.html

    -your newest follower

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  17. Hum... good to know! You're amazing with that persistence, I totally would have given up & been like forget that!!!

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  18. Wow, I'm going to have to remember this! I hardly ever use my vases! Thanks for linking up to Destination: Cutesy Monday! Have you checked out my Glitzbandz giveaway I'm having? I'd love for you to enter!

    XO! Kathryn
    http://www.destinationcraft.blogspot.com/2012/02/glitzbandz-giveaway.html

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  19. I did something similar w/ spray paint and it sounds like I had a much easier time. I hate it when stuff doesn't work like it should. The end product is great.

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  20. I'm so glad I'm not the only person who has disasters. I love the way it turned out. Very interested to see how your Valentine's projects turned out.:)

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  21. You're not alone.
    I was on a painted wine bottle kick, and did the very same thing. I learned that I had no patience for it and spray paint is my new best friend!
    Happy crafting!

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  22. Very nice. I have been wanting to try painting glass. I love the color you picked!

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  23. Thanks for sharing this simple yet beautiful idea at Dwell on Fridays! Be sure to come by tomorrow to link up your new projects! Well done :)

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  24. I love this! I'm going to feature your vase on my Feature Friday post! I'd love for you to stop by and grab a "Featured" button! Great job!

    XO! Kathryn
    destinationcraft.blogspot.com

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  25. I love this vase! I just came over from your feature at Destination Craft, congratulations! I can see you had a hard time at first, but it turned out great (and now it was much easier to do the pink one, wasn't it?)
    PS: I love love love the dark violet / turquoise color combo in your bedroom (of course, I've got the same accent color wall in my bedroom...).
    That's it, I'm a follower! Cheers :)

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  26. I love the shape of this vase! Too bad it caused you so much trouble. Thanks for sharing at Terrific Tuesdays.
    Rachel

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  27. I love the vase, and your persistence even more! I think it's beautiful with that purple wall paint, too.

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  28. Thanks for linking up @CountryMommaCooks…Have a wonderful Sunday:)

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  29. I Love this!!! Thanks for sharing it with Six Sister's Stuff Link Party. We hope to see you back next Saturday!
    -The Sisters

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  30. GREAT SAVE!!!! Glad you didn't give up! It turned out wonderful!

    Thank you so very much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer... From Dream To Reality!!

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