Woman Turns A Dollar Tree Pool Noodle And Vase Into Stunning DIY Decor

Are you obsessed with trying the latest pool noodle hacks but never know exactly what to do with those shorter leftover pieces? It's easy to find yourself with a pile of the inexpensive foam cylinders in various lengths. Although they are technically recyclable, pool noodles are much more likely to end up in the landfill if you bring them to your local dump.

But there's a better way! Kendra Davis, aka my_home_by_kendra_nicole, discovered how to turn Dollar Tree pool noodles and simple flower vases into stunning DIY decor. To make them, she uses spray paint and gold leaf to decorate small pool noodle pieces before hot gluing them around an entire vase to create a modern look.

Although working with gold leaf can be a little tricky for a first-timer, this project can be pulled off in just a few steps. Choose your vase first, since its overall size will determine how many pool noodles you need. For an average flower vase, you should be able to use those leftover pieces from other projects or a single new one from Dollar Tree. However, if you want to scale the look of this unique vase decor in a bigger way, you may need several noodle lengths. You'll also need spray paint in the color of your choice, and a pack of gold leaf, which you can typically buy at your local craft store for under $10. Last but not least, you'll need two additional supplies: a hot glue gun and a serrated bread knife for cutting your noodles to size.

If you've already conquered transforming a Dollar Tree pool noodle into a small ottoman or used several to create unique wall art, you won't be surprised at our strong recommendation to cut your pool noodles using a bread knife. Pros know a sharp serrated blade makes the process easy. And, you'll be making a lot of cuts. First, you'll need to cut the pool noodles lengthwise, aiming for each piece to be four or more inches longer than the height of your vase. Then, you'll need to cut each one in half lengthwise again until you have enough pieces to encircle the entire vase.

The next step is decorating them. Along with choosing any color vase you prefer, this is the best opportunity to customize the look of your finished decor. After spray painting both sides of each pool noodle piece and allowing them to dry thoroughly, add gold leaf by running a small line of hot glue along your noodle and gently touching the gold leaf to it before it dries. Brush away any remaining leaf (saving it to use on other spots wherever possible!)

One of the reasons it's so easy to DIY decor using Dollar Tree pool noodles is that the foam works well with hot glue. That's what you'll use to attach each painted and gold-leafed piece to your vase. Add a line of hot glue to the bottom and top of each piece, holding it in place around the rim and base until it dries. The longer your pieces, the more abstract the final look.