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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For all my mason jar craft projects, click here …

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

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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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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Snowflake Mason Jars

December 13, 2016 By Linda 8 Comments

Snowflake Mason Jars – Stamped Snowflake Mason Jars.

Snowflake Mason Jars @It All Started With Paint

I’ve been on an American Pickers kick these past few weeks.

I mean, how can you not love Mike and Frank as they criss-cross the country picking through people’s stuff?

There’s always the drama of the deal. The ice breaker. Frank’s love of “smalls” and oil cans. Mike’s obsession with bicycles and folk art …

and speaking of folk art …

I was working on some mason jars orders last week and it hit me: Could my painted jars — especially those with intricate designs — one day be considered folk art?

Or, is it folk art right now?

And then I imagine a day in the future when I’m long gone (but somehow, mysteriously, Mike and Frank have not aged a day) and, accompanied by the American Pickers camera crew, they’re picking through some barn in the Midwest and come across one of my painted mason jars.

Maybe even one of these snowflake mason jars?

snowflake-mason-jar-it-all-started-with-paint-2-of-14

And Mike-the-folk-art-aficionado will tell the story of mason jar folk artist Linda Braden. About how she had a blog and an Etsy shop. How all her jars were hand-painted so no two jars were exactly alike. And how her mason jar crafting helped her send her two children to college.

He could then talk about the whole surge in mason jar crafts in the twenty teens …

and he might even say I was at the forefront of the movement. 🙂

And he would pick up this snowflake mason jar and look at the markings. He would share a story about how Ball Canning introduced smooth sided mason jars in 2016. And how Linda was able to use a stamp on the jar to create the design …

snowflake-mason-jar-it-all-started-with-paint-12-of-14

because of it’s unique smooth sides.

How To Make Snowflake Mason Jars

Materials*

Smooth Sided Mason Jars (Pint & Quarts)

Snowflake Stamp (I found mine at the craft store but here are some similar rubber stamps I found on Amazon at this link)

Paint (I used chalking paint for the surface and white craft paint for the snowflakes)

Paint Brush

*some affiliate links included.

Paint jars. I gave mine two coats. Let dry.

snowflake-mason-jar-how-to-it-all-started-with-paint

Distress lightly around rim and along small Ball words.

snowflake-painted-mason-jar-it-all-started-with-paint-8-of-10

Dip stamp in white paint. I dabbed the stamp one time on a paper plate before stamping on jar. So it’s dip in paint, stamp on paper plate lightly and then stamp on the jar. Straight on (no rolling). You can get maybe two snowflakes from one dip.

snowflake-painted-mason-jar-it-all-started-with-paint-10-of-10

Use a paint brush to add dots. And you’re done.

And who knows, if you follow my tutorial and make your very own snowflake mason jars maybe Mike and Frank will dig your creation out of a barn some day in the future and share your story as a mason jar folk artist …

🙂

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Snowflake Mason Jars - Stamped Snowflake Painted Mason Jars @It All Started With Paint blog

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Today’s post is a sponsored post brought to you by Ball Canning. However, any and all opinions about Ball Canning and smooth sided mason jars are 100% my own.

Oh, and Ball canning is offering a $3 off holiday coupon on the purchase of mason jars. Just click here to print out your coupon.

Mini Mason Jar Stocking Stuffer

December 8, 2016 By Linda 3 Comments

Mini Mason Jar Stocking Stuffer: Mason Jar Snowman.

The Christmas stocking.

It may just be my favorite.

Think about it. The Christmas stocking is the equivalent of finding a twenty dollar bill in your coat pocket after being stored away for a long spring, summer, and fall.

Now granted, the opening of the stocking doesn’t require a three season wait.

But discovering the stocking after you’ve burned through the presents under the tree …

and the disappointment that there are no more presents left to open begins to take hold …

is nothing short of magical.

Filling your child-sized heart with hope. Hope that more presents are always around the next corner.

Or stuffed inside the next stocking. 🙂

So here’s hoping these mini mason jars stocking stuffers … dressed up as mini snowman and stuffed with candy (or mints) … will fill those stocking stuffer hopeful kids with hope. And joy. 🙂

How to Make a Snowman Mini Mason Jar Stocking Stuffer

Materials

Mini Mason Jars (4 oz.)

Small Buttons

Red Felt

Black Paint

Paint Brush

Glue

White Candy

Scissors

Start with mini mason jars. These jars hold 4 ounces.

Paint the mini mason jars lids black. Mine took 2 coats. You can also spray paint them.

Add three dots of glue to jars for buttons. I used a multi-surface glue that is quick dry, but also offers time to adjust and re-adjust your button placement.

Attach buttons to the jars. I used mini buttons found at the craft store.

Cut thin strips of red felt for the scarf. My strips measure 1/2″ (width) by 12″ (length).

Tie a scarf knot around mason jar (just under lid). Trim edges out to look scarf-like.

Insert candy of choice into Mini Mason Jar. I chose Tic Tacs. But anything white works.

Insert into stocking on Christmas Eve.

Remind kids on Christmas morning to check their stockings. Wait for their delight.

🙂

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P.S. Ball canning is offering a $3 off holiday coupon on the purchase of mason jars. Just click here to print out your coupon.

Today’s post is a sponsored post brought to you by Ball Canning. However, any and all opinions about Ball Canning and these amazing Mini Mason Jars are 100% my own.

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| Savvy Southern Style |

Lavender Flower Painted Mason Jars

September 12, 2016 By Linda 25 Comments

Lavender Flower Painted Mason Jars.

So you know I like to keep it real around here, right? Tell it like it is. Share it all – well, all as in all the crafting and diy-ing and cooking – warts and all. Served up with a side of sarcasm, of course.

Well … um … (now imagine me shuffling my feet) … I’m embarrassed to say I’ve been holding out. Holding back a truth. A truth some of you may be genuinely shocked to hear. A truth that I can no longer withhold from you …

The truth is, I have a love/hate relationship with mason jars.

Phew (as wipe the sweat away from my forehead with back of my hand).

There. I said it. It feels good to get that off my chest.

Now, granted, this love/hate relationship is irrational. I realize that. You see, when I look at the numbers — and when I say numbers I mean traffic coming to this blog — it becomes clear that people are coming here to look at my mason jar creations.

In droves.

Which is a good thing. Because I like people coming over to visit. But then …

then …

then I get a little miffed. Because I’m more than just mason jars. And I would love it if people wanted to visit me for more than just mason jars …

sigh.

Irrational, right?

And then I remember the power of mason jars for making my life so much better. More secure. You see, without mason jars we would be struggling to put our son through college. Seriously. Mason jars are paying his college tuition. Both through Etsy sales, but also from ad revenue generated on this blog and my mason jar blog. Ad revenue that is directly tied to traffic …

traffic that is coming here to look at mason jars …

and the very same traffic that has created my irrational love/hate mason jar conundrum!

But it’s time to get over it. To embrace the love side of the love/hate. To embrace the mason jar. And with that, I’m planning on sharing more mason jar crafts and recipe ideas here on It All Started With Paint. Because it’s been ages since I’ve shared a mason jar tutorial. So I’m starting on my path to mason jar love with these lavender flower paint mason jars …

Lavender Flower Painted Mason Jars Tutorial

Materials*

Ball Pint Size Regular Mouth Mason Jar

Fine Tipped Paint Brush

Folk Art Lavender Paint

Folk Art Light Lavender Paint

Folk Art Forest Moss Acrylic Paint

Americana Hauser Dark Green Paint

Clear Coat Sealant

*affiliate links included.

I started with a white painted and distressed mason jar (click here for the tutorial on how to paint and distress a mason jar). Using a fine tipped paint brush and matte finish acrylic olive green paint, I created stems …

and leaves …

all around the jar.

Next, using light lavender acrylic paint, I create the lavender flowers by just dotting along the stems.

Once dry, I added depth to the flowers — and filled in empty spaced — by dabbing on a darker lavender.

I then dry brushed on a darker green on the leaves.

And that’s it. Lavender flower painted mason jars to the rescue …

though, I did add a coat of clear matte finish sealant …

And that’s it.

And if you would prefer for me to make these lavender flower mason jars for you, I have them listed at the Etsy shop here and here.

And thus begins my new (okay, renewed) love affair with the mason jar … 🙂

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Click Here for My Full Mason Jar Gallery of Projects …

Fourth of July Mason Jars

July 4, 2016 By Linda 2 Comments

Fourth of July Mason Jars – Red, White, Blue Dyed Rice Votives.

Happy Fourth of July!

Can I just say this is one weekend when I miss the East Coast the most? The sun. The sand. The Jersey Shore …

And as I scroll through my Facebook feed, I’m visually reminded of all I’m missing from my friends and family back east. You know, the sun. The sand. The Jersey Shore …

and Rhode Island …

and Cape Cod …

and even Long Island and the Hampton’s (even though I’ve never visited either, I still miss them).

And yet, somehow, I’ve blocked out all the bad. Like the crowds. And the traffic. And the smells …

oh, the smells …

and only conjure memories of good. Sand between my toes. Good friends. Good books. Okay, trashy beach read books. Cool drinks on a open veranda following a scorching hot day on the beach.

Ahhhhh. Sweet, sweet memories. 🙂

As much as I love my new home and life in the Midwest, nothing beats the summer along the Northeast coast.

Oh, and if you’re interesting in making some super easy red, white, and blue centerpieces for your next patriotic celebration, you can find the tutorial for these Fourth of July Mason Jars featuring red, white and blue dyed rice on Mason Jar Crafts Love blog. Just click here …

Click Here for My Full Gallery of Mason Jar Projects …

Easter Crafts with Jars

March 7, 2016 By Linda 8 Comments

{Click here for tutorial}

There’s a funny thing that happens when you don’t blog as frequently. You find yourself filled with words. And stories. Just bursting to be told …

ready to explode onto the page.

Nothing prolific, mind you. Nothing earth shattering. Just bits and pieces of my life. Thoughts and observations on mundane day to day. And stories and experiences recalled from years past. Hopefully infused with a touch of humor.

Okay, you got me. Sarcasm. 😉

What in the world did I do before blogging? Did I just bottle up all those words? Keep them hidden? Suppress them? Or maybe just bury them deep in the dark recesses of my brain?

{Click here for tutorial}

I often have a running commentary going on in my head. A narrator of sorts. But I kept her bottled up inside. Never sharing with others.

Well, until blogging came along.

And then it was like brain vomit. Oversharing my highs and lows. Successes and failures. And let’s not forget my insecurities and shortcomings …

{Click here for tutorial}

because somehow I can never really forget them. Or suppress them. Much as I try!

I never planned to share so much on the blog. It was going to be a strict how to. Lists of supplies used. Pictures … and written details … of steps taken. But somewhere along the way that changed.

So now I have a notebook. Always near. Always at the ready for my scribbled nonsense. Some good. Some not so good. Most illegible … even to me. 🙂

My biggest challenge of late is having words, but no projects to go with them! Blogging can be funny like that. Sometimes all I have is words but no projects. Other times I’m crazy with projects but just can’t find the words …

Sigh.

Some day I may strike the perfect balance. 🙂

In the meanwhile, I have been creating some fun Easter crafts with mason jars the other blog, Mason Jar Crafts Love. and to sell at the Etsy shop. Like those Easter peeps jars and those Easter egg jars above.

Valentine Kid Craft Thumbprint Heart Jars

February 2, 2016 By Linda 9 Comments

Valentine Kid Craft Thumbprint Heart Jars – Easy DIY Mason Jar Craft for Kids.

Sometimes I wish I started blogging when my kids were still young and carefree. A time when the house was always perfectly appointed and toys were always put away in their place and when mom (that’s me) could do no wrong. And a time when mom (that’s me) would always organize the best craft ideas to while away a boring rainy day …

Ha!

That would be social media me. Where I would post on Facebook and Instagram photos of my kids creating perfect crafts with perfect smiles on their faces. The would even make perfect messes that would look arty in photographs. And of course there would be the photo of them holding out their perfect crafts in their two little hands towards the camera.

Oh the fun social media me and the kids would have had!

There would be no tears. No frustrations. No glue bottles spilled. No glitter knocked to the floor. No dogs stealing pencils and bits of paper. And especially no sibling fights.

Sigh.

But that wasn’t me. Not even social media me. As crafty as I may be, I wasn’t the mom who invited the neighborhood kids over for a craft party … complete with healthy snacks. I was the mom who invited the neighborhood kids over for Domino’s Pizza and Coca Cola …

🙂

But in my revisionist history scenario, if those neighborhood kids came over today we would happily make thumbprint heart mason jars for Valentine’s Day. With arty messes only …

Valentine Kid Craft Thumbprint Heart Jars How To

Materials*

Ball Quart Size Regular Mouth Mason Jar

Ball Pint Size Regular Mouth Mason Jar

Americana Snow Titanium White Acrylic Paint

Americana True Red Acrylic Paint

FolkArt Bright Baby Pink Acrylic Paint

80 Grit Sandpaper

Paint Brush

Clear Coat Sealant

*affiliate links included.

1. Paint jars in two coats of acrylic paint. Let dry overnight in between coats. (Optional) Distress with 80 grit sandpaper once dry completely (again, let dry overnight for best results).

2. Using your finger (I used my pinky but kids should use their thumbs), dip in paint and add finger print to jar.

3. Dip in paint again, and add second finger print to jar to create heart shape.

4. On the smaller jars, use thumb to create larger center heart. Once dry, create second inner heart with pinky.

The final step is to use a clear top coat to seal the jars.

And now is when I would line up those perfect kids with their perfect smiles to each hold out their perfect Valentine’s Day thumbprint heart mason jar creations so I could take that perfect Instagram photo to show the world all the perfect crafting fun we had …

🙂

PIN IT!

Valentine Kid Craft Thumbprint Heart Jars

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Glitter Heart Mason Jar Votives

Matchbox Valentine

Valentine’s Wreath

Valentine’s Mason Jars

Valentine’s Day Craft Ideas

Mason Jar Desk Organizers

January 19, 2016 By Linda 24 Comments

Mason Jar Desk Organizers – Easy Mason Jar Craft to Get Organized!

Well hello there 2016.

Yes, yes, I realize it’s 19 days and counting into the New Year. It’s true I’ve been slow to accept your arrival. Some would even say I’m in denial …

There were no champagne toasts at the stroke of midnight. No flurry of texts to family and friends wishing them a happy one on January one. No FOMO-inducing Facebook and Instagram posts with hats and horns and over-sized 2016 glasses shared.

And here on the blog, there was no ringing in the New Year with a 2015 year in review or top 10 posts or Word of the Year …

or even a look ahead at all the amazing things I plan to accomplish in 2016 (fingers crossed).

But as much as I ignore you 2016 …

as much as I turn my back on you

… you will not go away.

Leaving me to reluctantly accept the passing of another year. With a caveat. I’m not going lightly.

There may even be some kicking and screaming. 😉

So I thought I’d ease into 2016 with an super easy desk organization idea. Using mason jars. And wrapping paper. To create mason jar desk organizers.

I’m mean, this is so simple that I’m almost embarrassed to share a tutorial. But I will. 🙂

How To Make Mason Jar Desk Organizers

Materials*

Ball Regular Mouth Pint Size Mason Jars

Black & White Wrapping Paper

Black & White Baker’s Twine

Gift Tag

Chalkboard Paint

Scissors, Tape

*some affiliate links included.

It’s pretty self explanatory. And all started with wrapping paper I found at Michael’s bargain bins. You know the ones. The ones that greet you — and distract you — when you first walk into the store. And then you find yourself throwing that carefully composed “to buy” list to the floor and start stuffing your basket with all those pads and pens and mini mason jars and teeny tiny bows …

Finish it off with some baker’s twine (also found in those Michael’s bargain bins) and a chalkboard tag (it’s just a cardboard gift tag left over from Christmas that I painted with chalkboard paint).

I especially like how you can just change it out with your mood. Or the seasons of the year …

well, that is if you’ve accepted the New Year. Me? I’m still on the fence …

🙂

Any and all pins of the Mason Jar Desk Organizers image below are greatly appreciated!

P.S. While I’ve been slow to gear up Paint projects, I’m on a roll at Mason Jar Crafts Love. Here are a few of my recent original projects I’ve posted on the other blog …

Composition Book Mason Jars

Mason Jar Bathroom Organizer Set

Free Printable: Mason Jar Spice Labels

For all my mason jar projects, check out my Mason Jar Project Gallery {click here} …