The Crafty Way To Upcycle An Empty Mini Milk Carton Into An Adorable Vase

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If you are on the hunt for a simple arts and crafts project to take on next, look no further. This adorable project requires minimal skill and only a handful of materials, plus you get to reuse a milk carton to turn trash into home decor treasure. This type of vase, inspired by vintage milk and juice cartons, has been popping up in ceramic stores everywhere, with some models costing upward of $25, like Ban.do's viral Strawberry Milk, Oat Milk, and Rise and Shine Orange Juice vases available on Amazon. 

If you love the colorful, kitschy style, you can recreate it using air-dry clay in just a couple of days, factoring in sculpting and drying times. Crayola Air Dry Clay is your most affordable option, with five pounds of it selling for just a little over $10 on Amazon. A word of caution, however: this material doesn't hold up well with water, which can cause warping or leaks. So, if you want to display gorgeous fresh flowers, you'll be better off investing in pottery that is kiln-fired and, therefore, impermeable. To use these DIY mini milk carton vases, swap flower arrangements for beautiful alternatives that last longer, like dried greenery or artificial pieces, which you can make out of the same air-dry clay. 

To achieve the vintage look, you'll need to buy a gable top mini milk carton, or the type of container with a triangular top that ends in a small fold. Clean it thoroughly with water and soap to remove foul smells or residue that can lead to mold growth, but be careful not to soak it so the carton doesn't start falling apart. You also need to have a clean work surface before you begin using your clay so the material doesn't attract dust and other particles. 

Once everything's ready, begin by making your clay as moldable as possible, massaging it with your hands for a bit, and adding drops of water if needed. Once it feels flexible enough to be worked with, use a wooden dowel or rolling pin to stretch it out into a thin sheet. Take your time to make it thoroughly even, and do so on top of a non-stick surface, like wax paper, to save yourself a few headaches. 

Use your clay sheet to wrap the milk carton completely, leaving only the cap hole clear, so it can later be filled with flowers. It's okay if you don't have enough to cover the whole surface. Simply repeat the process and use water and your fingers to meld each piece together. Smooth it all out with the help of a sponge and spatula, then leave it to dry for 24 hours. After which, you can always sand the piece for even better results. Also, yes, the milk carton stays inside. 

Now that your vase has dried, it's time to give it that retro look that makes these designs so charming. There's plenty of inspiration to be found online. For a more faithful reproduction, try searching for long-standing U.S. dairy producers like Borden or Bancroft. Alternatively, if you're more into cutecore, the whimsical decor trend that's giving bedrooms a playful shift, you can always take inspiration from Japan's popular strawberry milk brand Meiji, known for its pink, cartoon-like packaging. 

For extra durability, use a primer like gesso, which will seal the very porous air-dry clay, making painting easier. Another preparatory step you can take is to pencil-draw the outline before going in with paint. As for which paint is best, acrylic is generally recommended, though watercolor and even nail varnish can work. For perfect straight lines in your milk brand vintage logos, use painter's tape. Besides paint, you can decorate this petite vase with embossed lettering or shapes made with leftover clay. To finish it all off, give your vase a couple of coats of waterproof sealer like the Mod Podge Gloss Sealer that's available on Amazon. Now you only need those air-dry clay flowers to match.