Okay, picture this: it’s strawberry season, the sun is finally out for more than seven seconds a day, and everyone is out there making jam, smoothies, or very questionable TikTok desserts. Meanwhile, me? I’m staring at a plastic bottle thinking, “Yep, this needs to become a giant strawberry.”
Because nothing says “embrace the season” quite like making an inedible, rock-solid version of your favorite fruit and putting fake flowers in it. And honestly? It turned out weirdly cute. So now I’m here to show you how to make your own strawberry-shaped vase out of plaster and absolutely zero shame.
If you’ve been craving a summer craft that involves zero actual gardening or fruit flies, this one’s for you.
What You’ll Need
- 1 smooth plastic bottle (2-liter, unless you want a sad, skinny strawberry)
- Plaster (I used 800g mixed with 320ml water)
- Plastic cup (for the flower hole – technical term)
- Sand or pebbles (for weight, and to feel like you know what you’re doing)
- Clay tool or anything vaguely pokey (to make “seeds”)
- Red and yellow acrylic paint
- Primer and clear acrylic sealer
- Knife, scissors, sandpaper, and mild crafting rage
How To Make This Summer Vase
Grab your 2-liter bottle. The smoother, the better. You don’t want your vase to look like it was hit with a waffle iron. Cut off the top part, right above the slope, and flip it upside down like a crafting wizard. Nest it into the bottom half of the bottle so it stands on its own like a tiny gladiator arena.
Now for the part that makes no sense until it does: pour dry sand into the bottle neck. This prevents your vase from turning into a weird cone. You’re creating a flat(ish) base here. No sand? No problem. Shove in some crumpled paper or mystery items from your junk drawer. Just aim for “vaguely level.”.
Mix your plaster. I used 800g of powder and 320ml water, but honestly, just stir until it’s not lumpy or dry. Not too soupy either—we’re not making pancake batter.
Pour it into your bottle mold.
Immediately shove your plastic cup into the center. Pro tip: fill the cup with a rock or sand or even coins from your car, otherwise it’ll float like an inflatable donut.
Now you wait 30 minutes. You want the plaster firm but still knife-friendly.
Dump the cup (empty it first or prepare for emotional damage), and carefully slice open the bottle like you’re freeing an ancient artifact. Pry out your creation with the patience of a parent assembling IKEA furniture. Use your knife to trim the top edge and scrape off any wonky blobs. You’re not going for perfection—just something that doesn’t scream “oops.”.
Now comes the fun (tedious) part: those cute little seed dents. Use a clay tool, pen lid, chopstick, or whatever’s handy and stab the surface like you’re aggressively dotting an exclamation point. All over. Try to make them somewhat uniform, but honestly, nature isn’t perfect and neither are we. Leave it to dry. Like really dry. Give it two days and don’t even look at it funny or it’ll crack just to spite you.
Once you’re sure it’s not going to explode in your hands, sand the edges. Prime it. Wait. Then comes the paint. Start with a watered-down red acrylic layer (because the first coat is always tragic), then go in with the full pigment punch.
When it’s finally a glorious strawberry red, get your yellow paint and dot the seed holes. Tiny yellow spots. Hundreds of them. Think of it as therapy. Or punishment. Or both.
Finish with a coat of clear acrylic spray so all your hard work doesn't peel off the first time it gets misted by a nearby houseplant.
Embrace your success.
Enjoy your summer!.
Bonus Tip
Want to use real flowers? I mean, go wild. Just pop a small container inside that actually holds water and boom, your strawberry vase is fully functional and no longer just a sculpture of seasonal confusion. Faux flowers work great too—and they don’t die when you forget about them for two weeks.
This project is surprisingly easy, borderline ridiculous, and genuinely satisfying. You get to cut up a bottle, play with gooey plaster, paint stuff red, and end up with a very cheerful strawberry you can’t eat but will 100% show off to everyone like it’s your third child.
So go make a vase. Make it red. Make it look like a fruit. And if anyone asks why—you just say, “Because I could.”