She Upcycles An Old Vase Into A Beautiful Home Decor Piece Using Epsom Salt

Seasonally changing up decor can get quite expensive, unless you're ready to take on a few fun DIY projects. For instance, if you're looking for winter home decor ideas to cozy up your space, the crafter behind the @OurUpcycledLife channel shares a simple upcycling idea. Coat your old vases with a little glue and sprinkle Epsom salt on top to craft a frosted feature on a budget.

Through this DIY, you get the opportunity to turn your old vases into pretty home treasures. This will save them from the trash and breathe new life into ones you no longer like or use. The best part, though? The shape and size of your vases don't matter. Plus, it's an economical project since you don't have to spend a lot of money on the other supplies. Any type of Epsom salt you have on hand works. The same goes for the adhesive. You can use any kind of PVA glue or Mod Podge you find with your other craft supplies. Additionally, grab a low-cost foam or bristle brush for applying the glue. This project isn't time-consuming or effort-intensive. It's a fun, simple DIY you can even involve your kids in. 

Start by washing your old vases with warm water and a mild dish soap. This will dislodge built-up dust and grime so the glue can adhere better to the surface. Use your blow dryer or solutions like Goo Gone Adhesive Remover to remove any labels or price tags, too. Then, let your vase completely air dry. In the meantime, lay old newspaper over your workstation to minimize cleanup later.

Now, grab an old bowl and fill it with Epsom salt. And if you'd like your frosted decor to sparkle, add a tablespoon of white glitter. This will give a snow-like effect to your feature. You can even mix in a few drops of food coloring or colored glitter if you want the frost to be a particular shade. 

Coat the exterior of the vase with a thin layer of glue. While it's still wet, sprinkle the Epsom salt mixture on top so it adheres well to the glass surface. If the glue is drying too quickly, try working in small sections for better coverage. If you don't want to sprinkle the coating, spread the Epsom salt mixture on a paper plate, cover your vase's exterior with glue, and lightly press each side into it for a similar result. When you're done, set your vase aside for a few hours to cure. Then, add another layer of glue and Epsom salt if you want, or seal it with a coating, such as Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer Spray. When you're done, gather the Epsom salt scattered around your newspaper and store it in a container for future use. If you add in glitter, keep it solely for your craft projects. Otherwise, there are multiple genius Epsom salt hacks you can try around your home and garden.

If you want a low-effort idea, simply pop an LED tealight or two in the vase and place it on your coffee or side table. Bonus points if you put in ones with flickering lights, as this will give the impression of live candles within your frosted vase. Try to stay away from real candles, though, since the heat might melt the Epsom salt or change its color. Also, the soot will blacken the inside of the glass, marring its beauty.

However, if you want to lend your decor piece a little bit of personality, tie a pretty ribbon or decorative twine around your vase's neck before popping in the battery-operated lights. You can also go with remote-controlled string lights for a whimsical vibe. Add little decorative touches, such as faux flowers, pine cones, sprigs of holly, berries, and other artificial embellishments to up the festive look. And if you want your frosted decor to ooze winter magic, pop in a few broken twigs sparsely coated in Epsom salt and wrap a string of fairy lights around them.