Skip The Compost Bin: Eggshells Are Just What You Need To DIY This Vintage-Inspired Decor Piece

A typical Sunday morning might look like this: wake up, crack some eggs for an omelette, throw the shells in the compost bin, eat, and move on. But what if, instead of throwing your eggshells in the compost, you kept them for a fun DIY? Next thing you know, you're spending your Sunday afternoon making a vintage-inspired decor piece with what could have otherwise been trash.

The idea for this project comes from YouTube creator DiY BiGBooM. The finished product is a stunning and delicate vase that can hold a small flower. The idea here is to create a vase base using craft paper, glue, and plaster. Then, use small bits of eggshells to add dimension to the sides of the vase. Once painted over in white, it looks like a real vase, which no one would guess came from your breakfast table. 

This is an unexpected use for eggshells, but it requires quite a few other supplies, too. To make the base structure of the vase, gather some craft paper, scissors, cardboard, newspaper, hot glue, white glue, and water. To harden it, you'll need some plaster powder, which you can purchase at the craft store or online. You'll also need some sandpaper to smooth the surface once it's dried. Of course, you'll also need shells from a couple of eggs and some Mod Podge to hold them in place. Finally, get some white acrylic paint and several brushes. If you'd like to add patterns and colors, you can buy different colors and use small paintbrushes, or this can be a creative way to use decoupage if you have any paper napkins.

The first step is to make the structure of your vase using paper and hot glue. The original creator of this DIY used a cone shape to create a long and narrow vase, which works great for a single flower, but you can use other shapes, like a simple cylinder. The important part is that it's stable and doesn't tip over or lean. Once you're happy with the shape, glue the paper vase onto a piece of thick cardboard and cut the edges (this is the base). 

You'll then need to add a few layers to the craft paper to make sure the vase is sturdy. First, cut small 3-inch pieces of newspaper, and secure them onto the vase with your fingers using white glue and water. Once dry, apply a thick layer of plaster (half an inch or so). For this, work with wet hands and use your fingers to flatten any bumps and create your ideal shape. At this point, you should let the plaster sit and dry completely for one to two days (though this depends on the plaster).

A few days later, use sandpaper to smooth it out. Break the eggshells into small quarter- to half-inch pieces. Apply Mod Podge to a section of the vase and, using your fingers, stick the small pieces of eggshell onto it. Work your way around the vase. Then, let it dry before covering the whole thing with white acrylic paint (or another color, if you prefer). At this point, you can decorate the vase as you wish: with decoupage, small painted details, glitter spray, or spray paint. You can also top it off with a layer of gloss paint, which will give the vase a shiny look.

This vase doesn't just look delicate; it really is. First of all, the eggshells can break and fall off if you apply too much pressure to them. This means that you should be careful not to hold the vase too firmly when moving it around, and ideally leave it undisturbed on a shelf or table. While this may be frustrating, remember that it's made out of food scraps and paper, which is affordable. If anything, you can make another one to replace it, as long as you've kept your craft supplies (plaster powder, Mod Podge, etc.). 

Another thing that makes this vase particularly delicate is that it's made of paper and plaster. Neither of these materials is waterproof, so you can't use the vase for fresh flowers that need to drink. Instead, you can dry and style your favorite flowers using this vase, or purchase dried flowers from the store. You can also use it to hold fake flowers, since they don't need any water. As a result, it's also best to keep this vase out of humid areas like bathrooms, and style it in bedrooms or living rooms instead. 

You could repeat this project to make different shapes, like short and wide cylinders, taller and skinnier ones, or upside-down cones. Place them throughout your house to make it look like a cohesive collection, which is a great way to make DIY decor look more high-end and intentional.