Today: Easy, up-cycled vases and The Compliment Depot.

Why simply recycle… when you can up-cycle? And by up-cycle, I mean slap some metallic paint on a few jars destined for the recycling bin. Easy as that.

My sister’s bridal shower provided the perfect opportunity to dump glitter all over my condo, cut up a bunch of ribbon, and smear paint all over the place. I love a good craft project. These vases, which I filled with silk peonies (my sister will have the real deal in her bouquet this weekend), took all of five minutes to make, plus an overnight to dry and cost less than six bucks.

Easy, up-cycled vases

What you’ll need:

Several clean, dry glass jars (I used a couple pasta sauce jars and a few Bonne Maman jam jars)
Metallic paint (I used this paint in Vintage Gold Satin, but you could use any color or finish… neon perhaps?)
An old mixing bowl or similar, deep container that you don’t mind ~~ruining~~ covering in paint (I used a Ziplock container that was missing its lid)
Newspaper or cardboard for drying

Super obvious, likely unnecessary step-by-step:

Wash and dry all glass jars and prep am area where you can allow painted jars to dry overnight (I used several old cardboard boxes and bribed Clark to stay away from them).
Work with one jar at a time. Pour a small amount of paint into your mixing bowl, dip your first jar and tip over to dry, allowing the paint to drip down the sides. Use as much or as little paint as you like.
Repeat step two until all jars have been dipped.
Allow paint to dry over night before tipping them upright.
Do not use these vases for food or drink. I am certain neither Martha Stewart nor I want anyone to get poisoned.

These vases would also make great pen and pencil holders for your desk, or cute storage for jewelry and makeup brushes.

Semi-related: Is it just me, or does everyone think The Home Depot be renamed The Compliment Depot? I dropped in there before work last week and got an unexpected early morning ego boost. I love places that open early (mostly because I get a run in my nylons nearly every morning and don’t always have an extra pair or nine on hand). Anyway, I was there to buy a convertible hand cart (my life is truly glamorous, in case that wasn’t abundantly obvious) and walked up and down every aisle twice. Including the toilet one. With no luck.

After waiting in line for a few minutes at customer service, I learned the carts are located in the garden department. The gentleman who pointed me in the right direction remarked on how patient I was (not true, but okay…). When I estimated that I would need to move more than 150 pounds, but fewer than 800 pounds, the person helping me said I was very smart for knowing that (um… that’s a range of 650 pounds, and I only know that because I used the calculator app on my iPhone). When I refused an offer of assistance and carried the monstrosity of a cart out on my own, I got a whoa, you’re strong (this person clearly did not see me nearly fall under my own car while trying to lift the cart into the trunk). I was also complimented on my pretty dress and great smile (I think it was actually a grimace, since I was in the aforementioned toilet aisle).

I’ll be back there soon for more compliments, and more metallic paint.

Also On Tap for Today: