How to Decorate a Ceramic Vase

Clean the vase. Use cotton balls dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove any traces of dirt and residue.

Paint a design on the vase. Painting ceramics is not only fun, but it is very simple to do and can be a wonderful craft to do with children. Use ceramic acrylic paint and paint thinly for best results. Apply two layers of paint (letting the first layer dry for 24 hours) if you want the colors to be vibrant.

Cure (set up) the paint by letting the paint dry for 1 hour, then placing the vase in a cold oven. Set the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the oven preheats, set the timer for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, turn off the oven and let the vase cool completely before removing it.

Seal your vase with a coat of protective glaze and let dry.

Add embellishments. Use a hot glue gun to attach other decorative items to your vase such as tiny sparkling beads, buttons, a bow made out of ribbon, seashells, or silk flowers.