Woodturning Projects: 14 Wild Vases From the Turner Who Spun Golf Balls Into Art

Woodturning projects have a way of making you stop scrolling, and nobody proves it better than David’s Woodturning. This turner takes things most of us would toss in a drawer, like old golf balls and fallen pine cones, and spins them into glossy vases that look like jewels. His page has about 2.7 million followers, and one golf ball vase passed 21 million plays. Watching a plain block turn into something shiny is pure joy. Below are 14 of his most loved pieces, what makes each one special, and a small, safe version you can try at your kitchen table. No lathe, no heat and no power tools needed for the home ideas. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the show..

Woodturning Projects Start Here: The Golf Ball Vase

This is the one that made the internet stop. He set old golf balls into resin, turned the block on the lathe and cut right through them, so the white dimpled cores show up like little moons in the side of the vase. The video passed 21 million plays and 240,000 reactions. People could not believe something so pretty came from a bucket of used balls. It is a great reminder that the best ideas often start with junk..

You will need: For the home version: a plain glass vase, about 12 old golf balls, strong clear craft glue and a ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the golf balls. 2. Glue a ring of balls around the bottom of the vase. 3. Let it set, then add a second ring. 4. Tie a ribbon around the neck and fill with greenery.

Woodturning Projects in Green and Purple Resin

Among his woodturning projects, this one is a showstopper. Dark South African wood meets swirls of green and purple resin in this vase, and the colors look like the northern lights trapped in a tree. It pulled about 9.5 million plays and 121,000 reactions. The wow moment comes when the final coat goes on and the colors suddenly glow. You can get a similar swirl at home with a simple paint pour, no resin needed. Which two colors would you swirl together?

You will need: A small wooden or glass vase, green and purple acrylic paint, pouring medium, plastic cups and a tray to catch drips.

How to make it: 1. Mix each paint with pouring medium in its own cup. 2. Layer the colors into one cup. 3. Flip the cup onto the upside down vase and lift. 4. Let it drip and dry for two days.

The Bright Blue Statement Vase

This bold blue piece earned about 6.3 million plays, and the turner said it would brighten up any room. He is right. Bright blue against pale wood feels fresh in winter, when everything outside is gray. The shape is simple, so the color does all the work, which is why simple woodturning projects often win. At home, a plain vase wrapped in twine with painted blue bands gives you that same pop. Where would a splash of blue look best in your home?

You will need: A cheap glass vase, jute twine, craft glue, blue acrylic paint and a small brush.

How to make it: 1. Run a line of glue at the base of the vase. 2. Wrap the twine upward in tight rows. 3. Paint two or three wide blue bands. 4. Let it dry and add dried stems.

Multi Coloured Pine Cone Vase

Here he packed real pine cones into colored resin and turned the block into a vase. When the tool cuts through, each cone shows a pattern like a flower or a tiny star, and the colors light up around it. The video passed 1 million plays and 21,600 reactions. It is one of those woodturning projects that makes you look at pine cones in a new way. Have you ever noticed the pattern inside a cone?

You will need: For the home version: pine cones, acrylic paints in three or four bright colors, a sponge brush and a clear glass vase.

How to make it: 1. Brush the tips of each cone with a bright color. 2. Let them dry on paper. 3. Fill a clear vase with the cones. 4. Set it on a table with LED fairy lights.

Royal Purple Pine Cone Bowl

Deep purple resin and sliced pine cones make this bowl look royal. A clip of it collected more than 203,000 reactions and 7,600 shares. The cones look like dark flowers floating in jelly. For a safe version at home, fill a wooden bowl with pine cones, purple ornaments and a string of LED fairy lights. It makes a quick centerpiece for the dining table that costs almost nothing. Who in your family loves purple?

You will need: A wooden bowl, a dozen pine cones, small purple ornaments and battery LED fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Lay the fairy lights in the bowl first. 2. Pile the pine cones on top. 3. Tuck the purple ornaments in between. 4. Switch on the lights and enjoy.

Woodturning Projects With Old Golf Balls, Round Two

Fans loved the first golf ball vase so much that he did it again, and the follow up still pulled about 649,000 plays. This time the cores sit in dark resin, so the white circles pop even more. If you have a golfer in the family, a painted golf ball ornament is a sweet, simple gift. Paint it like a snowman or a little pudding. Who is the golf fan in your house?

You will need: Old golf balls, white, red and black acrylic paint, small brushes, glue on ornament caps and ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Paint the ball white and let it dry. 2. Add a snowman face or a holly design. 3. Glue an ornament cap on top. 4. Thread ribbon through the loop to hang.

Burl Wood Bowl From a Knotty Block

A burl is a strange, knotty bump on a tree, and inside it hides the wildest grain you will ever see. Turned into a bowl, the swirls look like smoke or flowing water. These pieces are some of the most loved woodturning projects because no two are ever alike. At home, a plain wood slice from the craft store can get the same warm glow with a little oil. Do you have a favorite piece of wood in your home?

You will need: A sanded wood slice, fine sandpaper, food safe wood oil and a soft cloth.

How to make it: 1. Lightly sand the slice. 2. Wipe away the dust. 3. Rub on a thin coat of oil with the cloth. 4. Let it dry and use it as a tray.

Glitter and Resin Bowl

Gold glitter swirled into resin turns a simple bowl into something that sparkles every time you walk past. It is pure fun and very festive. You can copy the shine with a glass bowl, clear gloss glue and glitter on the outside, so the inside stays clean. It makes a lovely dish for wrapped candies or keys at the door. Our pine cone Christmas crafts gallery has more glittery ideas to fill it. Gold or silver for you?

You will need: A clear glass bowl, clear gloss decoupage glue, fine gold glitter and a soft brush.

How to make it: 1. Turn the bowl upside down. 2. Brush glue over the outside. 3. Shake glitter over it and tap off the extra. 4. Seal with one more thin coat of glue.

Crystal Clear Resin Piece

Some of his pieces are so clear that the light shines straight through them, with a slice of wood floating in the middle. The magic happens during polishing, when the cloudy block suddenly turns as clear as glass. For a home version, try glossy pine cone ornaments. A few coats of clear gloss sealer and a dusting of glitter make cones look like they were dipped in ice. Which window would you hang them in?

You will need: Small pine cones, clear gloss sealer, fine iridescent glitter, gloves, string and tiny screw eyes.

How to make it: 1. Have an adult twist a tiny screw eye into the top of each cone. 2. Brush on clear sealer while wearing gloves. 3. Sprinkle glitter. 4. Dry and hang with string.

Soft Pink and White Woodturning Projects

Not every piece is bold. This soft pink and white vase looks almost like candy, and it shows that woodturning projects can be gentle and pretty too. The two colors twist around the vase like a ribbon. At home, a painted wooden bead garland in pink and white gives you a little of that sweetness. Drape it on the tree or across a shelf. Who would you make one for?

You will need: Unfinished wooden beads, pink and white acrylic paint, skewers, a foam block and cotton string.

How to make it: 1. Slide beads onto skewers. 2. Paint them pink or white. 3. Stand the skewers in foam to dry. 4. Thread the beads on string in a pattern.

Wood Bead and Pine Cone Napkin Rings

If you love the look of turned wood and pine cones together, bring it to your holiday table. Wooden beads on a loop of wire, with a tiny pine cone tied on, make simple napkin rings that feel woodsy and warm. They take minutes and borrow the warm feel of woodturning projects without any tools. Guests will want to take them home, and you can let them. How many will you need this year?

You will need: Wooden beads, soft craft wire, mini pine cones, twine and cloth napkins.

How to make it: 1. Thread beads onto a 7 inch piece of wire. 2. Twist the ends into a ring. 3. Tie a mini pine cone on with twine. 4. Slide a rolled napkin through.

Painted Wooden Spindle Trees

Old turned spindles from a broken chair or stair rail are little woodturning projects someone already finished for you. Paint them green, white or gold, add a star on top and they become a cute forest of mini trees. Look for them at yard sales and thrift stores for very little money. Each curve catches the paint a little differently. Do you have an old chair waiting to be rescued?

You will need: Wooden spindles, acrylic paint, a small brush, wooden stars, craft glue and wood slice bases.

How to make it: 1. Clean and dry the spindles. 2. Paint them in your colors. 3. Glue a star on top. 4. Glue each one onto a wood slice base.

Twine Wrapped Vase With Dried Stems

You do not need a lathe to copy the look of woodturning projects. Wrap a cheap glass vase in twine, add a band of wooden beads and fill it with dried stems and pine. It has the warm, natural look of turned wood for a few dollars. Make a pair for the mantel or one for a nightstand. It is a perfect project for a quiet winter evening. Where would yours sit?

You will need: A dollar store glass vase, jute twine, craft glue, a few wooden beads and dried stems.

How to make it: 1. Glue the twine end at the base. 2. Wrap tightly to the top, gluing as you go. 3. Glue a band of beads around the middle. 4. Fill with dried stems.

Woodturning Projects Gift Table

Put a few of these home versions together and you have a gift table anyone would love: golf ball ornaments, a glitter bowl, bead garland and a pine cone vase. It is a small way to share the joy that great woodturning projects bring to millions of viewers. Watch a few of his videos for inspiration, then make something with your own hands this weekend. Which one will you try first?

You will need: Your finished projects, kraft paper, twine and small gift tags.

How to make it: 1. Wrap each gift in kraft paper. 2. Tie with twine. 3. Write a tag for each person. 4. Set them out on a table with a little greenery.