Twisted Patriotic Napkin Vase

5 Materials
$6
4 Hours
Easy

I love working with paper napkins! There're some really beautiful designs available and they come in the prettiest patterns that can be used to transformed just about anything - furniture, bottles, jars, boxes, frames and dishes, etc! So many ways to use napkins for craft ideas in home decor! Like this patriotic vase! It's made out of twisted paper napkins using plain water. Can you imagine?


Let's start with red, white and blue napkins - perfect for any patriotic holiday!

Cut in half, along the fold and remove all plain layers from the printed side . . .

then spritz with water (pattern side down) on a waterproof work surface like a glass cutting board or countertop.

Next, roll the napkin together lengthwise. You can apply additional water if needed, although this napkin bled after wetting.

Begin twisting the ends in opposite directions with fingers.

Once the napkin is completely twisted, stretch to straighten and lay on parchment paper to dry. The number of napkin twists to make depends on the size of the bowl you choose. For this, 40 napkin twists were made for the first section of the vase.


To speed up the drying time, the napkin twists were placed outside in the sun to dry for about 45-60 minutes.

While the napkin twists are drying, cover a round bowl in plastic wrap. Use masking tape to secure the plastic to bowl. Mark on the bowl where you want to stop wrapping the napkin twists. Once the twists are dry, place a generous amount of fabric glue (quick grab and dry) on the center outside bottom of bowl and begin wrapping the napkin twists around on the flat surface of the bowl. Apply fabric glue along the base of the twist as you wrap.

Continue wrapping and adding napkin twists (squeezing the ends together) while applying glue around napkin as you wrap the bowl.

Be sure to wrap the twists as close together as possible, while keeping the rows evenly pushed together.

Stop wrapping where marked and smooth the end of the last napkin twist into the previous row using glue to blend together and make less noticeable. Remove the entire napkin twist vase by loosening the plastic wrap from the bowl, keeping the rows together. Place on parchment paper until dry (outside in sun).

For the second bowl, allow space for the vase opening before beginning to wrap the bowl as before with the first bowl.

Continue wrapping and gluing as before, ending where marked. Gently remove the napkin twists section from the bowl - keeping rows intact and removing plastic wrap. Let dry.

To connect the two napkin twists bowls together for the vase - place the open bowl on top of the closed bowl, adjusting fit, then apply a generous amount of fabric glue around the top edge of the closed bowl. Pinch the two bowls together. holding in place for a few seconds to secure, as you move around the edges. Once the fabric glue has dried, apply several coats of Modge Podge to harden and seal napkin twists. Let dry. 

What a fun way to make decorative patriotic crafts! Celebrating the red, white and blue!

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Gail@Purple Hues and Me
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Pamgross Pamgross on Jun 22, 2020

    Couldn't you use mod podge to glue together instead of fabric glue?


  • Julie Julie on Jul 03, 2020

    Did you apply Modge Podge to the interior of the vase as well? I imagine it would be easier to do that before gluing the two halves together but wondering if it would be worth the effort & material?

  • Gibbie Forgy Gibbie Forgy on Jul 06, 2020

    I’m sorry, but the photo of your twisting the pieces of napkin together is not clear to me. Could you describe the process, please. THANKS. Love this. The Dollar Store has such pretty napkins. There are so many “themes” you could make.

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