Dollar Store Glass Vase Christmas Luminaries Tutorial

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

I have been looking for ways to add light to my Christmas display and I saw something on Pinterest from Mark Montano and knew that it would work perfectly! I purchased a couple of vases from the dollar store a couple of months ago and now I had the perfect project for them!

Here is what you need to make your own:

-glass vases (assorted sizes and styles look great together too)

-yarn

-tape

-spray paint (I used Krylon Satin Almond)

Wrap your vases in yarn, criss-crossing as you wrap it around and around the vase. I started at the bottom and taped the yarn on the underside of the vase, then wrapped up and down the vase a couple of times, and finished by taping the end of the yarn on the inside of the vase. You don’t want your masking tape to be on the outside of the vase because then when you spray paint over it, it will leave a lovely tape outline behind. 🙂

Spray paint your vases- I did about 3 coats.

Remove the yarn and tape and you are good to go!

These make darling vases just by themselves . . .

. . . or stick a little LED tea light inside you and you have a beautiful glowing luminary!

They look absolutely awesome at night!

Let me know if you have any questions!

If you like our recipes then you will LOVE our Cookbook!!!

Our cookbook makes a wonderful gift (and it’s priced right at less than $18!) . . . you can check it out HERE.

Questions & Reviews

Rodarte Family says:

I love these! We did a craft similar to these at girls camp over the summer. We used glass-frosting spray rather than spray paint though. I love how the vases look together!
[email protected] says:

This is sweet! I've pinned it. I've also seen it done using the frosted spray. Thanks so much for sharing! Merry CHRISTmas!
Anonymous says:

When doing this, does it matter what color spray paint you use? Should you use a specific kind of any color and kind? Also is there a way to make it with glitter or sparkle?
Camille says:

@ Anonymous- it totally doesn't matter what color you use- any color would work great! And I think that any brand would work great too. As far as making it sparkle, I haven't worked with glitter much, but I am wondering if it would work to put glitter on the wet paint? Or maybe use mod podge after the paint dries to add some glitter? Let me know if you try it out!
Have a Merry Christmas!
EllaG says:

Having trouble making the yarn stay, any suggestions??
Blue Hare Mom says:

Any string will work, if you want to dip it in a solution of 1/2 elmer's glue and 1/2 water you can manipulate the string a little more. You'll need to let it dry, but once the vase is painted (or etched with etching cream) you can rinse off the string/glue easily.
SarahB says:

I might try this with some really narrow masking tape since I have some that is about 1/4 of an inch wide. There's a neat thing that can be done with Mod Podge and food coloring, too, which could have neat results with this sort of lined out pattern. Hmmm! You have given me many dangerous ideas!
Self-Therapy Expert (Not really) says:

One other option for this would be to use shape stickers of any kind. Or die cuts. Maybe leaves or tree die cuts? Then spray the paint. I really need to try this.
DeadHeartBeat says:

You can also use rubber bands if you don't have yarn!