Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Anthropologie Inspired Vases

$28.00 Anthro Vase
$18.00 Anthro Vase












I saw these Anthropologie vases and fell in love with THEM but not their PRICE.  So off to the thrift store I went!  



I found these two vases that had classic design and shape as well as this metal ‘spray’ of flowers.  I cleaned and dried the vases and using wire cutters cut of the flowers I wanted to use (leaving many more on the spray for future projects!). Note: A lot of people think I used silk flowers -- nope.  This is a 'bouquet' of METAL flowers.


First I sprayed the vases and flowers with white primer.  I sprayed the tall vase with Rust-Oleum Glacier Blue (which is very close to the colors we painted our living /dining room).  I sprayed the short vase with Rust-Oleum black primer because that’s what I had.  To achieve the look of porcelain glass, I finished the black one off with several coats of a store brand HIGH gloss lacquer spray paint.  I only did this because I already had the black primer and gloss lacquer and didn’t want to go buy black gloss paint.

For the flowers, I simply got out my acrylic paint stash and began mixing and blending to come up with that same color family of blue/green and the orange which is an accent color in the rooms.  I painted them all over with one coat and let dry.  Then I went back and darkened each paint  color and began adding different ‘shades’ of the original color to give the flowers some dimension.  
I sprayed each flower with several coats of the Krylon Crystal Clear but still wasn’t satisfied that they really looked like “glass”.  I have a wonderful clear glue called “Crystal Effects” from Stampin’ Up!  that provides a very high gloss and stays dimensional.  I spread one layer of it onto the flowers and this really made them look like they are made of glass! Using E6000 glue, I attached the flowers to the vases and there you have it!


Anthro Vases: $47.00 for two vases










My Versions:  $5.00 for two vases (Each vase: $1.00.  Flower spray: $3.00)



32 comments:

  1. Those vases look amazing! You are very clever! X

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  2. You should submit this to Knockoff Decor!

    Those are awesome...My only question is what did you use for the flowers?? I can't tell what they were.

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  3. Great job! They look like the real thing.In fact I like yours better.

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  4. I love your vases! I saw those at Anthro but wasn't about to buy them either. Thanks for sharing the tutorial!

    -caroline @ c.w.frosting

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  5. Lauren,
    These are very cute! What a neat idea. You did a good job on these. Thanks for linking it up! Would you please put a link back to the HSH party in your post. Thanks!
    Sherry

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  6. Just saw the antropologie vases in Real Simple magazine......yours look beautiful:)!!

    beth
    huberhang.blogspot.com

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  7. You did a great job and thanks for the step-by-step.

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  8. How fun!! You did a great job!! Love the inspiration! Thanks for linking up with VIF, xo Debra

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  9. What a great job. I just love the short black one. You really lucked out finding those flowers. Now I have something new to look for at the local thrift stores

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  10. I LOVE that little black one! You really took the time to do it right on this project... something I need to grow in is my patience with projects! Thanks for the inspiration! Jules from bles-id ps, love the name of your blog. We are indeed wonderfully made!

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  11. Love it for the price and the look! Follow you from Malaysia.. love PC

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  12. WOW, You did an amazing job !
    They look great and have a whole new look with your crafty talents !
    Thanks for sharing !

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  13. I love this! I'd like to invite you to post it on Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage. The link will be up all week, I hope you can join in. Have a nice week, Mary :O)

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  14. That's so funny, I recently saw these at Anthro and was trying to come up with a way to recreate it. Thank you! So you used fake silk flowers?

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  15. Wow, those turned out so pretty!

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  16. love love looove these pretty lil vases!!! you did a great job!!

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  17. What a very sweet idea Lauren. I love Anthro too, but it just is not priced affordable. Great inspiration, thanks for sharing with my newbie party.

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  18. WOW! This turned out perfect. I love the colors you chose :)

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  19. These vases are great, and you can't beat the price! thanks for sharing. I am your newest follower. Come over to Greetings From the Asylum and follow me too!

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  20. Your vases look so awesome! Thanks for joining us and sharing with us this great post at the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop :)

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  21. Love the transformation! Your vases looks awesome. Tks for sharing.

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  22. These are lovely! I like yours more than the "real" ones

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  23. These are stunning! I never knew you could paint flowers! Soooo neat!

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  24. What a great idea! Love how beautiful they turned out! Thanks for the blog visit :)

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  25. They are beautiful!! I love your vases more than the expensive ones!!

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