I walked into the store for something totally normal—probably groceries or maybe just an excuse to get out of the house. And yet, somehow, I walked out with a silicone mold for gummy bears. Because, you know, priorities.
Did I need it? Absolutely not. But it was cute, and that was reason enough. Fast forward to me standing in my kitchen, staring at this mold, realizing I have zero intention of making actual gummy bears. Instead, I did what any unhinged DIY enthusiast would do—I turned it into a ridiculously bright, dopamine-fueled vase. And let me tell you, this thing is the lovechild of a high-end designer piece and a craft project gone very right.
Supplies You’ll Need
- Plaster of Paris – 1 kg for the vase, 100 g for the bears
- Water – 400 ml for the vase, 40 ml for the bears (yes, you gotta measure it)
- An empty chips can (Pringles are the superior option—fight me on this)
- A silicone gummy bear mold (a key player in this ridiculous plan)
- Acrylic paint – yellow for maximum cheer, pink for ultimate chaos
- A cardboard tube or plastic bottle (to make sure this thing actually functions as a vase)
- Strong craft glue (I used E6000, because I have trust issues with weaker glue)
That’s it. No fancy equipment. No overpriced supplies. Just vibes and mild determination.
The Making Process
First things first: tiny plaster bears. Mix 40 ml of water with 100 g of plaster and stir until it looks smooth-ish (no need to be a perfectionist, this isn't The Great British Bake Off). Pour the mixture into your gummy bear mold.
Give it a little shake (like you're making a cocktail), and let it sit. Once you've filled the mold, grab a spatula and scrape off the excess plaster, making sure the surface is level.
Now, onto the main event: the actual vase. Mix 1 kg of plaster with 400 ml of water and stir fast—because this stuff sets at the speed of regret. Pour it into your empty chips can, then shove a cardboard tube or plastic bottle in the center. This keeps it from becoming a solid block of disappointment.
Important Life Lesson: If you use a plastic bottle, leave it in there. Just cut off the top later and pretend you planned it all along. Removing a cardboard tube? Absolute nightmare. I wrestled with mine for a solid 15 minutes and reconsidered my life choices. Shake the can a bit to settle the plaster (or just whack it on the table a few times—gently), then let it sit for 2-3 hours until firm.
Once your vase is firm (ish), carefully peel off the chips can. If you’re like me, this will involve ripping it to shreds with your bare hands while muttering questionable words.
Pop the gummy bears out of their mold—this part is deeply satisfying. BE PATIENT. If you rush this step, your bears will break, your vase will crumble, and you will experience unnecessary heartbreak. Ask me how I know.
While the plaster is still a little damp, use a craft knife to smooth out any rough spots. Now, let everything dry completely—like, a full 24 hours. I know, waiting is painful, but trust me. Wet plaster + paint = sadness.
Now comes the part where we make this thing look less like a construction site and more like high-end decor. Paint the vase BRIGHT YELLOW – because subtlety is overrated.
Paint the gummy bears HOT PINK – because if we’re going over-the-top, we’re committing. Two coats of acrylic paint should do the trick. Let it dry. Try not to touch it. Fail. Fix the smudges. Move on.
Time to glue those gummy bears onto the vase like they were meant to be there all along. Stick those bears down with E6000 glue and press firmly. Let it dry before moving it—unless you want to spend your evening picking fallen gummy bears off the floor.
And just like that, we have a bright, ridiculous, totally fabulous dopamine vase.
Aren't these pink bears cute?.
Final Thoughts
This thing is so much fun, and honestly? It looks like something you’d buy at an overpriced artsy boutique. But you made it yourself. With plaster. And a chips can. And sheer determination.
Use it for flowers, dried stems, paintbrushes, or just as a conversation piece (“Oh this? Just a little something I made”). It also makes a great kid-friendly craft—because what child wouldn’t love gluing hot pink bears onto a bright yellow object? Wanna another cool dopamine project to make? Try my concrete egg holders.