Upcycled Mini Bud Vases: Turning Salt & Pepper Shakers Into Flower Vases – 9 Variations

When family and friends spend time in the hospital or long-term care facilities, their rooms are often incredibly cramped. While a massive floral arrangement is a beautiful thought, there is rarely enough surface space to keep it out of the way.

Upcycled mini bud vases made from reclaimed mini glass salt and pepper shakers solve this exact problem. Measuring under 2 inches square, these tiny arrangements bring a powerful touch of joy and comfort without cluttering precious bedside table space.

This project transforms discarded mini shakers into beautiful, functional vases by cleaning the glass and modifying or replacing the metal caps. Replace the caps with embellishments (items put on / around of hole of vase). It is a simple, thoughtful DIY that holds real water for fresh wildflowers, but works just as wonderfully for silk or plastic arrangements to aid in a loved one's recovery. Changing the surface or by adding decorative items inside. Changing the embellishments can be themed, for what a person likes; example playing scrabble, or poker, or was a handy person.

Also, this project can be used for all those who like collecting small flower buds – which I do.

Supplies

1. Mini glass salt and pepper shakers (threaded metal cap style, ideally under 2 inches)
2. All-purpose spray cleaner or WD-40
3. Paper towels
4. Blue painters Tape
5. Wooden dowel - size of Outer diameter of glass opening
6. Dish soap and water
7. Assorted flowers (fresh wildflowers, silk, or plastic)
8. Optional embellishments (scrabble tile, poker chip, washer, beads, Steel BB)
9. Felt pads w/self-adhesive bottoms
10. Wild flowers
11. Faux flowers - I used plastic craft store variety
12. Beads
13. BBs
14. Steel washers
15. Paint / brush
16. bamboo stick - to hold painted vase up

I started by Upcycling mini bud vases made from reclaimed mini glass salt and pepper shakers.

Measuring under 2 inches square, mini glass with threaded metal caps. I found two styles when thrifting.

Changes can be of the cap itself, reconfigure the cap, change the vase coating, and even putting items inside the vase for color / weight.

Changing the embellishments can be themed, for what a person likes.

Style A physical glass vase with cross cut designs (see diagram attached)

3/16 diameter opening

1 1/8 inch width by 1 1/8 inch Length by 1 3/16-inch height

Threaded opening 1/2-inch Outer diameter opening with a 3/16 inner diameter opening

Style B physical glass vase with clear panes (see diagram attached)

3/8 inch diameter opening

1 1/4 inch width by 1 1/4-inch Length by 1 1/8 inch height

Threaded opening 11/16-inch Outer diameter opening with a 3/8 inner diameter opening

Each styles had the same number of shaker holes. I found this odd since the larger salt and pepper shakers have different amount of holes for either salt or for pepper. Perhaps since these were mini it did not matter.

Also note: these holes will be referred to as frogs, which is a term used in flower arrangements. Each frog hole is for separating the flowers by putting the stems in the holes. Gives it a bit of a spread. It also helps with the arranging of colors.

Tools (adjustments will be made based on the size of shakers you have available)

PLEASE NOTE NOT ALL TOOLS ARE NEEDED FOR ALL STYLES BEING MADE

1. 1/8 drill bit for opening frog holes
2. 1 / 4 drill bit for deburring
3. 1/2 or 11/16 drill bit to make holes in embellishments (items put on / around of hole of vase)
4. Work gloves
5. Ice pick - used to widen frog holes
6. Pliers
7. Center awl
8. Tape – blue painter’s tape
9. Ruler
10. Pencil
11. Micrometer
12. Makers craft paint
13. All-purpose cleaner
14. paper towel
15. Dish soap
16. Metal saw aka hacksaw
17. Funnel either plastic or even rolled paper
18. Drill press / hand pin drill / optional rotary machine
19. Center finder opt.
20. Files = miscellaneous for deburring. sand or emery paper would also work

Step 1: Loosen the Stuck Caps

Old vintage shakers often suffer from caps that are tightly seized or corroded onto the glass threads. Spray the threads generously with an all-purpose cleaner to break down the grime and residue holding them together. Let it sit for a few minutes before twisting. (Note: While penetrants like WD-40 Multi-Use Product will also successfully loosen the caps, an all-purpose spray cleaner keeps the process much less messy.)

Step 2: Clean and Scrub the Glass

Once the metal caps are removed, you will likely find a layer of stubborn gunk left behind on the glass threads. Take a wire hand brush and gently scrub the threads to strip away the built-up residue. Wipe down the debris with a dry paper towel.

Because these miniature vases are meant to hold fresh water and real plants, give the entire glass base a thorough wash with warm water and liquid dish soap to ensure it is completely sterilized.

Step 3: Choose Your Cap Style and Decorate

You can customize the opening of the vase depending on the aesthetic you want and the types of flowers you are using. There are a few styles for the opening:

1. The Open Bud Vase: Remove the metal cap entirely to leave a clean, wide-open glass mouth. This works beautifully for slightly thicker stems or clustered arrangements. No cap - single opening
2. Beads or BB inside the vase: Place inside of vase for decorative and weight - single or frog opening
3. Poker chip: Drill a hole through a poker chip large enough to fit over the rim. - single or frog opening
4. Scrabble letter Tile: Drill a hole through a poker chip large enough to fit over the rim. - single opening
5. Washer - Flat for bolt: Find flat washer for bolts - with a center opening that can fit over the rim - single or frog opening
6. Drill out holes in cap: Use a drill to open up the holes to fit the stems of flowers - make a frog opening
7. Cut off the top of cap: cut the cap so it forms a ring to be left on the rim. -single opening
8. Enlarge holes in cap with ice pick: Use an ice pick or a nail to open up the holes in the cap to fit the stems of flowers - make a frog opening
9. Painted glass: Coat the outside with paint or makers - single or frog opening

The Open Bud Vase:

Remove the metal cap entirely to leave a clean, wide-open glass mouth. This works beautifully for slightly thicker stems or clustered arrangements. No cap - single opening

Beads or BB inside the vase:

Place inside of vase for decorative and weight - single or frog opening

I used small colorful beads and silver BBs in funnel

Poker chip:

Drill a hole through a poker chip large enough to fit over the rim. - single or frog opening

I used a center finder to get to the point

Drill press to drill a hole to the size of style A vase

Scrabble letter Tile:

Drill a hole through a Scrabble letter tile - large enough to fit over the rim. - single opening

I used a ruler and did an X to get to the center point

Drill press to drill a hole to the size of style A vase. I needed to use pliers to hold the tile

Washer - Flat for bolt :

Find a flat washer for bolts with a center opening that can fit over the rim - single or frog opening

Optional:

plastic washer

I painted a metal flat washer as a doily

Drill out holes in cap:

Use a drill to open up the holes to fit the stems of flowers - make a frog opening

1. I found the hole in the salt and pepper shakers to be too small to fit in stems to flower buds. One aspect in the caps was the hole was oblong. well having a starter hole was a help, but the oblong made more burrs. so I used
2. 1/8 drill bit for opening frog holes
3. 1 / 4 drill bit for deburring

I used my pin vise holder for both operations. I did try my drill press and rotary machine just the say I tried it. I prefer the hand process the best.

I also tried the cap on and off the glass vase. I prefer doing it off the vase, the caps were metal and strong enough not to deform in the process.

Cut off the top of cap:

cut the cap so it forms a ring to be left on the rim. -single opening

My suggestion is to add tape to the wood dowel and shove the cap on, then tape the cap to the dowel.

I did need to use a file to deburr.

Enlarge holes in cap with ice pick:

Use an ice pick or a nail to open up the holes in the cap to fit the stems of flowers - make a frog opening

PLEASE NOTE FOR SAFETY THAT YOU USE LEATHER GLOVES OR A DULL POINTED PIECE OF METAL

works very well, just put the metal in the hole and rotate around and the hole enlarges to a good size

Painted glass:

Coat the outside with paint or makers - single or frog opening

I used standard acrylic paints - with just an everyday paint brush.

the orange, I first coated white and then orange for the top coat

used bamboo sticks to prevent them stick to the cardboard

I want to thank everyone who viewed this instructable.

Plus a very large thank you for all those follow my postings.

I added sticky felt pads to the bottom of some of my mini vases.

I get the look----when I leave a water ring from the vases

I have made other vases over the years. works great but not sure if I will keep them on these small ones

Maybe I will get regular doilies