{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 – 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

You Might Also Like:

Glitter Heart Mason Jar Votives

 Matchbox Valentine

 Valentine’s Wreath

 Valentine’s Mason Jars

 Valentine’s Day Craft Ideas

Beach Decor Ideas: Easy Fishnet Wrapped Mason Jar Tutorial

Sometime in mid-June I lapsed into vacation mode. Which was odd, because I wasn’t on vacation.  That was still over a month away.

But somehow … inexplicably … when the kids finished school, I clicked into island time.

I’m lucky if I make my bed each day. And feed the family. Accomplish a bit of food shopping.

Perhaps all that energy exerted prodding, poking, pestering … and calling in the village … to help my son find a summer job left me exhausted.

Whatever the reason behind my need to move as slowly as possible, the only thing I can seem to make are mason jar crafts. Which is troubling. Especially since I have an enormous project looming with a quickly approaching deadline.

Promises were made. Products were procured. Contracts signed.

Oops.

And while I’m not yet ready to go into details, let’s just say said project rhymes with schmitchen shabinets.

Which will be shmainted. Schwite.

In the meanwhile, I’ve been keeping it low key. Beach style. With some twine. And blue mason jars. And faux fish net made from twine wrapping those blue mason jars …

How To Make a Fishnet Wrapped Mason Jar

Materials*

Blue Ball Heritage Mason Jar

Jute Twine

Scissors

Sand & Sea Shells Optional 😉

I started by cutting a piece of twine that could wrap around top of mason jar with some extra to tie it off.

1. Cut 10 lengths of twine 32″ long. Fold in half and create loop over length that will tie around the top of the jar.  |  2. Take two lengths of the folded twin and feed through loop.  |  3. Pull tight into a knot.  |  4. Repeat for all 10 lengths.

Tie and knot.

For the first row, grab two lengths of twine and knot together. Continue all the way around the first row.

For the second row, grab two lengths of twine — making a diamond shape …

Loop together.

And pull tight.

Rinse and repeat …

…. and repeat.

To finish it off, cut a length of twine slightly smaller than bottom of jar.

Grab two lengths of twine and tie to bottom piece of twine.

Until you end up with this mess. But fear not …

Grab your scissors and give it a trim.

Wrap some twine around the top, and you’re done! You have successfully created a fishnet wrapped mason jar!

And now that real vacation is on the very near horizon, it looks like that shmitchen project will be on hold for a few more weeks …

perhaps I can get some schmiming done before we go.

🙂

You Might Also Like …

How To Make Blue Tinted Mason Jars (click here)

Mason Jar Sewing Kit (click here)

How To Paint & Distress Mason Jars (click here)

For even more mason jar ideas, check out my full gallery by clicking here …

And here …

*affiliate links included.

My son has been hard at work looking for a part time job this summer. To earn some cash for college.

And when I say working hard I really mean his mother has been prodding and poking and pestering him to walk the streets handing out resumes, and submitting online applications to the big box retailers and grocery chains that require online submissions.

And he has. Fueled by his mother’s prods and pokes and pesters. 😉

And nada. Nothing. Turns out no one really wants to hire someone who can only work a few weeks before leaving for college in mid-August.

Silly me. I thought a future college student would make an ideal part-time summer job candidate.

So I had no other choice but to call in the “village” to help. Because connections can lead to jobs.

I reached out on a neighborhood Facebook page. And my neighbors reached back. With an opportunity at Wrigley Field in the Facilities department.

So, as I write this, my son is at Wrigley Field. Working. He left bright and early for a 6:45 AM start.

Now, working at Wrigley sounds glamorous. At first glance. And I don’t know for sure what his workday will involve … or even how long it will be … but I have a feeling it’s more custodial than cushy.

I envision mops. And brooms. And cleaning up remnants in the stands from yesterday’s game.

There may even be some bathroom duty.

There’s nothing like some hard work to wake you up!

And while he’s not fully sure about what he wants to do when he grows up, I have a feeling this summer he’ll learn a bit more about what he doesn’t want to do …

🙂

P.S. You can find the tutorial for how I made that Cubs baseball uniform mason jar on my other blog, Mason Jar Crafts Love. Just click here …

P.P.S. My husband just called to see if we wanted to go with friends to a Cubs night game tonight. Yes, please! And now that I personally know a member of the grounds crew, I’ll be sure to clean up my cup(s) of beer and hot dog wrapper(s) and mustard packets and peanut shells … 🙂

You Might Also Like:

Red White Blue American Flag Mason Jars

American Flag Mason Jar Set

Union Jack Mason Jars

Mason Jar Craft Gallery

Detailed tutorial on how to paint and distress mason jars.

For those of you who are regular visitors here at Paint (thank you!), you probably scratched your head when you saw the ‘how to paint and distress mason jars’ title of this post in your newsfeed. Or inbox. Because you know I’ve been painting and distressing mason jars … and selling painted and distressed mason jars … for 2+ years now.

But what you may not realize is after all those years of painting and distressing mason jars, I have never once shared a full, picture-filled tutorial with my how.

Crazy, right? How could that possibly be?!?

So just for today, my regular readers (thank you again!) will need to bear with me as I rectify this horrible oversight. This abomination. This slight on mason jar craft-dom.

🙂

How to Paint and Distress Mason Jars

Materials*

Rustoleum Chalked Paint (Linen White)

Rustoleum Chalked Paint (Blush Pink)

Rustoleum Chalked Paint (Aged Gray)

Rustoleum Chalked Paint (Country Gray)

Rubbing Alcohol

80 Grit Sandpaper

Clear Coat Sealant

Paint Brushes

*some affiliate links have been included for your convenience; affiliate links will not affect the purchase price of the products for you.

1. Prep

If you’re starting with a new case of mason jars, you’re good to go. But if you’re using old jars that have been used for other purposes, you’ll want to give them a thorough cleaning.

Wipe down with rubbing alcohol and then wash with hot, soapy water. Dry completely.

2. Paint

Start with two coats of paint. Let paint dry completely between coats.

My favorite paint medium to work with is chalk paint. It’s easy to work with. It offers great coverage. It adheres well to the jars (much more durable than other paint mediums). And it’s a dream to distress. The only issue is chalk paint can be expensive and hard to find ….

until now!

Rust-Oleum has recently introduced a Chalked paint line (thanks Rust-Oleum for sending me this amazing, affordable, and beautifully colored paint line to try out). The cost is half of the popular name brand who will not be named here. And you can find it at the major home improvement retailers. You can also find them on Amazon (see the Materials list links).

{And if you’re using acrylic paint for your project, give the jars 24 hours dry time between coats of paint; otherwise when you apply the second coat it might peel off some of the first coat paint}

3. Distress

I use 80 grit “No-Slip Grip” sandpaper that I cut into rectangles and then fold over, giving me two side to work with.

I start with the top rim.

Then distress along the threads.

Next I tackle the raised edges on the two sides of the jars.

And don’t forget to get the Made In USA text!

I’m pretty rough with the back. I just rub the sandpaper all over the fruit graphic.

I leave the best for last: the front of the jar. I tend to be a bit more careful here.

I take care to make sure mason and Ball are completely visible.

I finish with a bit of distressing along the top and bottom of the jar.

4. Seal

The finishing touch is sealant. My go to is an acetone based clear coat in matte finish.

I found this particular brand at Michaels.

5. Care

Don’t submerge jars in water or put in dishwasher. Simply wipe down. And take care when filling with water. While the sealant makes the finish much more durable — and the chalk paint offers a much, much stronger bond that’s near impossible to scrub off than acrylic paint — it’s still considered a semi-permanent finish.

If you are using acrylic craft paint on your jars, you can easily wash off the finish (pre-sealant) with hot water.  Post-sealant, some of the paint can peel away if the jars sweat or  are submerged in water.

And you’re done.

Now, if you’re not crafty and would prefer to purchase painted and distressed mason jars, I have a few variations of this set listed at my Etsy shop.

The set of four can be found here.

The set of three pink, gray, and white can be found here.

And a set of three with pink, greige and white can be found here.

Did you feel that? That shift in the universe?

Because with this blog post, now everything is right in the world of mason jar crafting …

🙂

You Might Also Like …

Acrylic Painted Mason Jars for Spring (click here)

Annie Sloan Chalk Painted Mason Jars (click here)

Spray Painted Metallic Mason Jars (click here)

You can find even more of my mason jar crafts projects by clicking here …

And I even have a whole blog dedicated to mason jar crafts called Mason Jar Crafts Love. Click here …

And I have a book filled with mason jar crafts for kids. Click here for more …

Source: Drop Cloth Design Co. on Etsy

If my blog truly … truly … reflected my everyday happenings, then each and every post would look like this.

Mason jars.

Painted and distressed.

Because not a day goes by that I’m not working with mason jars. Painting, distressing, sealing, packing, labeling, and/or escorting them to the post office.

Now, I’m not one to complain. It means business is booming.

A good thing.

Because beginning in August, our family embarks on an eight year journey. Eight consecutive years of college …

tuition.

And my goal is to use this blog (and the other blog) and the Etsy shop to cover those tuition payments. (Okay, with a little help from student loans).

Which leaves me with a few concerns:

(1) Will painted and distressed mason jars still be a viable business in eight year’s time? Sure, they’re trendy now. First they made their way around the blogosphere. And now they’ve hit the mainstream masses. Which as me thinking it’s only a matter of time before this trend becomes timeworn, right?

(2) Speaking of mason jars, can my other blog devoted exclusively to all things mason jars survive … and thrive … for eight years? See concern (1) about the whole mason jar trend becoming timeworn.

(3) And speaking of blogging, what does the future hold? I know some blogs are going on 10 and 15 years now. Maybe even longer. Does that mean there is still 10 and 15 … or more … years of blogging in the future? Or will something newer and shinier and brighter eclipse the blogging world?

(4) Finally ... and scariest of all .. it seems inconceivable that I could come up with things to blog about for eight more years. That’s a long time.

But how wild would it be if we spent the next eight years together? Here. And you could share in eight years of (hopeful) college triumphs. Of a son graduating and embarking on a real life. Of a daughter graduating high school and starting college.

Of Mike and I becoming empty nesters.

Eek.

And maybe …

just maybe …

there might be a new home to share.  I’m thinking somewhere warm. Near a beach. Perhaps NC? or SC? or GA?

Recommendations are encouraged!

And that new space would become my new canvas. Because surely I’ll want to paint the walls …

at the very least. 😉

And speaking of mason jars, I’m giving away a set of my red, white & blue American Flag Jars. Click here to enter. {If you aren’t on Facebook, you can also find an entry form at my mason jar blog. Just click here}

P.S. If you’d prefer to make your own set, you can find my tutorial here and here.

P.P.S. You can find more of my ‘on trend’ mason jar project here …