How To Make Cheap Buffalo Plaid Vases For Decoration

We all know that buffalo plaid Christmas decor is big right now. Well, I have this plan to create a tablescape using Nutcrackers and buffalo plaid vases. There is a pin on Pinterest showing fabric glued to a tin can. It reminded me that I have some red and black buffalo plaid wrapping paper and that is how this vase idea was born.

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How simple is this? All you need is wrapping paper or some decorative Christmas paper, a tin can, Mod Podge, a paintbrush, scissors, a pencil, and a ruler.

About The Tin Cans

How To Make Cheap Buffalo Plaid Vases For Decoration — You will want a can opener that leaves a smooth edge.

If you are using pull-tab cans, you don’t have to worry about sharp edges. If not, you will want to have a can opener that leaves a smooth edge on the cans. You don’t want to have to worry about cutting yourself or someone else on sharp edges. I ordered this inexpensive one on Amazon. Oh, my gosh! It works like a charm!

The first thing you need is a clean dry tin can. Remember the Thanksgiving tin cans I made this year? They ended up looking so pretty filled with Autumn flowers and placed on the table!

Thanksgiving Tin Can Vase

How To Make Amazing Tin Can Thanksgiving Vases

Photo Credit: myhumblehomeandgarden.com

Supplies Needed for The Buffalo Check Tin Can Vase

Empty Clean Tin Can
Buffalo Check Gift wrap
Scissors
Mod Podge – Exterior
Stiff bristle paintbrush

Directions For Buffalo Plaid Check Tin Can Vase

Next, you need to lay the can on the wrapping paper and mark how wide the strip of paper needs to be. You want the paper to sit right under the ridge at the top of the can and just above the indentation at the base. Then, use a ruler to draw a straight line. Use scissors to cut the gift wrap paper on the line.

The obvious thing to do then is to use an old paintbrush to apply glue to one end of the gift wrap, position it, and begin gluing a little at a time, working toward the end.

NO! Don’t! I do that and by the time I glue and wrap the paper around the can, it is just slightly askew. Well, with big red and black checks, that misalignment really sticks out like a sore thumb!

Glue from the middle outward. — Don’t start gluing at the end of the paper!

Quickly, I pull the paper off the can, wash it in soapy water, and scrub it with a brush. Then, to begin again.

Apply The Buffalo Check the Right Way

This time, I begin by applying a 1-inch strip of the Mod Podge glue down one side of the can. Pick up the center of the strip of paper, line it up at the top and the bottom. Quickly, wrap the paper around the can to make sure it is going to line up on the other side. Adjust slightly, if needed.

Once you have it where it needs to be, raise one edge of the paper, close to the glued section, and apply some more glue to the can. Lay a small section of the paper on top of the glue and carefully use your fingertips to smooth the paper toward the open end. Continue gluing and smoothing the paper until you have finished applying the piece of gift wrap.

You won’t be able to smooth out all of the wrinkles. Smooth as much as you can, but don’t drive yourself crazy. Once the Mod Podge is applied to the outside, it adds a textural effect, and the wrinkles will be less noticeable. Once the flowers are added, you won’t notice at all.

Paint Mod Podge Over the Buffalo Plaid Gift Wrap

With the paintbrush, apply a coat of Mod Podge over the entire section of gift wrap. Be sure to paint strokes in one direction. Allow this coat to completely dry.

Then, add a second coat applying the strokes around the can across the first coat. This actually gives the gift wrap paper a fabric-like texture. Allow the Mod Podge to dry overnight.

Fill The Buffalo Plaid Tin Can Vase with Floral Foam and Flowers

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Although the Floral foam is supposed to be cut to fit, floated in water until submerged and saturated. I simply cut the foam with the can, pushing the can down through the foam. Then, I gently pushed the foam down to rest on the bottom of the can.

Fill with wet floral foam. — You’ll need wet floral foam.

Then, pour water on top of the floral foam and wait for it to absorb. Continue adding water until the floral foam quits absorbing water and it starts to pool at the top.

You can use flowers from your yard if you have them or just pick up a bouquet from the grocery. Then, trim the stem ends and arrange them using the floral foam. The floral foam I bought actually has a floral preservative in it. That means the flowers will last longer.

So, this is the first part of a nutcracker tablescape I’m creating. Be sure to come back and see the buffalo plaid napkin rings, nutcrackers, and monogrammed napkins.

DIY Ideas for Tin Cans