Mason Jars

I am in love with these handy little things called Mason Jars. They are great for keepings organized, and now you can personalize them however you like! I actually have so many that I don't know what to do with them. So far, they are holding my makeup brushes, writing utensils on my desks, and my spare change. I've collected my 4 favorite ways to decorate Mason Jars and I'll be sharing the first two ways with you in this blog post. Keep an eye out for my a post next week, in which I'll show you how to decorate the second two. Mason jars can be found at your local Target, Walmart, or you can even look at a thrift store to see if anyone has donated them. My grandma happens to have a stock pile of Mason Jars in her basement, so I have an unlimited supply to play with.

First: Regular Ole' Spray Paint.
This is the simplest of all the jars. All you need is a Mason Jar, spray paint in your color choice, and clear acrylic sealer. Start by cleaning your Mason Jar with warm soapy water and letting it dry. Once it is completely dry, put it on a piece of cardboard (I just cut a poster board into sections) and take it outside or into a well-ventilated area. Apply your first layer of spray paint. I used Rust-oleum Satin Blossom White, so if I can tie different colored ribbons around it and it will always match. Apply the first coat by spraying in a steady back-and-forth motion, keeping the can an even distance away from the jar. Wait 10 minutes until the jar is dry and apply a second coat in the same manner. Once the second coat is dry, apply the clear acrylic sealer over the entire jar. I used the Matte sealer from Mod Podge. This will keep the paint from chipping. Warning: This is a decorative jar.  Do not drink out of it or get it wet. In case you do get it wet, use a paper towel to pat it dry WITHOUT wiping, and then let it air dry any of the water you could not get.
Here's how my jar turned out!     

Second: Glitter Jar
This has to be one of my favorite jars. Though I would probably say that about all the jars I made. To make it, you need a Mason Jar, Matte Mod Podge, a popsicle stick, and any color of glitter. The jar needs to be clean and dry. Pour about 2 tablespoons of Mod Podge into the bottom of the jar. The instructions I read said fill it until it's about half an inch full, but when I did that I was able to fill up three jars instead of just one, so I would suggest using about 2 tablespoons. Pour your glitter in with it. The more glitter you add, the more concentrated it will be when you are done. Stir the glitter in with the Mod Podge, and make sure it is even so that the glitter will be evenly distributed. Once it is all stirred up, tilt the jar every which way so that the mixture covers the entire jar. Place the evenly covered jar upside on a paper plate so the extra will drip out. After about half an hour the excess will be puddled on the plate. Lift the jar off the plate and let any excess drip off. Place it right side up and let it dry for 24-48 hours. Don't worry that you can see the white Mod Podge while it is still wet, it will dry clear. Warning: This is a decorative jar.  Do not drink out of it or get it wet.
Here's how my glitter jar turned out!