DIY ~ Riveted Vase

Hi lovelies!  I've had this fun riveted looking vase made for a while now, but realized I never shared it.  The idea came to me when I did my Ikea Lack Table Hack and I'm really pleased with how Kelly Wearstler-esque this came out.  You really won't believe how easy it is to make and I especially love it styled with paper flowers I made from last month's Whimseybox (get the kit, here!)  {Click for the how-to!}

You'll need:

• Glass vase (this bad boy was a whole buck at Dollar Tree)
• Phillips head screws that have the rounded top
• Hex nuts that the screws would fit through
• Aluminum duct tape (find it at the hardware store with all the duct work supplies)
• Bolt cutters (borrow your guy's!)
• (not shown) Heavy duty glue (I really like this Hypo-Cement with it's amazing precision tip)
• (not shown) Bone folder (you could also use the back of a butter knife)

How to:

• Use the bolt cutters to cut the top of the screw off, as close to the top as possible. (I did a total of 15)
• Apply glue (here's where that precision tip comes in super handy!) around the top of the hex nut just outside the center circle's circumference.
• Push your screw head on top of the glue, ensuring that any extra part of the screw fits in the hole.  Let dry.
• While these are drying, let's get the vase ready.  I found it easiest to flip it upside down and use the bottom as my eyeball guide to applying the aluminum duct tape.  Start by only unpeeling about 1 or 2 inches from the backing and get it as straight as you possibly can.  Use the bone folder (at a 45° angle to the vase) to smooth out any wrinkles and get any air out.  Repeat until you reach your starting point, overlapping the tape a bit.
• Apply a second line above the one you just made, but leave space for your hex nut screw head thingys.
• By now, your 'rivets' should be dry enough to affix to the vase.  Apply a thin line of glue around the bottom of the hex nut and stick it on the vase.  Push it down and hold it in place for about 20 seconds or so.  
• Take a second 'rivet' and use it only as a spacer (don't apply glue to it!).  Take a third 'rivet' and apply glue to the back and place it on the vase on the other side of your spacer.  Remove your spacer, and press and hold the one you just glued down for about 20 seconds.
• Repeat the process until you've applied all your 'rivets' (or finished your pattern!)

Congrats, you're done!

I'm so pleased with how this came out; it really does have that 'riveted steel' inspiration to it.

I really love the hardness of the hardware combined with the softness of the flowers, it's my style to a T.

Of course, even paper flowers need water.  But not just any water.  Paper water.  Because duh.

I hope I've inspired you to try this DIY, or something with these types of materials.  Or to make paper flowers.  Or to just look at what I made and like it.  But really, go make some paper flowers!  Then you'll need a new vase to put them in.... and you'll make this :)

xo
Lia