Tim Kime gasps beside spook vase table scape

Why not transform Goodwill vases into “BOO-tiful” pieces to scare up some Halloween fun! With black spray paint, white puffy fabric paint, and seasonal accessories, you can easily create frightening spider web vases.

Age Level:  Older kids, teens, and adults

Items needed:

  1. Glass or ceramic vases
  2. Black spray paint
  3. White puffy fabric paint
  4. Fake spiders and other Halloween accessories
  5. Glue gun & glue sticks

Time requirement: 

1 hour (not including paint drying time)

Cost: Approximately $8

  • $3 per vase
  • $5 for spray paint (lots left over!)
  • $3 for puffy paint (lots left over!)
  • $1 for fake spiders

Glass vases found at Goodwill

Step 1:  Slink over to Goodwill

Do spiders walk or slink? *ponders*

Either way, search for vases for this fun project in the Housewares section of your nearest Goodwill retail store.  Don’t be scared; there are always many great options waiting for you.  Consider their shapes and details. Hunt for round vases with enough surface area to add your web.  I chose “gothic” looking options.

Tim places vases in well ventilated area.

Tim's glass vases, spray-painted black.

Step 2:  It’s a blackout

Wipe down your vases and place on a tarp outside or in a well-ventilated area to spray paint them.  Use black spray paint in a glossy finish, ensuring you add light coats and get all sides. Be sure to spray paint the inside, too.  Let your vases dry for several hours then add additional layers until completely smooth and covered.  Once done, then let your pieces dry overnight.

Tim's puffy paint in white and red.

Tim begins to apply puffy paint to tall vase

Tim displays the beginnings of the puffy paint web on the tall vase

Tim's wide brimmed vase with puffy paint lines

Tim's wide brimmed vase painted with puffy paint web

Step 3: Add your web

With your white puffy fabric paint, add lines from a central point moving outward, almost like a starburst.  Connect these lines by “scalloping” the paint from one line to the next starting at the center then moving outward. Don’t worry if your lines aren’t perfect in their thickness or dimension as it will add to the overall organic look of the web.  Let this dry, too, overnight.

Tim's spooky accessories for decorating the vases

Tim attaches large purple spiders to two of the painted web vases

Step 4: Glue on accessories

With your glue gun, add a fake spider to the side of the vase touching the web.  If your spiders are black, you may consider painting them orange or purple to make them stand out from the black background.

completed spooky table scape

Tim's friend strikes a spooky pose next to Halloween table scape

Step 5:  Stage to scare up attention

For maximum impact, place your vases together and add additional spooky Halloween accessories such as fake skeletons, eyeballs, and additional spiders.  Staged in a grouping like this, your vases will make a hair-raising centerpiece for Halloween party table or window-scape.  However you use them, you will have frighteningly great fun!

Tim Kime is an artist, life coach, connector. He is President of Kime Leadership Associates offering executive coaching, meeting facilitating and motivational speaking.  He is also Chief Creative Force of Transformation Junkies which upcycles furniture and other household items into functional works of art. He combined his two passions—unleashing the potential in people and transforming items with the launch of the Art of Possibilities Workshops.  These workshops are part upcycling, part dreaming, part goal setting.