I have seen these paint and baking powder vases on TikTok so often. It's seriously taking water-based acrylic paint and baking powder and using that combination to paint thrifted (or just old) vases you have and then it turns into this beautiful DIY ceramic vase. Truly looks like a piece of pottery, I'm obsessed! Here are all the details on this Faux Ceramic Vases DIY project.
HOW TO MAKE GLASS LOOK LIKE CERAMIC
Turning a glass vase to ceramic is way easier than you think, BUT, there is room for mistakes. I tried this DIY ceramic vase painting once before this go around, and I did not like how the vases turned out. I took to TikTok and the comment section on the video I posted was amaaaazing. I took their advice and the second time around, they turned out SO much better! Here are my top tips.
- Wash your vases and let them dry fully.
- Use paint and baking powder, not paint and baking soda.
- Use a foam brush, I used the 1-inch size.
- Use water-based paint. Matte is preferred, but not necessary. I used the Vanilla and Golden Brown CraftSmart colors.
- When mixing the paint + baking powder, add about 1 spoonful to an entire container of paint. You'll want your mixture to look like a mousse. Seriously.
- Paint horizontally, this will make your glass vase look more "pottery" like and give it that true ceramic look.
- Use thin coats of paint.
- Allow for your paint to dry in between coats! The first coat dries within like 15 minutes, but between the 2nd and 3rd coat (if necessary) you'll want to let it dry at least 20-30 minutes.
- Allow for your DIY ceramic vases, once done painting, to dry for a few hours. I left mine sitting on my kitchen table overnight.
FAVORITE THRIFT STORES IN CHICAGO
If you're local and wondering some of my favorite thrift stores in Chicago, here's a list! I got these three vases from Salvation Army.
- Salvation Army -- 2270 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
- Village Discount Outlet -- there are a ton of Chicago locations, just search for the nearest one!
- Mount Sinai Resale Shop -- 2902 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
- The Brown Elephant -- again there are multiple locations, you can find more info at their website.
SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR THIS FAUX CERAMIC VASES DIY PROJECT
- Vases
- Water-Based Acrylic Paint
- Baking Powder
- Foam Brush
- Bowl for mixing
- Garbage bag, blanket, newspaper to place under the spot you're going to be painting
STEPS FOR DIY CERAMIC VASE
- Wash and dry your vases
- In your bowl, mix together 1 container of paint + 2 tablespoons of baking powder.
- You'll notice the mousse texture starting to form, if it isn't, add a little more baking powder until you have that mousse texture.
- Using your foam brush, begin painting, horizontally, a thin layer. Allow your first layer to dry for 10-15 minutes. It's ok if you can still see the vase under that first layer, the thinner the better! You don't want it to be chunky.
- Paint your 2nd layer, and if you notice you'll need a 3rd coat of paint, wait about 20-30 minutes.
- Once you're finally done, let it dry for a couple hours, or overnight.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
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T. says
Looks so good! You wrote not baking soda but then the instructions #5 later reads:
5, When mixing the paint + baking soda, add about 1 spoonful to an entire container of paint. You'll want your mixture to look like a mousse. Seriously.
Is it supposed to be baking powder for step #5, I don't want to mess this up, lol. Thank you!
Katie Kelly says
Thank you so much! That's been updated.
pat grassis says
These are amazing. What size container of paint are you using with the two tablespoons of baking powder.
Thank you
Katie Kelly says
I am using just the little 2 oz. size paint!
Dorcia Lanell Day says
Awesome idea! Imma try it for sure!
But thanks for the info on the good thrift shops in the Chi! My family and I are Chicagoans and are avid "thrifthers"! I've traveled to many cities in my lifetime, and found we have the best thrift shops!!!
Emily Ghena says
I tired this and LOVED it! I very quickly realized that I didn't need 2 full tablespoons of baking powder with 2oz paints - that was wayyy to much powder. Maybe you meant teaspoons? For the next iteration, I tried much, much less and had success! I am obsessed with how they came out!
Lyn says
Beautiful thanks for sharing
Katie Kelly says
Thank you!
Donna Pope says
Gonna try this! So easy and quick project. Would love to see more of your projects. Thanks for sharing.
Katie Kelly says
Thank you so much!
annie says
Curious? The correct amount of baking powder = 2 full TEAspoons?
Katie Kelly says
2 tablespoons! If you want that ceramic look, it requires a bit of baking powder.
Morgan says
Can the vase be hand washed/rinsed after painting is finished?
Katie Kelly says
It cannot! The paint will be ruined.
Leah Rivera says
Okay so I’m making my own for my wedding. I’m doing a true terracotta color. Before even coming across this post- I bought the paint and baking SODA. It was going great but as it started drying white splotches started forming all over the vase?! No one else’s looks like that online so I’m hoping switching to powder will not do that!
Katie Kelly says
It should! I used baking soda at first, too, and did not like how that was turning out!
Sachia Powell says
Do you think the finished product could be used as vases for fresh flowers? Would any condensation on the outside ruin the finish?
Katie Kelly says
I am not too sure, I haven't tried putting any fresh flowers in there because of worrying that I would ruin the paint!