WINTER: PomPom Vases

Here at the edge of the 'winter-spring' seasonal transition, I try to keep the coziness of winter's soft textures going by mixing them with elements that  start to reflect springtime.

When I picked up a remnant of some minty-green pompom trim at a fabric store's going out of biz sale, I immediately knew that I was going to do this with it...

Paired up with some smaller white pompom trim that I had from Dollar Tree, plus a thrifted curtain panel with minty green pompoms running down two sides, that new trim pulled it all together. It took just minutes for these three vases to get a new look!

Continue reading for my easy tutorial...

TUTORIAL

MATERIALS
clear glass jars with straight sides . pompom trim attached to a fabric strip
clear tape

METHOD
Both smaller clear glass vases got the pompom 'wrap' treatment - SO easy:

1. Tape one end of a length of pompoms to the side of your vase, along the bottom edge. (Sorry, I forgot to photograph that) 

2. Lay the pompom's top edge flat against the glass vase, and begin wrapping it around the vase - as you go, stack each go-round on top of the previous one. You don't want any space between the fabric strip that holds the pompoms. 

3. When you reach the top edge of your vase, tuck the end of the fabric strip into the row BELOW it to hold it in place. 

If you have more trim than you need, cut it after you have wrapped the top row - and leave a bit of extra to tuck in and secure. 

The larger vase was a bit more complicated.
I used a thrifted cotton curtain panel that has minty green pompoms trimming both sides of the panel... and then figured out how to make it fit inside the large glass vase!

1. I double-folded the curtain panel vertically. I laid the panel flat, with the pompoms on the sides, and I folded the bottom up toward the top of the panel - twice. 

2. I measured the height of the large glass vase, and cut a strip of white poster board to that height. Then I laid that piece on top of the fabric, about 2" below the edge with the pompoms on it. I folded the fabric in half again so the poster board was concealed in the fabric. (It gives the fabric structure to help keep it from wrinkling and falling down into the vase.) 

3. The fabric surrounds the poster board.

4. I held the fabric as I rolled it up small enough to fit into the glass vase. It took a few tries to get it right!

5. Carefully lift the rolled fabric and insert it into the glass vase, making sure it touches the bottom. Then let go and it will unfurl enough to touch the sides of the vase. 

6. The fabric in the center is loose, but along the outer edge it looks smooth. 
The pompom trim sticks up above the top edge of the vase, so it was easy to fold it outward so that the pompoms spill over the edge and create a pretty 'collar'.

7. I placed tall bunches of faux tulips into the vase, bending them for the most realistic look. 

NOTE: If you want to put real flowers in your vase, insert a smaller circumference but nearly equal height vase inside the main one. Put some water in it, then add your flowers! 

8. The view from the side shows how the pompom collar looks when finished.

It's such an easy way to get a fun look for these long last weeks of winter...
adding a small candle to the smallest vase adds some warmth and scent, too.

I suggest using only candles that are already in glass containers that sit well below the top edge of your pompom vase, for safety reasons. The candle shown is in a small glass canning jar, and fit right down into the white pompom-wrapped vase.

This is pretty corny, but I kept thinking it as I was typing this post:
Now there's a vase that will CHEER you up! (pompoms. cheer. get it??!!!) 

related content:

sweater-wrapped vases

lace-wrapped vases 


shared online:

funky junk interiors | new upcycle ideas #767

Thank you for including my project in your feature, Donna!

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