Here's how to make a floor vase from a cardboard tube and cardboard: build the frame, cover it in papier-mâché, coat it with putty, add a raised pattern, and finish it with decoupage.
BeginnerFree
Translated
Things you will learn
The vase frame is built from a length of cardboard tube (from a linoleum roll) with ribs cut from dense cardboard glued around the perimeter.
The frame's surface is covered in paper and PVA glue using the papier-mâché technique, then coated with construction putty and sanded smooth once dry.
The raised pattern is piped on using putty thinned to a sour-cream consistency, applied through a squeeze-bottle container.
The final decor is a decoupage paper napkin with a pattern, sealed with several coats of varnish.
What you'll get
A handmade floor vase with a raised pattern and decoupage finish — a striking piece of home decor or a great gift.
Materials and tools
Materials
Cardboard tube from a linoleum roll, The frame's core; cut a piece to the length that will become the vase's height.
Dense cardboard from any packing box, For the frame's ribs.
A fiberboard base (or cardboard), A cardboard base also works, but a fiberboard base makes the vase sturdier.
Paper for papier-mâché, Torn paper pieces for covering the frame.
PVA glue, For the papier-mâché layer and for mixing into the putty.
Construction putty (finishing or base-coat), For coating the surface and creating the raised pattern.
Sandpaper or a sanding mesh, For smoothing out unevenness once the putty has dried.
A squeeze-bottle container, For example, an empty craft PVA glue bottle or an acrylic paint bottle — for piping on the raised pattern.
A decorative paper napkin, For decoupaging the vase's surface.
Varnish, For the final coat, applied in several layers.
Tools
Glue gun, Works best for attaching the cardboard to the tube.
Pencil, For tracing the vase's shape onto the cardboard.
Prepare the frame pieces
Cut the tube to length
Cut a piece from the cardboard tube to the length that will become the height of your vase.
Trace the vase shape onto the cardboard
To make the pieces easier to work with, hold the tube against a piece of cardboard and trace the vase's shape with a pencil. You'll cut the rest of the pieces using these traced shapes.
Cut the frame ribs
When cutting the pieces, keep in mind: the more ribs you use, the sturdier the frame will be and the easier the rest of the work goes. Yes, cutting out the vase's ribs is a bit tedious, but it goes quickly.
Assemble the vase frame
Glue the tube to the base
Glue the tube to the round base of your future vase. A cardboard base works too, but the vase will stand sturdier and more stable on a fiberboard base.
Glue the cardboard ribs around the perimeter
Glue the cardboard pieces around the frame's perimeter. A glue gun works best for attaching the cardboard to the tube.
Cover the frame in papier-mâché
Layer paper and PVA glue over the ribs
Now for a simple round of papier-mâché: cover the vase's ribs with pieces of paper and PVA glue. Build up several layers over the surface and let them dry fully (this can take 2-3 days).
Coat the surface with putty
Coat the surface with putty
Next, mix up some construction putty (it doesn't matter much whether it's a finishing or a base-coat type). Mix in a small amount of PVA glue and coat the surface of the dried paper. Work carefully while puttying the surface and try to keep it as smooth as possible — it helps to keep wetting your hands with water as you go.
Sand the surface once it's dry
Once the putty has dried, start smoothing out any unevenness. Take sandpaper or a sanding mesh and sand the vase's surface thoroughly.
Create the raised pattern
Pipe on the pattern from a squeeze bottle
To create the raised pattern, take the same putty you used to coat the surface and thin it to a sour-cream consistency. Take a squeeze-bottle container, like an empty craft PVA glue bottle or an acrylic paint bottle. Fill it with the thinned putty and pipe a pattern onto the vase's surface.
Finish with decoupage and varnish
Glue on the napkin and varnish
While the raised pattern dries, you can start on the vase's main decor. For this, we'll use decoupage. Glue your chosen paper-napkin pattern onto the vase's surface with PVA glue, and let it dry. Seal it with several coats of varnish, and it's ready to display in your chosen spot or give as a gift.
Finish and variations
Finish
Let the varnish dry fully
After applying several coats of varnish, let the vase dry completely before setting it out or giving it as a gift.
Variations
A different decoupage pattern
Instead of a floral or poppy pattern, you can use any decoupage napkin you like — the technique stays the same.
A cardboard base instead of fiberboard
If you don't have a fiberboard base on hand, a cardboard base works too, though a fiberboard base will make the vase more stable.
The vase wobbles or loses its shape before the paper layer goes on.
Likely cause
Too few cardboard ribs were used around the frame's perimeter.
How to fix it
The more ribs you glue around the perimeter, the sturdier the frame will be — don't skimp on how many you use.
The putty surface comes out uneven
Problem
Once dry, noticeable bumps and unevenness remain on the vase's surface.
Likely cause
The putty was applied with dry hands, which made it harder to smooth out.
How to fix it
Keep wetting your hands with water while you putty the surface — it helps get a smoother finish.
The putty doesn't hold well on the paper
Problem
The putty layer cracks or flakes off the paper layer underneath.
Likely cause
The papier-mâché paper layer wasn't fully dry before the putty was applied.
How to fix it
Let the paper layers dry completely — this can take 2-3 days — before applying the putty.
?FAQ
What materials do I need for a floor vase?
A cardboard tube from a linoleum roll, dense cardboard from a packing box, a fiberboard base, a glue gun, paper and PVA glue for the papier-mâché, construction putty, sandpaper, a squeeze-bottle container, a decorative paper napkin for decoupage, and varnish.
How do I decide on the vase's height?
The vase's height equals the length of the cardboard tube you cut at the very start.
How long does the paper layer take to dry?
The papier-mâché layers can take 2-3 days to dry before you can apply the putty.
How do I add the raised pattern?
Thin the putty to a sour-cream consistency, put it into a squeeze-bottle container (like an empty PVA glue or acrylic paint bottle), and pipe a pattern onto the vase's surface.
What do you coat the finished vase with?
After the napkin decoupage, the surface is sealed with several coats of varnish.
Your project
Log in to track your project, attach photos, and publish your result into the shared feed.
BeginnerFree
