Succulent & Seashell Mason Jar Planter

August 8, 2019 By Linda 1 Comment

Succulent & Seashell Mason Jar Planter – Mason Jar Planter Ideas.

Every few years, I like to try my hand at growing things. Again.

Translation: Every few years I contract a bout of amnesia and forget I do not have a green thumb.

And this year is “every few years.”

I started on my “I Can Grow Things” spree with my front and back yards. My track record of growing grass is not … well … not strong. So this year I decided to try again. For the umpteenth time.

Translation: When I say I’m trying again to grow grass in my front and back yards that means I doled out a ridiculous amount of cash to a landscaper to try and take back my yard from the weeds and plant grass seed in the front, and sod in the back.

The experiment is still in the early stages, but I have to say there is quite a bit of green going on around here!

Translation: There was quite a bit of green going on until (1) the dog peed on the sod out back and; (2) the city of Chicago finally got around to trimming my (technically their) tree out front and left a 6 foot pile high of branches on the newly-seeded-and-growing parkway grass for the weekend.

But before the dog and the city’s Bureau of Forestry decided to test my resolve, I felt empowered … emboldened … to try my very own hand at planting some succulents. In a mason jar. With seashells.

No large sums of money were doled out for this project. 🙂

How To Make A Succulent & Seashell Mason Jar Planter

Materials*

Pint Size (16 oz) Mason Jar

Pea Gravel or Aquarium Gravel

Seashells

Potting Soil

*affiliate links.

Add pea gravel (or aquarium gravel).

Add seashells.

Add potting soil and succulent.

Water.

I also made some using sea glass that I shared on the other blog, Mason Jar Crafts Love …

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White Poppy Painted Mason Jar

June 13, 2019 By Linda 9 Comments

White Poppy Painted Mason Jar – Painted Flowers on Mason Jars DIY

White Poppy Painted Mason Jar - Painted Mason Jar Craft Ideas - Easy How To Paint Poppies - Easy Mason Jar Crafts - Painting Flowers on Mason Jars

My husband is frustrated with the weather.

In Chicago, of all places.

And he’s lived here all his life! He wants it warm and dry …

and Chicago is just not cooperating.

How to paint poppies - Marimekko poppies - white poppies - Mason Jar crafts - White Poppy Painted Mason Jar

Sure we get a throwaway gorgeous day peppered in here and there. A casual reminder of what we’re missing by not living in one of those warm climate states.

And, admittedly, he’s hankering for summer weather when, technically, it’s not actually summer.

But my biggest fears about his demands for warm and dry means my retirement dream of a downtown Chicago condo with spectacular city views from every room will remain just that …

a dream.

Sigh.

I do have one teeny tiny hold out sign of hope. And it’s called Uber.

We had a meeting with the IRS last week at their downtown Chicago offices (no, we’re not being audited; in fact, the IRS owes us quite a sum of money and we had to prove our identity).

But I digress …

Anyhoo, we took Ubers to and from our appointment. At off-peak travel times. And it was a very pleasant experience.

And during that very pleasant drive, my husband did admit that while he’s not the biggest of downtown Chicago fans, he would be up for exploring the Chicago Riverwalk area.

Hey, it’s a small sliver of hope!

So maybe on a warm and dry summer evening in mid-July, he’ll become as intoxicated as I with downtown Chicago as the sun sets and the skyline lights up … 😉

So, now you may be asking, Linda what do white poppy painted mason jars have to do with the weather in Chicago and my dreams of living downtown? Not much, really. Except despite the wet and temperatures vacillating from high 50’s to high 60’s, the flowers are a blooming! So I thought I’d get in on that blooming flower action with some painted flowers on mason jars of my very own …

and share with you all the tutorial on how easy it is to paint poppies!

White Poppy Painted Mason Jar Tutorial – How To Paint White Poppies on Mason Jars

How to Paint Poppies - Easy Tutorial DIY painted Poppy - White Poppy Painted Mason Jar - Painted Mason Jar Craft Ideas - Easy How To Paint Poppies - Easy Mason Jar Crafts - Painting Flowers on Mason Jars

Materials*

Aged Gray Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint

Linen White Rust-Oleum White Paint

Raw Umber Americana Acrylic Paint

Pint Size (16 oz) Ball Mason Jars

80 Grit Sandpaper

Paint Brushes

Clear Matte Spray Sealant

*affiliate links included.

Rustoleum Chalk Paint in gray - How to Paint White Poppies on Mason Jars - Easy Poppy Painting Tutorial

Start with two coats of Aged Gray Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint. Let dry thoroughly between coats (I tend to give them overnight, but chalk paint dries quickly so if in a rush you can add the second coat in a few hours).

Rustoleum Aged Gray chalk paint - White Poppy Painted Mason Jar - Easy Tutorial on How To Paint Poppies on Mason Jars

Once dry, use 80 grit sandpaper on raised lettering, numbers, areas to distress.

White Chalk Painted Mason Jars with Painted Poppy

Use Linen White Rust-Oleum Chalked paint to add poppies using a medium tipped brush.

White Poppy Flowers Painted on Mason Jars

Use paint brush to create six connected dots to form the base of the poppy.

Let dry before proceeding to next step.

Using Aged Gray Rust-Oleum Chalked paint and your medium tipped brush, add dots to the middle of the poppies.

Let dry before proceeding to next step.

Using Raw Umber Americana acrylic paint and a fine tipped brush, ad dots to the middle of the poppies, like so.

Using the same Raw Umber acrylic paint and fine tipped paint brush, add small stems to each poppy, like so.

Let dry completely before proceeding to next step (I typically give this an overnight dry before sealing with a clear coat – see below).

Finish with a coat of clear finish matte spray (this is my go to brand that doesn’t cause the white paint to yellow).

I also made a second jar using Rust-Oleum Country Gray Chalked Paint (which I refer to as greige)

And I made a third jar with a white base and gray and greige painted poppies …

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You can find all my mason jar projects at this link …

Christmas Tree Painted Mason Jar

December 18, 2018 By Linda 3 Comments

Christmas Tree Painted Mason Jar – Christmas Mason Jar Craft.

Ernie got a little taste of the blog last week …

and turns out he thinks it tastes even better than Kibbles N Bits.

Though not quite as tasty as that Sloppy Joe he stole off the dining room table a few years back and devoured before a single drop of Sloppy or Joe hit the floor. 🙂

If you missed it, I put up a picture of Ernie looking at (okay, more like avoiding looking at) the Christmas tree as part of my Christmas living room post. I also shared on Facebook and Instagram.

And as the likes and comments rolled in, I could see Ernie’s little doggy ego growing bigger and bigger. He was really eating it up!

You get it, right? Eating it up. Like Kibbles. And stolen Sloppy Joe’s. 🙂

So when I moved into the living room (again) to take pictures of my newly created Christmas tree painted mason jar, Ernie stayed put. Didn’t move. Burrowed in, in fact …

Which is not his normal behavior.

Normally the minute he sees the camera and tripod move into a room …

he swiftly moves out.

And as I moved around the room with the previously feared camera and tripod, he didn’t budge. Barely even noticed me.

So strange.

Now granted, he was on daddy watch. Which, I suppose based on his refusal to move, might actually taste better than both Kibbles N Bits and a stolen Sloppy Joe.

But there he is. In the background. My constant companion. Paying me no mind as I took pictures of my finished painted Christmas tree mason jar …

How To Make Painted Christmas Tree Mason Jar

Materials*

Ball Regular Mouth Pint Size (16 oz.) Mason Jar

Santa Red Americana Acrylic Paint

Holly Green Americana Acrylic Paint

Snow (Titanium) White Americana Acrylic Paint

Real Brown Folk Art Acrylic Paint

Design Master Clear Matte Finish

80 grit sandpaper

Paint Brush

*includes affiliate links

Start with two coats of acrylic paint in Santa Red. Let dry overnight between coats.

Distress along raised lettering and markings with 80 grit sandpaper.

Add a dot of holly green acrylic paint.

Use a toothpick to drag the green paint up to make the top of the tree point.

Then use the toothpick to drag the paint to make tree limbs.

Continue process until you cover the jar with little trees. Let dry.

Use fine tipped paint brush to add tree stems using Folk Art Real Brown acrylic paint. Let dry.

Using a toothpick and white paint, add snow to trees. Like so.

And so.

Repeat. Let dry.

Finish by adding some snow.

Let dry overnight before sealing with matte clear coat.

I’ve decided that this little painted Christmas tree mason jar needs a little fame of its own. So I’ve added it to the Etsy shop. You can find the listing at this link …

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Mason Jar Cozies Bathroom Storage

May 4, 2018 By Linda 7 Comments

Mason Jar Cozies Bathroom Storage – Gold Mason Jar Lids with Crystal Knobs.

I just realized something.

Nothing big. Nothing earth shattering. Nothing to write home about.

But …. my blog design and my home’s decor are becoming synergistic.

I’d like to say it was by design.

Literally.

But no. It’s pure coincidence.

…. or is it?

Perhaps when I was drawn to a blog design with gray with gold highlights so many years ago it was a sign of things to come?

Or maybe it was a self-fulfilling prophecy?

If we look waaaaaaaaaay back to October 2011, my first blog design was blue and white.

Do you remember that?

And as I type this, I sit in a blue and white room. Okay, navy blue (unlike the original French blue color). But blue nonetheless.

Yet, when I first chose that blue and white blog design my home was all red and green and purple and jeweled tone.

Could that original blue and white blog design also have been a self-fulfilling prophecy?

And then …

do you remember when the blog design went full on color crazy? I wish I had a screen shot of that design with all the different colored paint rollers?

That design happened about the same time I was painting my son’s room bright orange.

Dare I say …. self-fulfilling prophecy?!?

🙂

So, for now, I’m all about the gray and white. I’ve painted my entry in that color palette recently. I’ve painted the powder room in that palette (and will be sharing the full reveal with you soon) …

and next up this month is tackling the living and dining room with some gray paint.

I’ve even decided on the color (the most challenging part of all!).

So stay tuned …

And, in the meanwhile, I’m sharing how to add some pretty gray and white bathroom accents with fabric mason jar cozies bathroom storage with glam gold tops with crystal knobs.

How To Make Fabric Mason Jar Cozies Bathroom Storage

Materials*

Ball Pint Size Regular Mouth Mason Jars

this Etsy shop

Gray & White Fabric (I purchased my fabric from this Etsy shop)

Measuring Tape

Thread

Pins

Sewing Machine

Iron

*Includes some affiliate links.

1 – Start by measuring your mason jars. You’ll cut the length of fabric and extra inch (or two) to allow for a 1/2″ seam allowance when sewing.

2 – For the quart jar, I cut my strip 3 inches wide (I actually did the fabric rip thing versus cutting to get a clean edge. Just snip a little at the edge of the fabric and then rip.

3 – For the pint size jars, my fabric width is 2 inches.

4 – For an unfinished edge look, I pulled a few threads to give it a frayed look. I also trimmed off a few of the longer pieces.

5 – Wrap fabric around jar (good side towards the jar) and pin.

6 – Sew along pin line (right sides together). Cut off excess fabric.

7 – Iron seams open.

8 – Slip onto jars.

How To Make Gold Mason Jar Lids with Crystal Knobs

Materials*

Metallic Gold Spray Paint (my go-to metallic is Valspar)

Clear Multi-Surface Glue (I used E6000)

Regular Mouth Mason Jar Lids & Bands

Crystal Knobs (I found mine at Home Depot)

*includes some affiliate links.

1 – Spray lids and bands with metallic gold spray paint. Let dry overnight.

2 – Add glue to lids. Attach crystal glass knobs.

3 – Let dry overnight.

4 – Fill jars and add your new, glam gold lids with crystal knobs.

So the lesson learned here today (besides how to make mason jar cozies and mason jar gold lids with crystal knobs) is that they next time I change up my blog design, my home design will follow suit!

🙂

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Peppermint Bath Salts

December 22, 2017 By Linda 2 Comments

Peppermint Bath Salts – Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas.

Once upon a time, I watched a lot of House Hunters on HGTV.

A. Lot. Of. House. Hunters.

Because, once upon a (long) time (ago), it seemed like House Hunters made up 90% of programming on HGTV. Well, at least during the daytime hours …

hours and hours of House Hunters reruns.

This was a time before all the House Hunters spin-offs. Before Tiny House Hunters. And Beach House Hunters. And Log Cabin House Hunters. And Lake House House Hunters. And expanded hour-long House Hunters Renovations. And International House Hunters (which, by the by, I still tune in to when they are hunting in Europe).

But regardless of location or size or beach front views (back then and now) there always seems to be similar “demands” or “must haves” or “deal breakers.”

Whether it’s hardwood floors or granite (or no granite) or stainless steel appliances or man caves, the bathroom/bathrooms is/are always a sticking point.

The number of bathrooms. The double vanity. The master en suite. And …

drum roll please …

the bathtub.

Admittedly, I’m not a huge bathtub fan. Sure, they’re important if you have little kids (have you ever tried to give a toddler a shower? Trust me, not fun). But the whole soaking in a hot tub with a book and glass of wine scenario eludes me …

Not sure why? But somehow water and books and wine stresses me out. The whole juggling the book and wine and trying not to drop either in the hot tub of bubble-filled water causes me anxiety.

The clear opposite of relaxing.

But my daughter is a bath fan.

A huge bath fan.

And in her future house hunting, I’m pretty sure a bathtub will be on her “deal breaker” list. 🙂

So today’s post and project is in celebration of my bath-loving daughter …

How To Make Peppermint Bath Salts*

Materials**

Epsom Salt (4 cups)

Baking Soda (1 cup)

Peppermint Essential Oil (15-20 drops)

Red Food Coloring (5-10 drops)

Mason Jars (I used regular mouth pint sized Ball jars)

*Makes enough to fill two full pints & one 1/2 pint mason jar – or five 1/2 pint mason jars.

**Some affiliate links included.

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together Epsom salt and Baking Soda. Add 15-20 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil. Mix well. Split mixture in half. In one half, add 5-10 drops of food coloring. Mix well. Layer mixture into mason jars.

And if you’re looking for a last minute gift idea, this is a perfect handmade homemade gift that is sure to thrill …

… the bath lover in your life! 🙂

P.S. My bath-loving daughter has given this Peppermint bath salts recipe a thumbs up!

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Epsom Salt Mason Jar Snow Votives

December 8, 2017 By Linda 5 Comments

Epsom Salt mason Jar Snow Votives – Christmas Mason Jar.

I’ve been having cheesy Hallmark/Lifetime/Netflix Christmas-movie-filled days this month.

It started innocently enough. As a backdrop as I decorated the house …

you know, to keep my holiday spirits up as I wish and hope and pray for snow.

And now? Well, now it’s devolved into something much more … um … sinister?

I must admit that, as the Hallmark/Lifetime/Netflix Christmas-movie-filled days stacked up, I started to take a small bit of pleasure in watching my teen daughter squirm with discomfort as the cheese factor is turned up.

Like during the awkward kisses.

And (bonus points) when the lead male actor serenades the lead female actor.

And, yes, that happened. And, yes, my daughter fled the room in horror. 😉

Honestly, it all started out as a silly experiment. Just background noise …

but now?

Now it’s become a ‘thing.’ My thing. MY. THING. Ack!

And now I’m not sure what I’ll do with myself once the 25 days of Christmas TV movies ends!

🙂

How To Make Epsom Salt Mason Jar Snow Votives

Materials*

Regular Mouth Pint Mason Jars

Regular Mouth Quart Mason Jars

Mod Podge

Epsom Salt

Foam Brush

Jingle Bells & Baker’s Twine (Optional)

*includes affiliate links

Start with a coat of Mod Podge.

Generously sprinkle on Epsom Salt.

Let dry overnight.

I didn’t seal. Not sure what that would do to the Epsom salt? Admittedly, they are a bit messy …

but then again, aren’t most holiday decorations messy? 🙂

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P.S. I’m going to share a list of my favorite super cheesy Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movies (so far) this December. I mean, there is still 17 days to go in the 25 days of Christmas after all so this list just might grow … 🙂

1 – Angry Angel – a new, original Lifetime movie and my daughter begrudgingly agreed this is a winner (okay, winner among the Christmas cheese). Oh, and it was serenade-free.

2 – Holiday in Handcuffs – who can beat the combo of Melissa Joan Hart & Marion Lopez? The premise is ridiculous but they have great chemistry.

3 – Santa Baby – Santa Baby the original. Not Santa Baby 2 with Tori Spelling’s cheater husband.

4 – 12 Dates of Christmas – It stars now grown-up Zack of Saved by the Bell. Need I say more? Okay, Amy Smart as the female lead is charming too.

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Vintage Truck in Mason Jar Snow Globe

November 30, 2017 By Linda 8 Comments

Vintage Truck in Mason Jar Snow Globe – Mason Jar Snow Globe Ideas.

Sometimes when I’m feeling a little blue … like after days and days of cold and rainy weather … I like to go to my Etsy shop to read customer reviews.

They (almost) always cheer me up. Well, the five star reviews do. Which there are many. Which makes me happy. But the four stars? Well, those make me a bit sad.

You see, I’m a pleaser. And an over achiever. And I realize four stars are great ….

right?

Fabulous. Wonderful. Worthy of a standing ovation.

And I realize that some people can never, ever give five stars. They feel there is no such thing as perfection and there is always room for improvement. I blame Nadia Comaneci’s perfect 10’s at the 1976 Montreal Olympics opening up the discussion about if there really is a perfect 10.

I get it. Kinda.

And I realize in some reviewer’s minds the missing one star is somehow suppose to motivate me to do better. Give more. Reach for perfection …

Sigh.

But it still hurts. Just a little.

And, depending on my mood and psyche, this seeking out of approval backfires.

Perhaps it should. Because this exercise of ego-stroking is not really a good look on me.

Sigh.

But at least a four star review is always better than 3 stars. And 2 …

😉

And speaking of my Etsy shop, it’s time for some self-promotion to go along with this self-congratulations post. This year’s car and trucks in jars are up for sale. But, being the magnanimous person I am, I’ll share a little tutorial on how I made them here as well …

How To Make Vintage Truck in Mason Jar Snow Globe

Materials*

1/64 Red Ford Pick Up Truck (you can find a selection at this link)

Ball Elite Wide Mouth Pint Mason Jars (click here for Amazon sellers)

20mm Red Jingle Bells (click here)

Red & White Baker’s Twine (click here)

Mini Bottle Brush Trees (click here)

Faux Snow (click here)

Start by wrapping baker’s twiner around mason jar three times and tie a knot.

Hook twine through tops of jingle bells. Knot and cut away excess twine.

Cut base off bottle brush Christmas tree.

Feed backer’s twine through window.

Place tree in flat bed of truck. Wrap baker’s twine around tree and knot off.

Knot and cut off excess twine.

Add faux snow to bottom of mason jar.

Insert cart. Twist on lid and band.

And you’re done!

Now I’m currently selling this vintage truck in mason jar snow globe on my Etsy shop (click here).

I also have a vintage Jeep Wrangler at my Etsy shop (click here).

Along with a vintage VW bus snow globe (click here).

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You can find all my mason jar creations at this link …

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Painted Pumpkin Mason Jars

September 27, 2017 By Linda 5 Comments

Painted Pumpkin Mason Jars – Fall Mason Jar Craft Ideas

In my alternate universe Linda world, my house would be permanently and perpetually clean and organized …

without lifting a finger.

The cleaning fairies would get it done (quietly) while we slept soundly in our freshly laundered and fluffed beds.

Oh, and my house would be self-purging too. 🙂

In my alternate universe Linda world, my weight would never fluctuate …

no matter how little or much I ate. Or how little or much I exercised.

It would just readjust nightly as my house is cleaned by the cleaning fairies while I slept soundly in my freshly laundered and fluffed bed.

In my alternate universe Linda world, I would age backwards until I reached 30 (no full-on Benjamin Button here) while I retaining the hard-earned knowledge, experience and wisdom of my 54 years.

Don’t you love how I just called myself wise? Ha! 🙂

And in my alternate universe Linda world, this blog would run like a well-oiled-machine …

replete with monthly editorial calendars.

Calendars that would be mapped out to make sure there is a mix of posts alternating from crafts and decor to recipes and mason jars. With some Chicago (and my) life mixed in.

But, alas, I’m real world Linda. And that is the world I live in. A world in which things like this happen …

where I publish back-to-back mason jar craft projects.

Sigh.

But I really need to share these painted pumpkin mason jars today. Mostly because they’re so cute. Mostly because they’re so timely (with a listing up at my Etsy shop to arrive in time for Halloween festivities). And mostly because they’re so done …

as in completed, staged, photographed and edited. 🙂

How To Make Painted Pumpkin Mason Jars

Materials*

Pint Size Regular Mouth Mason Jars

Paint Brushes

Rustoleum Chalked White Paint

Folk Art Pumpkin Craft Paint

Folk Art Pure Orange Craft Paint

Folk Art Forest Moss Green Acrylic Paint

80 Grit Sandpaper

Design Master Clear Coat Sealant (my go-to sealant)

*affiliate links included.

Give your jar two coats of white paint. Let dry completely between coats.

Dry overnight. Distress lightly using 80 grit sandpaper over raised areas on jar.

Using paint brush, add orange dot (using FolkArt Pumpkin acrylic paint).

Add second dot of FA Pumpkin touching first dot. This forms your mini pumpkin shape.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You get it … 😉

Using a thin tipped brush and FolkArt Pure Orange Acrylic paint, add three small lines to pumpkin. (This is optional to add a bit of depth to pumpkins).

Using thin-tipped paint brush and FolkArt Forest Moss Acrylic paint, add stems to each pumpkin.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You get it … 😉

Finish with matte clear coat spray. Design Master is my go-to because it doesn’t discolor and/or add yellow sheen to jars.

Welcome to Linda’s real world. 🙂

If you prefer for real-world Linda to make these for you, click here for the listing at my Etsy shop.

And if you’re looking for something a little less subtle, I also have this Google Eye mason jar set at the shop soon. Click here for the listing …

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Nautical Striped Mason Jars … and is Anybody Out There?

September 21, 2017 By Linda 15 Comments

Nautical Striped Mason Jars – Coastal Painted Mason Jar Craft.

{Knock. Knock}

Hello?

{Knock. Knock}

Is anybody out there?

{Knock. Knock}

Is this mic even working?

{SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECCCHHHHHHHHHHH}

Oops. Sorry.

So after months of hit-or-miss-will-she-or-won’t-she, here I am with two … count ’em two … blog posts in a single week.

It’s a blog miracle!

Or a blog curse for those of you who prefer me to be more miss than hit; more won’t-she than will-she. 😉

I’ll be honest, I wavered about even sharing this project.

And if I’m truly being honest I have to honestly confess that, contrary to this blog post about what I did not do on my summer vacation, I actually did work on a few summery projects …

which means I’ve bent the truth a bit here. It’s not an all out trendy alternative fact. More like a massaging of the truth.

And most of the summery projects I worked on this summer involved mason jars. Like these nautical striped mason jars in navy and white and light blue and white chalky paint.

And once those summery projects were completed — like these nautical striped mason jars — they sat on my camera card. Patiently waiting for their time to shine in the spotlight that is this blog.

And as summer days marched on …

as July melted into August …

as August jumped into September …

there they sat. Waiting, waiting, waiting. On my camera card.

Which brought me to a crossroads. As I stare down the official first day of Fall … less than 24 hours away … do I dare share a summer project? At this late summer date?

Do I dare download these summery project images from my camera card to my laptop? Do I dare straighten and lighten and brighten and sharpen and …

do I dare? …

do I dare share them on this day? This day before the official first day of Fall?

I’ll give you two guesses about how I answered that dare. 🙂

How To Make Nautical Striped Mason Jars

Materials*

Regular Mouth Pint Size Mason Jars

Kilz Primer

Americana Chalky Finish – Honor

Americana Chalky Finish – Serene

Washi Tape

80-grit Sandpaper

Design Master Clear Coat Sealant (Matte Finish)

Jute Twine

*affiliate links included

Instructions

Give your jars 2 coats of primer (I let mine dry overnight between coats). Let dry overnight.

Use Washi tape to tape off stripes.

Paint. I only gave mine one coat to give them a beach washed look. You can give two coats for more solid coverage.

Once dry, remove Washi tape … to reveal bleed through.

Touch up with white paint.

Once the touch-up paint is dry (I typically wait overnight) distress with 80-grit sandpaper.

Seal with matte finish clear coat spray sealant.

Optional: Add jute twine around top threads of jar.

If you would prefer to buy this nautical mason jar set (vs. make this set), they’re listed at my Etsy shop. Just click here …

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Painted Texas Bluebonnet Mason Jar

July 28, 2017 By Linda 5 Comments

Painted Texas Bluebonnet Mason Jar Craft – Mason Jar Craft Ideas.

Some random ramblings on a sunny Friday that have absolutely nothing to do with this painted Texas bluebonnet mason jar project …

1. I’ve developed a bit of an age-inappropriate crush on MSNBC’s Christopher Hayes. I can’t quite put my finger on why? I mean, he’s not a hunk or anything (sorry Chris, but it’s true). He’s more like a smart nerd with those big horn-rimmed glasses (again, sorry Chris, but it’s true).

2. There are some words that I cannot for the life of me ever … ever … remember how to spell correctly. Which is not a problem when I use my phone or laptop (thank you autocorrect and dictionary.com) but does pose a problem when I go old school …

you know, pen to paper old school.

Biggest offender is vacuum. I want to spell is v-a-c-c-u-m. And when I write my ‘to do’ list I always spell it wrong.

Each. And. Every. Time.

So I’ve taken to spelling it really messy on those ‘to do’ lists hoping no one (read: my grammar and spelling nazi husband) will notice my misspelling. 😉

As an aside, can we talk about the word autocorrect? Because autocorrect is telling me I’m spelling it wrong. Per autocorrect, it should be should be two words. Or a hyphenated version. Both of which look wrong to me.

3. I keep buying those cute tops with the shoulder cut-outs online, but when they arrive I don’t like how they look on me.

Which is confusing.

Because I seriously rocked the off-the-shoulder “Let’s Get Physical” Olivia Newton John/FlashDance look back in the 80’s. No sweatshirt was safe from my scissors …

and I figured these shoulder cut-out shirts were just the new millennium’s version of that “Let’s Get Physical/Flashdance look. But after the second shirt arrived … and I tried it on … and hated I how it looked … I realized the problem. I don’t like my 2017 upper arms …

and those cut-outs are all about showing off the upper arm.

Sigh.

4. My Texas bluebonnet mason jar (which, let’s face it, is a loose interpretation of a bluebonnet) didn’t start out this way. On the first (disastrous) try I attempted to paint a blue hyacinth. On the second (disastrous) try I opted for the bluebonnet but added way too much green foliage. On the third (successful) try, I painted this version. And here’s how I did it …

Painted Texas Bluebonnet Mason Jar DIY

Materials*

FolkArt Cobalt Blue Paint

FolkArt Forest Moss Paint

Rustoleum Chalked Paint in Linen White (or white acrylic craft paint)

Pint Mason Jars, Regular Mouth

Quart Mason Jars, Regular Mouth

80 Grit Sandpaper

Clear Coat Sealant, Matte Finish

Paint Brushes

*includes affiliate links.

I started with two coats of white paint. Let dry completely between coats (I typically give it overnight). You can also use matte finish acrylic craft paint for the base.

Distress along the top threads, raised letters and other raised parts on jar with 80 grit sandpaper.

Using a fine-tipped brush, add stems.

Using a medium tipped brush, add blue flower “dots” along stem.

While blue is still wet, using a fine tipped brush, mix blue with white and add highlights to petals.

Add some leaves to bottom of stems (using medium tipped brush).

Mix green with some white and add highlights to stems.

Once completely dry (I let my jars dry overnight), finish with a coat of clear coat sealant in matte finish. This is my preferred brand (click here to find on Amazon; you may also find it at Michael’s, but I’m not sure if it varies store-to-store).

P.S. I can now add the word “disastrous” to the list of words I have trouble spelling correctly without the help of autocorrect …

or is it auto correct …

or auto-correct. 🙂

I’ve also stocked this set at the Etsy shop. Just click here …

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Sharing: Between Naps on the Porch | Savvy Southern Style |

Painted Rose Mason Jars

May 4, 2017 By Linda 6 Comments

Painted Rose Mason Jars – How To Paint A Rose Tutorial (Easy).

Dear Mollys,

Plural.

There are two of you in my life. My mother Molly and the daughter Molly to whom I am the mother. And while Molly is not my mother’s “Christian” name — it’s a childhood nickname that has endured eight-plus decades — it is the “Christian” name I bestowed upon my daughter; my mother Molly’s granddaughter.

Sadly, both my Mollys are facing challenges these days.

Challenges that come with age.

For mother Molly, reaching the eight-decade-plus-three-year milestone brings with it some physiological obstacles. An operation that, for her namesake Molly, would be a breezy out-patient procedure has turned into post-operative inpatient rehab and an assist from her now-grown children as she makes the transition from hospital to rehab to home life. Luckily the assist includes simple things like making a cup of hot tea, getting pillows for her back, and standing by the ready to catch her if she falls.

For the daughter Molly to whom I am the mother, her challenges are of the emotional kind. Those that rear their ugly heads in the tween and now teen years. Challenges that can’t be helped with an easy assist. I wish I had words of comfort. Wisdom. I wish I could help ease the transition from tween to teen to young adult with a cup of hot tea. Or a pillow for her back …

but I am standing at the ready to catch her if she falls.

As I stand here between my two Mollys — one 30 years my senior, the other 37 years my junior — I find myself feeling helpless. Wishing I could take the physical and emotional pain away.

But life.

I must resign myself to life. This is all part life.

Growing up.

Growing old.

And all I can do is just be. And be here for you …

with an assist …

my Mollys. 🙂

When I was making these painted rose mason jars, I had Mother’s Day in mind. Not even realizing, at the time, that my mother Molly’s “Christian” name is Rose.

How apropos! 😉

Painted Rose Mason Jars DIY – How To Paint A Rose

Materials*

Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint in Serenity Blue (you can also use acrylic craft paint in the color of your choice)

Americana Baby Pink Paint

Americana Pistachio Paint

Americana White Paint

Paint Brush

80-grit Sandpaper

Clear Coat Sealant in Matte Finish (this is my preferred brand)

*some affiliate links included.

Step 1: Give your jar two coats of paint. Let dry between coats.

Step 2: Once completely dry, distress raised areas with 80-grit sandpaper.

Step 3: Paint rough circles on the jar using a paint brush. They don’t have to be perfect. After they dry, give them a second coat.

Let dry.

Step 4: Using thin tipped brush, add leaves.

Step 5: Mix the pink paint with white to create a light pink. Using a thin-tipped brush, add a rough line of light pink paint to outer rim of the circle. Again, it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Step 6: Then add a few curved lines inside circle. Again, rough not perfect.

Step 7: Add a small line (or two) to center of circle.

Step 8 (Optional): Add white dots.

Step 9 (Optional): You can also add some white highlights to the light pink lines if you’d like.

Step 10: Once completely dry, seal with matte clear coat finish (this is my preferred brand).

I also made a version with roses on the clear glass jars that the Molly whom I am the mother to declared her favorite …

and requested a version with lavender roses.

It may not solve her current challenges, but if it will make her happy, it makes mom happy. 🙂

If you don’t want to make your own, I sell this mason jar set at my Etsy shop. Just click here …

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| Between Naps on the Porch |

Christmas Sweater Mason Jars

December 22, 2016 By Linda 9 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Hershey Company for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Did you ever get an idea in your head that you just can’t shake?

It just keeps popping up again and again and again.

You’re driving to the grocery store and bam it hits you. You’re working out at the gym and bam. There it is again. You’re walking the dog and bam …

you get the idea. 🙂

And you know exactly what you need to do to turn that idea into reality.

You know what it will look like. You know the steps needed to make it look like that. You even sketch it out on a piece of paper …

and then keep putting it off until tomorrow.

That is …

that is until you get the much-needed nudge you need to turn your idea into reality.

My nudge came from The Hershey Company. And their invitation to “Celebrate with Hershey’s” with their new, festive foils (sold exclusively at Walmart) this holiday season.

You see, my can’t-shake-it-idea was to create these cute sweater mason jars.

It’s an idea that swirled around in my head since Halloween.

So when The Hershey Company asked me to share with you their festive and fun “ugly” sweater Hershey’s Kisses Kissmas Sweater Chocolates I knew exactly how they should be displayed …

In Christmas sweater mason jar “candy dishes.”

How To Make Christmas Sweater Mason Jars

Materials

Pint Size Mason Jars

Red, Blue, Green, White Acrylic Craft Paint (Matte Finish)

Fine Tipped White Paint Pen

Primer (white)

Paint Brush

80 Grit Sandpaper

Hershey’s Kisses Kissmas Sweater Chocolates (available exclusively at Walmart)

Give your mason jars two coats of primer. For best results, I let mine dry overnight between coats.

After the second coat of primer has dried overnight, use Washi tape to create two stripes on the jars.

Paint jars in Hershey’s Kisses Kissmas Sweater Chocolates colors. I color matched mine at the craft store. And you only need one coat of paint.

Once dry, remove tape. Touch up as needed.

After drying overnight, distress around the rim and along raised letters.

Use a white paint pen to make snowflakes. Start with a vertical line.

Next you’ll make an “X” shape.

Once you have your “X” add dots to the center and about a third of the way from the center along each branch.

Add … um, not sure what to call them … but add little lines at the ends of the vertical and X shaped lines.

Finish snowflake by adding dots at the ends of the vertical and X shaped lines.

Now it’s time to add dots …

lots and lots of dots …

including dots between the snowflakes …

And you’re done!

All that’s left is to pick up some Hershey’s Kisses Kissmas Sweater Chocolates at Walmart an fill those Christmas mason jar sweater “candy dishes” with “ugly sweater” Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolates …

which, by the way, there is absolutely nothing ugly about those festive foils!

Oh, and I need to give a shout out to The Hershey Company for lighting that spark and motivating me to make these fun and festive Christmas sweater mason jars! 🙂

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Celebrate with Hershey’s at Walmart his holiday season where you’ll find a selection of festively packaged holiday treats that will inspire you with new ways to deck the halls. In addition to the limited edition “ugly sweater” foils on the classic Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolates, you can also find fun and festive holiday foils on Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures, a three-pound Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar, giant Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolates and a one-pound Reese’s Peanut Butter Santa. All available exclusively at Walmart.

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For my complete mason jar project gallery, click here …