Hostess Gift for the Holidays- Taking a clear glass vase and making it special!

I once heard Kathie Lee Gifford complain about people bringing flowers to a dinner party and how she would have to stop everything to look for a vase, cut the stems and arrange the flowers. I have to admit that I never viewed a gift of flowers in this way but I can see how it could cause some folks stress.
This is a wonderful way to bring flowers to a dinner party and not cause pressure or tension to your host. Present your flowers in a custom vase that she can keep forever! This is a great idea for teacher gifts as well.

First you get a clear glass vase. I got mine from the Dollar Store. Everyone knows how much I appreciate the Dollar Store.
Next, wash it out with warm soapy water and dry it thoroughly. Now choose a basic design and get the colors you will need. The paint type needs to be acrylic enamel. For this project I used white, red, burnt umber, yellow, green and orange.

Choose and simple design and don’t be discouraged if your pattern isn’t perfect. I used simple white lines as branches and have a few cardinals placed here and there. They look fine so don’t try to make them too precise. A splash of green, yellow and orange finishes the painting part of this project.
Once you are happy with your design just put the vase into a cold oven. Set the temperature to 325 degrees. When the oven is ready, set the timer to one hour then turn off the oven. Leave the vase until cool. Overnight is best. DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN UNTIL IT IS COOL-You don’t want to shock the glass with a burst of cold outside air.
Once the oven is cool your paint is baked onto the vase. You can wash it gently with warm soapy water when needed and the paint won’t come off.

Fill with your favorite flowers and it’s ready to become a special hostess gift. This vase is a great conversation starter and your flowers will be welcomed at any gathering.
It’s always fun to be creative and this hand painted vase may even result in another dinner invitation!