3 Simple Mason Jar DIY Projects

3 Simple Mason Jar DIY Projects

I love working with mason jars.  Regardless of our age, these timeless treasures seem to have a memorable story for all of us.  Whether they were the peaches preserved by grandma or the button collection of your mom’s, mason jars have stood the test of time. 

One of my childhood memories was visiting my aunt and uncle’s farm in Oakdale, California.  My uncle had an old room with a dirt floor that was attached to the garage.  We called it “The Pop Shop” because there was always a supply of “pop” (aka soda) in there.  Along the top shelves of The Pop Shop were jars of preserved fruits, jams, and vegetables that my aunt had made. 

I honestly thought the veggies looked pretty gross and my eyes were always on the prize, the soda!  All that soda….  I can still smell the musty room when I close my eyes.  I can also remember the sharp pinch from the geese that bit us when we were strolling through the gardens!  Man those geese were mean!

Crafts are one of my favorite past-times and I’m always needing little trinkets, screws, nails, paint brushes, and many other things.  Most of these items live in mason jars in my craft room.  This month I participated in a DIY blog challenge where the theme is mason jars, and I had no shortage of ideas!  Other than using them for storage, here are three of my favorite mason jar DIY projects:

Painted Mason Jar Vases

Things you need t0 paint mason jars

1. Acrylic paint or chalk paint
2. Paintbrush
3. Rubbing alcohol
4. Cloth or cotton ball
5. Sealer

Not every craft needs a full DIY with pictures and tutorials, but there are a few things that are important to note when learning how to paint mason jars:

• wear gloves and clean the surface of the glass with a lint-free cloth and rubbing alcohol prior to painting. This removes oil from your hands and other debris (a cotton ball will work but watch for fuzzies)
• allow the paint to dry completely between coats – two coats are recommended
• to get the distressed look, on the mason jar, sand the raised edges with a small piece of sandpaper
• if you’re using chalk paint, be sure to also use a sealer

Burlap Flower Vases

Burlap flower vases are easy to make.  You can read my Rustic Burlap Flower Wreath post to learn how to make burlap flowers.  I attach my burlap flowers with a hot glue gun using glue that dries more clear.  I think these would make a beautiful wedding centerpiece with your favorite floral arrangements inside.

Hanging Mason Jar Lights

These hanging mason jar lights are one of my favorites and are really quite easy to make.  I bought these light cords for this project and they worked great.  Because this one might need a little more explaining, I have a post that shows how to make a Hanging Mason Jar DIY.

I’m going to hang three of these mason jar hanging lights from my outdoor gazebo.  I love the way they turned out.  This photo does not do it justice but have you ever tried to take a picture of a light hanging at night with an iPhone?

I would love to hear what your favorite use is for mason jars.  If you have extra ones, be sure to check out my Mason Jar Bird Feeder.  Also, be sure to comment below and let me know what your favorite use is for mason jars or what your favorite memory of them is.  I would love to hear.

xoxo,

Denise