Anthropologie-Inspired Flower Vases
I grew up in a teeny tiny town in the middle of nowhere. We had beautiful mountain views and the sweetest people you’ll ever meet, but we did not have Anthropologie {or Abercrombie or J.Crew or Pottery Barn}. I’m not sure I even knew what Anthropologie was until at least college, maybe later. We did, however, have a Wal-Mart. It was even a Supercenter.
Now that I live in the big city {okay, the suburbs… and Pittsburgh isn’t really even that big} and have access to modern-day conveniences like trendy retail stores, I still find myself in Wal-Mart and other discount venues waaaaaaay more often than all those places with the higher price tags. Not only am I the cheapest person you’ll ever meet, I also love the challenge of recreating a more expensive item for a fraction of the price. So when I saw these gorgeous vases at Anthropologie, I thought, “I can make that!” and headed off to Wal-Mart to grab a $2 vase.
Here’s what I used:
I happened to have a wallpaper sample book from the 1950s from a past project {you can buy them on ebay…they’re so cool!}, but you could definitely use scrapbook paper or cardstock for your flower and get a similar look. Let’s make our flower first…
1. Create Your Petals
I drew a petal freehand on the back of the vintage wallpaper {look how inexpensive wallpaper used to be!} and then traced it nine more times so I had a total of 10 petals.
2. Curl Your Petals.
“Real life” petals aren’t flat, right? So I like to use a pencil to curl mine a little bit to make them look more authentic and give my flower some depth. I curl the bottom {the pointy part} up toward me and curl the top back.
3. Create Your Flower.
Once you have curled all your petals, you can put them together to form your flower. I cut out a small circle for my base, then used my trusty hot glue gun to attach the petals to the circle. I made two layers of five petals each.
4. Add a Center.
Now I just need a center to complete my flower! Since there were flower centers on my wallpaper, I just cut one out and glued it in the middle. You could also use jewels, buttons, brads, glitter–whatever you can find!
5. More Hot Glue!
Finally, I once again used hot glue to adhere my flower to my vase, and voila– a personalized version of an Anthropologie beauty for only $2! Can’t beat that!
I tried to get a really pretty final shot with flowers in the vase, but a little person with a runny nose and fruit snacks just wasn’t having it. As cute as the vase is, I still think he’s way cuter, so he can be in the picture any time he wants! <3
Have you made any knock-offs lately?
Super cute! I love paper crafting – this is awesome!
Thanks, Jona! I love paper crafting, too–it’s amazing how many things you can do with paper! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog–have a great week!
~Abby =)
This is sooo pretty! I am not the craftiest person in the world, but I can cut and use a glue gun:) I cannot wait to try this- it looks so nice! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Shannon! You could definitely handle this–so simple! Thanks for stopping by the blog!
~Abby =)
This is cute! I admire your patience!!LOL!! Have a great week!~~Angela
Lol! Thanks, Angela! With two little boys, I have to practice patience any chance I can get! 😉 Thanks for stopping by! Hope your week is great!
~Abby =)
Those are SO pretty!
Thanks, mom! 🙂
~Abby =)
Very cute! What a great knock off! It really is funny how much more Anthropology can charge for just a vase with a fake flower glued to it. 🙂
I know, right?! This girl does not play that game! 🙂 Have a great week, Bethany!
~Abby =)
I love this great vase! Very cute. And the fact that you made it yourself is even better. Sometimes my favorite part about shopping is getting ideas of things to make myself. Great job on this project! Krista @ A Handful of Everything
Thanks, Krista! You are so right about shopping–tons of inspiration there! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
What a cool idea! Your vase is so pretty!
Selene @ Restoration Beauty
Thank you, Selene! It was fun to make! {and easy too! ;)} Thanks for stopping by the blog!
~Abby =)
Very pretty! And you can’t beat $2 either. 🙂
Thank you, Emily! Hope you and your new little guy are doing well!
~Abby =)
Ok, this is just awesome Abby! Really!! You did a great job recreating that …even better than the original.
Thank you so much, Nancy! That really means a lot! Hope you’re having a great day!
~Abby =)
Really cute!! I love price!!!!
Thanks, Arlena!! Definitely can’t beat the price! 🙂 Thank you so much for reading!
~Abby =)
These are fantastic and I love how they were made for $2.00. This is my kind of craft! 🙂
Thanks, Melissa! Gotta love cheap! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by the blog!
~Abby =)
These are too cute, Abby! Thanks for liking my fb page and visiting my blog!
Thank you, Laura! After seeing your living room, you have me thinking of ways I can spruce up mine. It could definitely use work! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. Have a great week!
~Abby =)
I love this Abby! So cool!
Thanks, Megan! I was just reading about your mission week–LOVE! I think sometimes we only think of missionaries as going to other countries and forget that there are so many opportunities to serve right in our back yard! How fun that Silas got to help too; I’m sure he loved it! Hope you’re having a great week!
~Abby =)
Very nice!
Thank you, Diana! It was a lot of fun to make! Hope you’re having a great week!
~Abby =)
So beautiful! I love that you used wallpaper…great idea!
Thank you, Megan! The wallpaper is fun! Some of the prints are so crazy that I can’t imagine whole rooms covered with them, but it’s perfect for small projects! Thanks for stopping by–have a great day!
~Abby =)
These are too cute! Love to have you share at my Party!
https://www.madetobeamomma.com/2013/04/margarita-pizza.html
I LOVE knockoffs Abby. Fabulous job and super creative. I live in a small center right now (and am also rather cheap) so I often find myself trying to recreate – get the look for less. Love that you shared this idea! Your little guy is for sure still the cutest thing on this whole post though. Adorable.
Krista
Thank you so much, Krista! Isn’t it a great feeling to get a cute look without spending big bucks?! 🙂 Thanks for reading–have a great day!
~Abby =)
You are very creative Abby! I really like it, you did a lovely job, the vase is cute in the last picture but the little man in it looks much more cute 🙂 It’s hard for me to take pictures of my projects when my son is around too; so he always seems to be included in them too! 🙂
I know! Isn’t it funny how they are little hams from the beginning? But then when I try to take his picture he won’t cooperate…go figure! 😉 Hope you’re having a great week, Ingrid!
~Abby =)
I like your vases better than the Anthropologie one!!! Great idea for decorating for a party or shower, too.
Thank you so much, Susan! You’re the sweetest! I love the idea of using them for shower decorations! Thanks for stopping by the blog!
~Abby =)
What a great idea!! This is such a better/cheaper version to anothros! I love me some anthro, but not the price tag! Thanks for sharing at Domestic Superhero!
Thanks, Allyson! Totally agree! This mama is way too cheap for that! 😉 Thanks again for hosting a great party!
~Abby =)
Popping by from HOH! Super cute idea! My girlfriend just bought this vase from Anthro!
Thank you!!! Your girlfriend has great taste! 😉 Thanks for popping over, Shelly! Have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
Like I said, better than the original! I just love these..so glad you shared them on Project Inspire{d} this week. 🙂
Hope you have a great weekend Abby!
Nancy
Thank YOU for hosting the best link up EV-UH! 😉 Hope you have a great weekend, too!
~Abby =)
These are so adorable! I love that you used vintage wallpaper for the flowers! So glad you linked up to Give Me The Goods Monday! Can’t wait to see what goods you bring next week! Hope you have a great weekend! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
Thank you, Jenna! I love all of the cool vintage patterns on the wallpaper. I don’t know that I would cover a whole room in them, but in small doses, they’re perfect! 😉 Thanks for popping over! Hope you’re having a great day!
~Abby =)
This is a great idea for Mother’s Day – thank you!!!
Thanks, Sue! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
So pretty!!
Thanks, Margo! Have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
Way cute!
Thanks, Jenn! Have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
So pretty! And really timely, too–I’m looking for teacher gifts and these would be perfect!
Thank you so much! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
That is an amazing knockoff. I love it! Blessings, Patti@OldThingsNew
Thanks, Patti! It was fun to make! 🙂 Thank you so much for reading! Have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
What a cute idea! I’m pinning this. Little Bit
Thank you! Hope you have a great week!
~Abby =)
You were featured on Give Me The Goods Monday! Loved these vases so much! Head over to check it out and grab a button! https://www.rainonatinroof.com/2013/04/give-me-goods-features-5.html
Thank you, Jenna! I’m so incredibly excited!!!!
~Abby =)
Just gorgeous! I love how you titled the post, too! Thanks for sharing at Monday Funday this week!
Take care,
Trish
Thank you so much, Trish! I love your link up! Thanks for popping over to my blog! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Fabulous tutorial. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Nancy! Have a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
These are gorgeous! In case you didn’t see it earlier, I featured this today on my blog, so stop by and grab a Featured button if you don’t already have one! https://practicallyfunctional.net/2013/04/6-creative-ideas/
Also, if you haven’t already, you should submit these to Knock Off Decor! https://knockoffdecor.com/
Thank you SO much, Jessi! I am so excited to be featured! And thanks for the tip on Knock Off Decor– I had no idea about that site! And this is why I follow your blog…you know everything! 😉 Thanks again!
~Abby =)
Lol Abby! Beckie (who runs Knock Off Decor) has another site as well called Road Kill Rescue if you ever “rescue” something and turn it into something awesome. 🙂
Ooh good to know! I think every day that I blog I feel like I have more and more to learn! One baby step at a time, right? 😉 Thanks again!
~Abby =)
Love it! And I totally understand. I walk through stores all of the time thinking, “oh, I can make that!”
Thank you! There’s a sense of satisfaction when you see something you love and recreate it for a fraction of the cost, right?! Love that! Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Abby =)
You already know I love these! 😉 Just stopping back in to let you know that I’m including them in some of my favorites from last week’s Project Inspire{d} link party! Thanks for sharing them!
Nancy
Yay!! I’m so excited! Thank you SO much, Nancy!!!
~Abby =)
I truly live in the middle of nowhere and have to drive 50 miles one way to get to a Wal-Mart but really wouldn’t live anywhere else…We just have to have lots and lots of lists and plenty of time when we decide to go to Wal-Mart..
Wow! You have me beat! Ours was about 10 miles away and the closest mall was about 20 miles. There really is something to be said for small town life, though. I definitely miss the close-knit community feeling! Thanks so much for stopping by, Susan!
~Abby =)
This knock-off is jammin’, girl! I’m especially intrigued by the tip on the vintage wallpaper books on eBay. I might need to brush up my eBay bidding for one of those books. The creative possibilities (and Anthropologie knock-offs) are limitless! Thanks for the inspiration, chica.
Thanks, Lauren! Yes, the vintage wallpaper is really fun! I can’t believe some of the designs people used to put on their walls, but it works perfectly in small bits like this! Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Abby =)
Such a cute project! Thanks so much for sharing at Monday Funday. I just shared on my Facebook page too! Take care, Laura
Thank you so much, Laura! I really appreciate it! And thanks for hosting such a great link up! Have a wonderful evening!
~Abby =)
Visiting from Monday Funday. I’d like to invite you to my Friday Flash Blog, where you can share your best blog entry of the week! The party goes on ALL weekend at thejennyevolution.com. And who knows, you may just get featured next week.
Jennifer
thejennyevolution.com
Thanks so much for the invite, Jennifer! Have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
I seriously love your site.. Pleasant colors & theme.
Did you develop this amazing site yourself? Please reply
back as I’m wanting to create my own site and would like to know where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Many thanks!
Thanks, Eddie! I use Standard Theme (more info at standardtheme.com) and created my header using Photoshop Elements. Good luck with your site!
~Abby =)