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A DIY featured by Hunker shows how The Hack Club transformed a clear Dollar Tree glass vase with gold leaf and black spray paint. The project uses accessible materials and can be adapted with different colors, foil and exterior accents.
A DIY project by The Hack Club, featured in a report by Hunker, turns a clear glass cylinder vase into decorative home decor using gold leaf and spray paint. The makeover uses a Dollar Tree vase priced at $1.75 in the report, offering a low-cost option for people looking to reuse or customize a plain glass container.
For the design, the creator applies Mod Podge to roughly the bottom third of the vase’s interior, shaping the upper edge of the adhesive into points and curves rather than a straight line. Sheets of gold leaf are pressed onto the adhesive, and a brush removes excess foil. The vase can then be viewed from the outside to check the pattern and add more leaf if desired.
The next step is to spray-paint the inside of the vase, with the featured design using black paint behind the gold. Hunker says paint formulated for glass is recommended and advises applying it carefully so the foil does not shift. The paint should dry before the vase is finished with faux flowers or stems. The source does not provide a drying time or a detailed safety procedure for using spray paint.
The Dollar Tree vase is not the only option: Hunker says the project can be done with another clear glass container if its opening is wide enough to reach inside and apply the materials. A clean, dry surface helps decorations adhere, according to the report. The creator’s design is an example rather than a fixed template: the amount and placement of foil, paint color and added embellishments can all vary.
A Low-Cost Vase With Room to Customize
The project presents a plain household item as a starting point for custom decor, rather than something that has to be replaced. Readers can adapt the amount of gold leaf and the color of the paint to suit their own rooms, while using a vase they already own or find secondhand. That makes the idea relevant to people interested in inexpensive decorating and creative reuse.
The materials also leave room to scale the project. Hunker notes that a gold-leaf set may include more sheets than this vase needs, allowing leftovers to be used for other crafts. The final cost depends on what a DIYer already has and what they buy; the report’s $1.75 vase price does not represent the total project cost.
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How the Gold-Leaf Finish Works
The visual effect comes from layering materials on the inside of a transparent vase. Gold leaf creates the visible metallic pattern, while the paint behind it supplies a contrasting background. In the featured version, black paint gives the gold a bold, modern look. Hunker also suggests cream paint for a softer contrast and mentions blue, rose-gold, silver and antique-gold foil as alternatives.
The report says the vase needs an opening large enough for hands or tools to reach its interior. A cylinder shape is used in the example, but the instructions are not limited to that exact Dollar Tree product. Optional additions, such as a metallic ribbon or gemstones on the outside, can give the piece more detail. These are suggested variations, not steps shown as necessary to complete the original design.
“The creator applies gold leaf to the inside of a clear glass vase and spray paints the rest black.”
— Hunker’s report on The Hack Club project
Project Cost and Finish May Vary
The source describes one creator’s result but does not state how long the project takes, how much gold leaf or paint is used, or how durable the finish is with repeated handling. It also does not give a complete materials budget: the $1.75 price applies to the vase cited in the report, while the cost of paint, adhesive and any foil purchased separately will vary.
Hunker mentions a gold-leaf kit priced at $14 in its report, but that is a cited example, not a required purchase or a confirmed current price. The source does not independently establish that the featured vase remains available at that price, nor does it provide details about the original creator’s exact materials beyond the use of Mod Podge and spray paint. Results may differ with the glass shape, surface preparation and amount of foil used.
Adapt the Design to Your Vase
The next step for anyone trying the idea is to choose a clean, dry glass vase with an opening that allows access to the inside, then decide on the foil pattern and paint color. Hunker’s description suggests starting with a section near the bottom, checking the look from outside and adding foil until the coverage suits the design. The paint should be applied carefully and allowed to dry before the vase is used as a display piece.
Readers can follow the gold-and-black example or substitute other metallic foils and paint shades. The report does not announce a scheduled follow-up or provide testing of the finished vase, so questions about long-term wear and exact project costs remain open.
Key Questions
What supplies does the vase makeover use?
The featured design uses a clear glass vase, Mod Podge, gold-leaf sheets, a brush and spray paint formulated for glass. Faux flowers or stems can be added after the paint dries. The source does not set out a complete shopping list with quantities.
Does the project have to use a Dollar Tree vase?
No. Hunker says another clear glass vase can work, including one already at home or found secondhand, as long as its opening is large enough to reach inside and apply the foil and paint.
How much does the DIY cost?
Hunker cites a $1.75 Dollar Tree vase and gives a $14 gold-leaf kit as an example. Those figures do not establish the total project cost, which depends on materials already on hand and current prices.
Can the colors or pattern be changed?
Yes. The report suggests using different amounts or placements of gold leaf, and mentions cream paint and blue, rose-gold, silver or antique-gold foil as alternatives. Ribbon or gemstones can also be added to the exterior.
Source: hunker.com
