Difficulty: Easy

Age: 2 and up with parental supervision

Supplies Needed:

• Old Vase or Glass Jar
• Any permanet paint like acrylic in desired colours
• Small piece of material (I.E. from old clothes)
• Scrap piece of paper like a used envelope
• Old newspapers
• Scissors
• Smock or old clothes to wear while making vase

Step One: Rinse out Vase/Jar and let dry. If needed soak jar for 10 minutes in warm water to easily remove label.

Step Two: Cover working area with old newspapers to avoid getting paint on working surface.

Step Three: Place a small amount of chosen paint colours on an old envelope or folded scrap paper. Have a seperate piece for each colour. Remember you don't need much of each colour.

Step Four: For a heart design: press thumb into desired paint colour from step three and make a thumbprint at a slight angle on vase. Press your thumb again into the same paint colour and make a thumbprint over lapping the bottom of last thumbprint at the opposite angle. Similar to the letter "V".  Repeat. Tip: Make as many thumb hearts as you like with the first colour and then switch to the next colour. It is advisable to start with the lightest colours first working to the darkest. Wash hands/thumbs throughly between colours to avoid colour bleeding. For flower design: Using your pinkie finger apply desired colour (this is for the middle or the flower, traditionally yellow or orange) and make pinkie print on vase/jar. Using your index finger (finger next to thumb) press into desired colour for flower petals and then proceed to making 4-5 index fingerprints around the pinkie print you just made. Apply the same "tip" as mentioned for the heart design. Repeat around vase/jar until desired effect is reached. Be creative! These are only guidelines.

Step Five: Let dry over night

Step Six: (Optional) Using old clothes (that you don't need anymore and were going to throw out) cut a thin strip about half an inch wide. Length will depend on size of vase/jar cut it long enough so that you can tie a bow. You may want to do this step ahead of time before you start painting, otherwise you'll have to wait until the paint has dried completely. Tie bow around top portion of vase.

Step Seven: Add water and flowers!

If you complete this project and would like to share your creation, please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it