Every year I tell the mister “next year we’ll have a more traditional christmas tree’, but each year I get away with my pink, gold, silver, and glittery ornaments, many from this advent calendar. I finally gave in and went for a red and white tree, so my glass ornaments just sat empty and lonely.
Until I put fresh flowers in them and popped them onto a wooden base.

The creation of this vase was one of those sad/beautiful moment where you have one idea that utterly fails, but another idea is born form it – like a Phoenix rising from the ashes!
Dramatic? Oh yes. But I roll like that.

Ours currently hangs out on the dining room table, but it also looks great on coffee tables, pianos, credenzas – wherever you fancy. And even though this is a Christmas DIY, it totally isn’t meant for just Christmas. I mean seriously, you can rock this bud vase all year long girl!

Now I must admit, I’m not much of a wood worker, and this DIY takes some wood working. Yep, I enlisted the mister in this project. In fact, I designed it, and he built it while I slept. I’m a lucky gal. But here’s the thing – my sleeping while he’s word working at night means I didn’t get step by step photos, so I’m hoping my words and diagrams are sufficient enough! If not, yell at me and we’ll make another one to take proper photos of.

Even though I’m the brains and he’s the braun in this operation, it’s certainly a simple enough woodworking job that I (or you) could do it. So let’s get making friends.

Materials

• Empty Glass Christmas Ornaments
• 2ft of 1×4 lumber
• Wood Glue
• Small finishing nails and hammer
• Measuring Tape
• 2 1/2 inch hole saw
• Mitre Saw
• Sandpaper
• Scrap wood

Steps

1 Cut your lumber into three pieces, 11 1/2 inches for the top piece and two pieces at 3 1/2 for the legs.
2 On the underside of your top piece of lumber, draw a line in pencil lengthwise across the centre. Measure the centre point and draw a 2.5 inch circle. From the outside of the centre circle, measure and mark an inch out on each side. This will be the outside diameter of the outside circles. Draw these two circles to make sure they’re evenly spaced before cutting. Pick the nicest faces of each piece of wood – make sure these go on the outside.
3 Drill holes using your hole saw. To prevent damaging the wood, the best way to do this is to drill halfway from one side, flip the wood, then continue from the other. Go slow and careful. To protect your work table surface, place a scrap piece of wood underneath the lumber you are cutting.
4 Before assembly, smooth off the edges and corners of the wood with sandpaper, including the inside of the holes.
5 Place wood glue on the cut edge of your lumber and the corresponding edge on the top lumber piece. Press the two pieces together to adhere glue, working them back and forth a little and feeling with your fingers to ensure they’re aligned.
6 Carefully tap two finishing nails into place – it should sit about halfway into the leg piece and approximately 1/2 an inch in from the top edges. Use a damp cloth or paper towel to wipe off excess glue. Repeat on other side.
7 Remove the hook and cap off each ornament. Fill the ornament with water and flowers. Place each ornament in a hole in the wooden base. Voila!

So there you have it. Instead of throwing away old ornaments, turn them into bud vases! I would love to see this with coloured ornaments as well! Of course the hole size will vary if you use various sized ornaments. My measurements are based on the stock clear ornaments you get at Michaels.

I’m seriously so in love with my bud vases. This would also make a fantastic Christmas gift guys! One for you, one for a friend. Win win.