Flowers are a gift I will always gladly accept. I don’t know anyone who would turn down a bouquet.
With Mother’s Day approaching, I gave the classic card-and-flowers gift a personal twist by painting custom vases. The finished vases become keepsakes that last long after the blooms fade.
I created this project in partnership with Martha Stewart and Plaid Crafts and am sharing a step-by-step guide so you can make your own. Below you’ll find the materials and instructions to paint patterned vases using adhesive stencils and multi-surface acrylic paint.
What I love about Martha Stewart’s Family Friendly Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic is its versatility: it works on glass, wood, canvas, metal, terra cotta, paper and fabric. That meant I could use the same paints on different surfaces for this project. I tried the paint and stencils on wood and ceramics as well, and they performed beautifully on every surface.
Materials to Create Custom Pattern Vases
- Martha Stewart adhesive stencils
- Martha Stewart foam pouncers or daubers
- Martha Stewart Family Friendly Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic paint
- Vases, ceramic dishes, or other vessels
How to Create Custom Pattern Vases
1. Start with adhesive stencils so you don’t need to freehand your design—this makes the project very beginner-friendly. Remove the stencil from its backing and press it firmly onto the surface of your vase or dish. Make sure the stencil adheres securely all the way around to prevent paint from seeping underneath.
For my vases I used a pattern from the Global stencil and the wave shapes from the Mermaid stencil.
2. Pour a small amount of paint onto a paper plate or palette. I used Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic in Mango and Pink Taffy, but there are many colors to choose from. Load a small amount of paint onto your dauber, pouncer, or stencil brush—less is more. Dab off excess paint before tapping or pouncing a thin layer over the stencil.
Apply a second coat only if needed. For a softly translucent finish I preferred a single coat.
3. While the paint is still wet, carefully peel the stencil away to reveal the clean pattern beneath. Working while wet helps achieve crisp edges.
4. Repeat the stenciling steps to build a repeating pattern if you like. Rinse the stencil with soap and water while the paint is still wet, let it dry, then return it to its backing for storage.
After the paint fully cures, add water and flowers and your personalized vase is ready to gift.
You can find Martha Stewart products at Michaels.
Have you ever painted glass before? What’s your favorite flower to receive as a gift?
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I partnered with the Martha Stewart team and Plaid Crafts for this project. All opinions and experiences are my own.