A glitter vase makes an inexpensive and easy decoration idea for both a wedding or Christmas DIY centerpieces. Make your centerpiece glass vase using either one you already have on hand or Dollar Tree vases, along with some glitter and Mod Podge. The end result is stunning! Make your party or holiday event look fabulous. Scroll down to see them lit from the inside with tea lights!
Why I Love This Glitter Vase
For my daughter’s wedding, we wanted to incentivize her to stay on budget and allow us to DIY most of her decor. To do so, we set her a very modest budget for the whole wedding. Next, we told her whatever she did not spend, we would double and give to her as cash. We felt it allowed her to use her creativity to stretch a dollar and give her the opportunity to start off her marriage with a bit of extra cash in savings. She did an amazing job! And, you’ll find many of the projects we did to save money here on the blog.
Since my daughter’s wedding theme was “Winter Wonderland,” you will see many pieces that sparkle and shine like this glitter vase tutorial! Even if your event has a different theme, you will find most ideas in the budget wedding series can easily be used no matter the color scheme or season. In fact, I’ve carefully packed away all of the wedding decor since there are 5 more kids behind my daughter. I know they will be flexible enough to work in any wedding or party setting.
Vases for Centerpieces
We all know those table centerpieces are the major statement piece for a wedding reception. So, this is where a little extra effort and detail will pay off. It will come by the number of compliments and comments your guests make. They will be staring at them much of the evening, so give them something beautiful to look at, besides the happy couple of course!
I saw this idea over on Organize Your Stuff Now and knew they would be the perfect treatment for the centerpiece vases. I bought 12 cheap vases at the Dollar Tree, then some matte-finished Mod Podge and glitter. You will have both Mod Podge and glitter left over, but don’t worry…..I will show you how to use your leftovers in other wedding decor posts!
What is a Glitter Vase
A glitter vase is a decorative vase that is usually made from an inexpensive glass vase that is covered in any color of glitter using Mod Podge. It is often used as a centerpiece for weddings or parties and looks beautiful with lights or candles inside.
How To Make a Glitter Vase
Simplicity is key for making a glitter vase. Go to the Dollar Tree and grab an inexpensive glass vase if you don’t have one on hand.
Time needed: 2 hours.
How to Make a Glitter Vase
- Select and clean the glass vase
It’s important for the vase to be clean so the glitter will stick properly.
- Use painter’s tape to cover anywhere you don’t want glitter on the vase.
Be cautious and be sure the lines are level and press down well to create a tight seal so it doesn’t leak.
- Apply the Mod Podge all over the outside of the vase.
The Mod Podge will go on white but will dry completely clear.
- Apply the glitter
Do this over a sheet of paper so you can collect and reuse any glitter that falls off the vase.
- Allow the vase to dry
This can take about 1-2 hours depending on the climate inside your home.
- Seal the glitter with a top coat
Thin the Mod Podge with some water and gently apply it over the top of the glitter.
- Remove the painter’s tape
If you wait to do this until the topcoat dries, you risk removing glitter from the vase.
- Allow the vase to dry
It is best to let the finished glitter vase to dry overnight.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One
To begin these glitter vases, Use any type of masking tape and tape off where you want your glitter to end. Use your fingernail to press down the edge of the tape firmly so the glue won’t leak under the tape. If you have more patience than me, you could also do some fun stripes instead of solid glitter. That was my initial plan but as you can tell by my dark pictures, my day was drawing to a close and I needed to be quick! No stripes for me. Oh well.
Step Two
Use a brush loaded with Mod Podge and cover the vase with glue. Don’t worry that it is white because it dries clear. When you are applying the Mod Podge close to the tape, only brush down into the glue area and not up into the tape. Again, we are trying to keep the glue from leaking under the tape where we don’t want it!
Step Three
Lay down a clean piece of paper and generously cover the glue area with glitter. Gently knock the vase on the work surface and look for areas that are thin or missing glitter then add some more. Carefully pour the excess glitter back into your glitter container from your clean piece of paper. Set the vase aside to dry. You will know when the Mod Podge is dry because it will dry clear and all you will see is the glitter.
Step Four
Once the Mod Podge has dried, add a bit of water to a small bowl of Modge Podge to thin it out. You need this layer thinner so it will be easier to spread over the glitter. Again, load your brush with the thinned Mod Podge and cover the glitter with a thin layer. Remove the tape after this second layer has been applied, before the glue dries. This second layer will keep any glitter from falling off the vase, and again, don’t worry because it dries completely clear.
Glitter Vase FAQs & Troubleshooting
To put glitter on a vase, you need some Mod Podge to allow the glitter to adhere to the surface but will dry completely clear so the glitter will be the star. After the glitter is completely dry, you’ll need to thin out some Mod Podge with water and use it as a topcoat over the whole vase to keep the glitter from falling off.
Can I use any color of glitter?
Yes, any color of glitter will work well in this project. I used clear glitter since I wanted the candlelight to shine through. Any glitter will work with this same technique. Just keep in mind that non-translucent glitter will create a glitter vase that will not allow candlelight or twinkle lights to shine through.
Will this work on a ceramic vase?
Yes, you can certainly use a ceramic vase and transform it into a glitter vase. The process would be exactly the same. The only difference would be that the end result is not transparent for a candle or light to shine through. If you have unused vases sitting around, this project will completely transform them.
How to wash a glitter vase
Do not put your glitter vase into the dishwasher. Unfortunately, they are not dishwasher safe but that doesn’t mean you can’t get them clean. The inside can be hand washed and the outside can be wiped off with a damp cloth.
Does the Mod Podge dull the glitter?
Mod Podge is a bit of magic for DIY projects like this glitter vase. It dries completely clear and does not dull the glitter at all. While I used a matte Mod Podge, you can also purchase a high gloss Mod Podge for even more shine to the finished product. Please note, even though the high gloss version says it is dishwasher safe, I would not put these in the dishwasher.
Help! The glitter came off when I removed the tape.
It is important to remove the painter’s tape right after the topcoat of the Mod Podge is applied. If you wait until the top coat dries, it is likely you will pull off some of the glitter along with the tape. Forgot to remove the tape in time? Use a sharp razor blade and gently run it along the edge of the tape to create a crisp line in the dried Mod Podge. If you still have some uneven spots, use a fine brush and some extra glitter to fill them in.
If you happen to get some Mod Podge under the tape as I did, just let it dry completely. Once dry, use your fingernail or another hard surface to gently scrape it away.
Don’t think you have to limit yourself to just using these vase centerpieces for a wedding. They look gorgeous all decked out for the holidays as a Christmas vase as well.
Just so you could see the effect, I put a few tea candles at the bottom of these three. For the wedding, we will use battery-powered tea lights at the bottom of each of the centerpieces. Then fill them with all sorts of gorgeous stuff! You will have to come back to see what all that gorgeous stuff is 🙂
I have a whole series on throwing a wedding on a budget that is simply gorgeous! You can see all 16 different articles by clicking here.
Looking for More DIY Wedding Decor?
If this gorgeous and inexpensive glass vase tutorial was just what you were looking for, be sure to check out these other three articles to help save money on your wedding!
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**My friend, this post contains Amazon affiliate links which means I receive a small compensation, at no additional cost to you. If you decide to give this project a try, I will be your bestie if you use the links from this post. And no worries….I only link to products that I both use and love! ~Carole
Minnesota Prairie Roots says
The Winter Wonderland theme will be perfect for a December wedding. And the warm and sparkly glow of these centerpieces will be gorgeous.
Yes, wedding costs can be cut if you do a lot yourself.
Check out my post today on some of the ways my eldest daughter personalized her Sept. 22 wedding.
Here’s the link:
https://mnprairieroots.com/2013/10/09/personalizing-a-wedding-its-in-the-details/
If you want to see more wedding pix, view my posts from Sept. 23 – Oct. 2. We worked hard to create the setting and mood my daughter and her husband envisioned for their wedding day.
I look forward to seeing more of your wedding projects.
smothered&covered says
We also had a Chriatmas wedding. Makes a gorgeous setting! Here is the link to our blog if you are interested in checking out our wedding photos. https://smothersx3.blogspot.com. best of luck on the new life adventure!!!!!
Cathy Peebles says
Made these and they turned out beautiful them put ribbon around them the colors of the wedding and they look great.
Hanna says
I love it!
Can I use white glue instead?
In my country I can’t find this mod podge glue easily.
Carole says
I’ve never done this project with white glue, but I would think that if you watered it down a little bit, it should work. It might not dry as clear as modge podge does however. Let me know how it turns out for you Hanna! -Carole
susan says
Love it can’t wait to try it for the winter themes. Thks for sharing
Carole says
Thanks Susan! They are gorgeous for winter – Carole
Suma q says
Thank you so much for all the DIY wedding suff. it helps alot!
Carole says
You are welcome! If I can make the wedding planning any easier for someone, then it is all worth it 🙂 -Carole
Anne says
Question, so after the first round of glitter dries you then go over the glittered surface again with thinned modpodge? Do you re-glitter then, or just let it dry? This thinned coat won’t “dull” the glitter will it? Sorry to ask so many questions. Your vases look stunning!
Carole says
Anne – great questions! You only glitter the vase one time and use the thinned mod podge the second time. Once the second coat dries, there will be no dulling of the glitter so no worries. That second coat will keep the glitter from coming off when you touch it. -Carole
Stacey says
what type of glitter did you use?
Carole says
Stacey – I used a transparent glitter that I got for cheap from Walmart. You could certainly do this with any type or color of glitter. Thanks for your question -Carole
Amanda says
I am a fan of all things glitter! Here is a tip: find the glossy mod podge, it gives it a very nice finished look and if you need to you can add a second layer of glitter when the first layer dries! You seal it the same, but don’t thin it with water. I really could not tell you the number of things I have glittered, but I have done many things for weddings with the glossy one with numerous colors. That is just another option though (:
Carole says
Amanda – thanks for your insights with all things glittery 🙂 -Carole
jessica says
Can we spray with hair spray instead of mod podge???
Carole says
Jessica – You could certainly try that but if it gets even a little bit of moisture or humidity, that hairspray will not hold. If you try it, please come back and share with us how it went! -Carole
Stacey says
I made these today but you can see the lines from the brush strokes. Any suggestions? Did I not out enough mod podge on?
Carole says
Stacey- I’m not quite sure what you mean by seeing the lines. If it isn’t as covered in glitter as you would like, do as the directions instruct and add more mod Podge and more glitter.
Jennifer O says
How long will it take for the first round to dry (before I add the second thinner layer?)
Thanks!
Carole says
Depends on humidity, temperatures and how thick your mod podge is. You will know it is dry because it is no longer white. Around 1-2 hours.
Ember says
OMG These are soooo pretty!!! I think I am going to try them with Orange and Purple glitter (if I can find it)
Carole says
That sounds like such a fun color combo! -Carole
Terri O'Neill says
These are beautiful! I am thinking of combining these with the glittery branches (Epsom Salts) as a centerpiece for a winter party I am having next weekend. Ii would alternate the branches with the candle’s. What did you end up putting in the candles holders on top of the tea lights?
Carole says
I did exactly as you are thinking!! I made a bunch of ice coverws branches using epsom salts….it is another post on here. I also used some big flowers in each vase with the branches. At the bottom of each one was a battery powered candle. They were beautiful when the lights were down
Jeri says
Could you please send me a picture of your vases once filled? Thanks!
Sheila says
Carole, will you please send me a picture of your filled vases also and let me know where I can purchase those battery powered candle? I think your vases are beautiful. Any suggestions on how I can incorporated them with my daughters sweet 16 masquerade party?
Daphne says
Could you use glitter paint or glitter spray paint instead? I really love these!
Carole says
Daphne- sure, you could use either but obviously your result will be different. Depending on the paint, you may not be able to see through them enough if you wanted to light thw inside of the vases.
Rachel says
Hi Carole,
I love your blog, and would like to share it on a landing page I am making for louisville, ky brides. Please let me know if you have any problems with it and I will take you down, if not happy to share your crafty ideas with others!
Thanks,
Rachel
Carole says
Thanks Rachel! As long as you direct them to here and noy republish my content, that would be wonderful.
claudia says
If i washed them, the glitter wont come out?
Carole says
Claudia- great question! If you gently hand wash these, you will be fine
Quala says
Do u have a picture of them after u filled them up???
Carole says
I do have one Quala! I will email it to you because I can’t attach a photo in this comment section -Carole
Vivian Hodges says
Hi…I loved your idea. Can you please email me a pic of all the goodies you included?
Carole says
Absolutely
Simone says
Could you email a photo also? I am looking for ideas for our 25th wedding anniversary (renewing our vows!)
Thank you so much!
pamela gorman says
Could you also email me a pic of the filled centerpieces? Thanks.
Evelyn says
Can you please send me a picture too I loveee what you do
Ashley says
What size vases did you use? I am doing this for my wedding and love the look!
Carole says
They were about 14 inches tall Ashley
Teri says
I just bought some yesterday at Dollar Tree!
Carole says
Good luck Teri! -Carole
K Brown says
What type of glitter did you use? I did this with gold glitter but the light did not show through as much. Please advise. Thanks for this idea 🙂
Carole says
I just bought whatever was on the shelf at Walmart 🙂 It was a more opaque glitter because I wanted the light to be able to shine through when the lights were down at the wedding. -Carole
Julie says
I just did this project, but when I started removing the tape it pulled up a lot of the glitter and mod podge off. Do you have a suggestion for preventing this from happening?
Carole says
Julie- did you remove the tape when the mod podge was still wet?
Julie says
I removed the tape when the mod podge was completely dry.
Becky says
I am helping a friend with her wedding, and we are making some of these candles. Would you share a photo of the finished product with all the goodies included? Thanks!
Carole says
Becky – I wish I had an up close photo for you but in the complete madness of the day, I didn’t get one. If you look at this post https://www.mykitchenescapades.com/wedding-ceiling-draping-tutorial/ there are some shots of them from a distance. They were so pretty all lit up once the lights were down!
gretchen says
Could you please email me a picture or two of what you put in these. She is having a fall wedding champagne burgundy and silver.
Linda says
Just finished making the vases and put a thin layer of watered down mod podge but seems to have shifted the glitter causing it not to be uniformly distributed. Any suggestions before we do any more. Was wondering if I could use a spray acrylic instead? Thanks.
Carole says
Bummer Linda! My main thought is to make sure that the mod podge under the glitter has a chance to completely dry before adding the top coat, otherwise they will definitely shift. You can still save the ones that have shifted by adding more mod podge and glitter to the uneven spots. You could certainly use a spray acrylic as well, but would need multiple layers to keep the glitter from falling off. Good luck! -Carole
paula says
Please send a photo of the “filled stuff”. Thanks!
Deb says
Could you please email a picture of the glitter vases with all the goodies in it and centerpieces? Thank you
Lisa says
I stumbled upon these and I’m now thinking of doing them for an 80th birthday party. Would spray glue work as well? Also, what can be put on top to seal the glitter so it doesn’t fall off? Thanks
Carole says
Hey Lisa! You could try the spray glue, but I don’t think you will get as complete of coverage as you do with the mod podge. As far as keeping the glitter from falling off, my instructions include the step of another layer of mod podge over the top. I think they will be perfect for a birthday party!
Angela says
Where can I see pics of what you filled them with? These are beautiful, I might make them for my daughters Sweet 16 party.
Carole says
I don’t have a shot of just the finished item, but you can see them from a distance lit with the flowers and branches in them in this post here https://www.mykitchenescapades.com/nacho-bar-for-150/
Cindy says
Carole,
I loved your post so much and used yours as a guide to make some glitter vases for my daughter’s Frozen party that’s coming up. Cannot wait to put some snowy branches in these!! Thanks so much!!
Carole says
You are so welcome Cindy!
Leah says
I am absolutely in love with these vases and plan to do them for my wedding next year. Can you please email me the picture of the filled vases as well? So happy I stumbled across this!
Amber says
I would love to see the finished project as well!! I’m going to do some for my daughter’s wedding!!
Matilde says
I found this and thought it was a great idea for my in-laws anniversary. Can you please send me an email of the filled vases too? Thank you so much!
Jennifer says
Would another type of tape work? I don’t have any masking tape and need to get it done soon!! Thanks and these are way beautiful!
Carole says
If you have painting tape, that would work. Scotch tape won’t adhere well enough to the glass and anything stronger will likely leave residue behind once you remove it. Good luck Jennifer!
kelly k says
how long does it take to dry for the first layer? how long did one vase take total ?
Carole says
Hi Kelly! I depends mainly on the temperature and humidity in the room. I completed these in less than a day, though I let the final coat dry overnight just for good measure.
Carla says
Hi! Have you ever done this on led tea lights? I would love to try this on there but wonder if I would use the same technique. I also have some gold rhinestones… Any tips how to apply those as well? I’m new to all this, any help would be greatly appreciated! One last question… Have you ever added all this to a cake and knife set? I only have a silver one but my colors are gold, red and black and white… So I wanted to spray paint the handles metallic gold and then glitter them? Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks a million!!! Any ideas and pictures and directions would help greatly for my big day
Carole says
Hey Carla! You have a lot of great ideas but I haven’t tried this technique on anything other than glass. I say give it a try! Good luck and congrats on the wedding
judith says
Love your idea and would love to use it for our 25th anniversary. Could you email me a couple of your pictures
Sheila says
Carole,
Will you please email pictures of your finished vases also and do you have ideas to incorporate a masquerade them for a sixteen birthday?
Sheila says
And where did you get the battery operated candles?
Margo says
Love the vases. Looks like an easy DIY. I was just wondering about the 2nd coat of Mod Podge that you put over the glitter……does the glitter still sparkle after the Mod Podge dries?
Thank you and Have a Blessed Day.
Carole says
Hey there Margo! They do sparkle beautifully!
Angie Taylor says
My concern is when to remove the blue tape. I want to make sure I remove it at the right time so that the glitter doesn’t peel away!
Carole says
Hey Angie! I tried removing it after the bottom layer of Mod Podge and glitter were added, but then when I added the top layer of Mod Podge, it got onto the glass where the tape used to be. So, as the post states, I decided to remove the tape right after the top layer of mod Podge was applied, before it dries. Good luck!
Raquel says
Hello Carole,
You have a beautiful smile and a great looking family!
I like glitter and sparkles and shiny things,so this project
was fun for me… I used a violet colored glitter and it
turned out so pretty!
Carole says
Thanks so much Raquel 🙂
Toinette January says
Hey Carole, I am wanting to do these for a wedding, is there a certain type of glitter you used (fine, ultra fine) and how much did you use for maybe 5 vases? I am trying to figure out how much glitter I need to purchase.
Carole says
I used about 3/4 of a bottle I bought at Walmart for all 12 vases. The glitter pieces were actually quite large but any size will work.
Renell Forrester says
Easy and cheap I’m hoping. I’m planning a winter baby shower for my daughter with snowflakes as a theme. I’m thinking of cutting out snowflake images pasted on each vase, then glittering. Then taking the snowflake off and lightly glittering over it so the light will still shine through the open images of the snowflake lightly. What do you think? I might use iridescent white glitter initially then maybe silver over. I’d love to see any images of other DIY projects you have for this type of theme and any other ideas. My colors are white and grey, keeping it light and airy since we don’t know what sex the baby is. Invites will be “Baby It’s Cold Outside?” Thanks for your help
Carole says
Hey Renell! Those sound beautiful and think that should work well. If you look at my categories under “Wedding” you will find all the DIY items I made for my daughter’s wedding. Good luck!
Lucy says
Can you get the glitter too thick?
Carole says
As long as you are only adding one layer of mod podge and glitter, nope.
Meghan says
How much glitter did you use for 12 vases?
Carole says
Hi Meghan! I bought a big bottle and only used about 1/4 of it.