How Can I Decorate A Jar?

Decorating jars is a fun and creative way to add personality to your home or give handmade gifts. Mason jars, spaghetti sauce jars, baby food jars – any glass jar can be transformed into beautiful, unique pieces. Decorated jars have many uses; they can hold candles, flowers, snacks, office supplies, and more. The decorating possibilities are endless!

There are lots of techniques for decorating jars, ranging from simple to more advanced. You can paint, etch, decoupage, wrap, or attach extras like rope handles or charms. The decorating style you choose will depend on your skill level, the jar shape and size, and your overall vision for the finished piece. Planning ahead helps ensure you have the right jars, decorating supplies, and embellishments on hand before starting your project.

Jar decorating allows you to customize jars for your specific needs and home decor style. Make a matching set of floral vases, fill jars with homemade gifts, or create beautiful candle holders to brighten up a space. Decorated jars also make wonderful gifts for any occasion. Follow your creativity to make jars that are stylish, sweet, rustic, glamorous, or anything in between!

Supplies Needed

Decorating jars requires some basic craft supplies like paint, brushes, stickers, fabric, ribbon, and more. Here are some of the most common items you’ll need to decorate jars and containers:

• Acrylic paint – Acrylic craft paint works great for painting directly on glass jars. Make sure to get paint specifically designed for glass.
• Paint brushes – You’ll need a variety of brush sizes and shapes like small detail brushes and wider brushes for larger areas.
• Stickers – Look for vinyl stickers or those designed specifically for glass decorating. These stick well to curved surfaces.
• Lace and fabric – Pretty lace, rickrack trim, fabric scraps can be used to wrap and decorate jar exteriors.
• Ribbon – Ribbon comes in so many colors and patterns making it perfect for tying around jar lids or necks.

Aside from decorative elements, you’ll also need basic craft supplies like scissors, hot glue, Mod Podge, and a ruler. Get creative with materials you have on hand to make each jar unique!

Painting Jars

Painting jars allows you to fully customize them with any colors and designs you like. Proper prep work is the key to getting an attractive painted finish.

First, make sure the jars are clean. Wash them with soap and water and let them dry completely before starting. Use sandpaper to lightly scuff the glass surface – this helps the paint adhere better. Wipe off any dust with a tack cloth.

Apply a couple coats of spray primer, allowing drying time between coats. Primer gives the paint something to grip and prevents peeling or chipping later on. Allow the final coat to dry overnight before painting.

Acrylic craft paint works great for painting jars and comes in endless color options. Thin coats work best to avoid drips and uneven coverage. Let each coat dry before adding another. Two to three coats should give full opaque coverage.

Finish up by coating the jars with a clear acrylic sealer spray. This adds protection and gives the jars a nice glossy sheen. Now you have beautiful custom painted jars ready for decorating!

Decorative Wraps

Adding decorative wraps like washi tape, fabric, or ribbon is a fun and easy way to dress up a plain glass jar. Washi tape comes in endless colors and patterns, making it perfect for creating stripes, geometric designs, or floral motifs on jars. You can wrap washi tape around the entire jar or just decorate the lid. Fabric scraps can also be tied or glued around jars for a soft, textured look. Try using lace, burlap, or fabric with a meaningful print or motif. Ribbons are another versatile option that can be tied in bows or wrapped in various patterns around the jar’s exterior. Narrow grosgrain is perfect for delicate accents while wide wired ribbons make beautiful bold stripes. You can find ribbons in satin, organza, or velvet for different textures. Mix and match multiple decorative wraps like washi tape with lace trim or burlap topped with a grosgrain bow. The possibilities are endless for customizing jars!

Etching Designs

Etching is a great way to add personalized designs and patterns to glass jars. There are a few different techniques you can use:

Stenciling

Cut out a stencil design from adhesive vinyl or contact paper. Apply the stencil to the jar and use an etching cream to “etch” away the exposed glass around the stencil. Carefully remove the stencil to reveal your design etched into the glass.

Engraving

Use an engraving tool to hand engrave designs directly into the glass. Engraving takes some skill but allows you to create intricate custom designs.

Etching Cream

Etching cream contains fluoride which chemically eats away at the glass surface. You can use etching cream directly on the glass or with stencils. Apply the cream, let it sit for a few minutes, then wash off to see your etched design.

Decoupage

Decoupage is a fun and creative way to decorate jars that involves adhering cutouts of paper, fabric, photographs, or other materials to the outside of the jar to create a collage design. To decoupage a jar:

Start by cleaning the outside of the jar thoroughly. Cut out or print out paper designs, photos, text, or fabric pieces in various shapes and sizes to create your collage pieces.

Use decoupage glue, Mod Podge, or clear acrylic sealer to adhere the cutouts to the jar, layering and overlapping pieces. Smooth each piece as you affix it and brush a thin layer of glue over the top to seal. Let dry fully between adding layers.

You can decoupage over the entire jar or just parts of it. Keep layering cutouts, sealing each layer as you go, until you achieve the desired collage design. Add accents like decorative string, buttons, or embellishments.

Finish with a final sealant layer over the entire outside of the jar once complete. Decoupaging is a fun way to create custom jar designs using scrapbooking paper, photos, maps, music sheets, or any paper materials you choose.

Adding Hardware

Hardware like knobs, handles, and hinges can completely transform the look of a jar. Attaching hardware is an easy way to make a jar decorative and functional. Here are some ideas for using hardware:

Knobs

Look for unique ceramic, glass, or metal knobs to glue onto the lid of a jar. Choose knobs in fun shapes, designs, or colors to complement the style of the jar. Knobs add visual interest and make it easier to open the jar lid.

Handles

Handles let you carry or hang a jar. Attach handles to the sides of a jar with strong adhesive. Opt for sleek metal handles in black, copper or brass. You can also use natural materials like jute, rope or wood to create rustic handles. Handles make a jar more functional for storing items.

Hinges

Turn a jar into box by attaching hinges. Use brass, black metal or antique-style hinges to connect the jar lid to the base. Hinged jars are great for storing small items. The hinges allow the jar to open and close like a box.

Filling Jars

Once you have decorated the outside of a jar, consider filling it with something decorative as well. This adds visual interest and gives the jar additional purpose. Some ideas for jar fillers include:

• Flowers – Fresh or faux flowers can bring a pop of color and beauty. Choose blooms in your preferred colors or ones that complement the decorative style of the jar.
• Treats – Fill a jar with wrapped candies, cookies, or other edible treats as an inviting way to display snacks. This works well for kitchens or party buffets.
• Decorative fillers – Things like seashells, pinecones, colored sand, marbles, river rocks, and more can act as faux fillers that enhance the look of the jar’s interior.

When selecting items to fill a jar, consider the size of the jar opening and neck when choosing the appropriate fillers. Layering different textures and colors of fillers can create a more complex look inside the jar. Filler items can also be glued in place or anchored with florist foam to secure the design.

Lighting Jars

Lighting up your decorative jars is a great way to showcase them and give them extra visual appeal. There are a few different lighting options to consider:

Battery-Powered Lights

Mini string lights and fairy lights that run on batteries are a popular option. You can wrap the lights around the outside or the inside of the jar. Choose lights with warm white bulbs to give off a cozy glow. Clip the lights in place or use clear tape.

Flameless Candles

For a candle-like effect without the danger of open flame, flameless battery-operated candles are perfect. Place a flameless votive or tealight inside the jar. These give off a realistic flickering glow. Just make sure to turn them off when not in use to preserve battery life.

Glow Sticks

For a fun, colorful lighting effect, activate glow sticks in various colors and place them inside the jar. Crack the inner glass capsule to mix the chemicals and make the glow stick glow. These are affordable and safe options for temporary lighting.

Get creative with lighting up your decorative jars to take the designs to the next level. Accent lighting can make any jar display stand out.

Displaying Jars

Jars make for unique and eye-catching decor pieces. Here are some ideas for stylishly displaying your decorated jars in your home.

On Shelves

Line jars up neatly on floating shelves, mantles, kitchen shelves, and more. Group jars of varying heights together for an eclectic look. Or, display uniform jars for a cohesive effect. Stagger them or align them in rows. Leave space between each jar or group them close together.

Groupings

Create little vignettes by grouping jars together on tables or shelves. Try pairing your jar decor with books, flowers, candles, or other accessories in complementary colors and textures. Cluster jars together to create visual interest.

Singular Focal Points

Use a beautifully decorated statement jar as a solo focal point. Place a large jar on an entryway table or console. Or, set a jar on a pedestal or cake stand to take center stage on a side table, buffet, or kitchen counter.