I’ve been playing in the craft room and there are lots of ideas on today’s post for using Mason jars in new ways. We’ll start simple, and go a bit more involved later on. I have shown these jar votive holders in the past, but I have new readers that may not have seen them. While at a big box store some years ago, I noticed some votive holders that had flared tops. Around the corner was a Mason jar display. I wondered, would those votives fit the jars? Yes, they did. Setting the votive holder on the top, it is held in place by the ring. Anything you want can be put in the base, changed out for the seasons or your table theme with flowers and pine cones, whatever you have.
I use scentless tea candles on a dinner table, but you can also use the little battery operated candles for safety.
Put in your choice, then set the votive on top of the jar. Screw the ring onto the top lightly to hold the votive in place. Don’t tighten too much, it can break the glass.
If you’d like a bit more bling, glue some upholstery trim and a gold leaf to decorate the jar. Fill the jar with harvest corn, apples, nuts and plastic jewels.
Those plastic jewels and some clear marbles can provide a base for a floral arrangement in a mason jar. Real flowers would be wonderful, but I used silk ones here for demonstration.
Another idea for using Mason jars as vases uses the netting that comes on our Brussels sprouts or other vegetables. Place some netting over the top of the jar, allowing a generous amount to hang over the side. Screw the ring down over the netting, without the lid.
Cut off the excess with scissors.
Place the flower stems into the jar through the net. The netting provides a scaffold so the stems do not all fall to the side.
Fill it up, nice and full!
Did you notice my Ball jar is not clear? It is possible to spray paint glass. You just have to treat it first. Simply paint the jar with Mod Podge and allow it to dry. The coating gives the paint something to stick to, and works on both glass and plastic. I had some empty plastic mayo jars, peanut butter and coffee jars, so I did those too. I have some glass jelly jars lined up to do soon for the next holiday season. Mod Podge the lids as well.
When the Mod Podge is dry, take the jars outside to your painting area and spray paint them. Mine do show the brush strokes of the Mod Podge, but I didn’t mind that. Spray a light coating. I am using a glittery metallic gold.
Allow to dry thoroughly, then put on a second coat. When completely dry, you can think about decorating them. Maybe you’d like to use them to give some treats to friends. Halloween is coming. A bit of ribbon and a few stickers and you are set.
Perhaps something more elegant is in order. This could be a gift with a matching gold lid, or a vase. Here, I’ve wrapped a feathery ribbon around the top, and added a little bee charm on a brown rayon ribbon. With clear marbles in the bottom, it will support a bouquet of fall beauty.
If you have acrylic paints, you can sponge paint directly on a plastic jar. I use a bit of a kitchen sponge, and a range of beige and brown not thoroughly mixed. Leave the paint streaky. Dab the sponge in the paint, then stipple onto the jar. Allow to dry and repeat until the coverage is what you want.
Then, decorate. I used Mod Podge to decoupage some fussy cut leaves from a fall fabric.
Tie a bow with a combination of thin jute and amber cording. If you don’t decoupage, you can simple add a wide ribbon glued to the jar with a bow. Pretty wrapping paper, or fall theme card making paper in a wide strip would do nicely as well.
Peanut butter jars have red lids already, perfect for gluing leaves and acorns. A hot glue gun, some silk leaves and real acorns adorn these jars.
Paint or decorate your jars, add an embroidered jar wrap, then fill with mixes from Wednesday’s post, or other treats. Later, we’ll talk about more ideas with Mason jars in the sewing room and in the garden.
Returning Premier sponsor, C&T Publishing, is back with a giveaway of a $50 gift certificate for their online bookstore! I’ll have some new release book reviews for you later in the month. Special notice, C&T is having their annual Warehouse Sale! Today until Monday (10/16), you can enjoy up to 70% off with no code necessary!
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To enter the drawing, just visit the website and comment on this post – Which C&T New Release looks the most interesting to you?
From My Carolina Home 
I’ve always enjoyed Kim Diehl’s look so her two books shown appeal to me, Simple Patchwork and Simple Whatnots111. All of the jar ideas are so cute, but the eyelash ribbon and charm jar caught my eye and is just darling! Simple and sweet, just my style!
Carol Doanes 60 Fabulous Paper Pieced Blocks looks very interesting to me because I want to learn how to make these blocks again.
First, the link to the website isn’t working. But I found the “latest additions” and hoped these were the new releases😊 The Kitty Wallet patterns look interesting to try—-Gifts for everyone!
Doris Ringler
Thanks, link fixed!
pretty jars! I hadn’t thought of painting them but then I mainly just use them for canning.
The idea of the netting is a great one!
If choose precut quilts.
More playful precuts. I have so many precuts and would really like to be able to get them out of my stash. Thanks
The mason jar ideas are awesome! So glad you made this part of Autumn Jubilee. There are so many translucent spray paints available. I can see cutting designs from adhesive vinyl and adding a string of lights on the inside, or the small jelly size jars with a tea light as place settings.
These are fun projects, Carole! Thanks for the inspiration. I think the 100 Whimsical Applique book looks like fun!
I love the many ideas for jars. I think I am going to use some for Christmas presents this year. I think thr Tumblers book interests me the most. I have that acrylic template, but never thought of using it to create different shapes in that way
More Playful Precut Quilts may be a good library addition. I do have a few precuts around waiting for a project! Jeani
I like Kim’s patterns so I was drawn to Simple Whatnots III. I have enjoyed decorating with mason jars in the past but picked up some new ideas!
The One block wonder quilts have always interested me!
All of the cool ideas with the jars is great especially with all the holidays right around the corner! Thanks.
Thanks for sharing lots of ideas for mason jar crafting!
You have so many great ideas for decorating with Mason jars! I love the idea to use the netting to help your flowers stand up better. I’ll have to try that. On the C&T site, I saw the book 60 Fabulous Paper-pieced Stars that looks intriguing!
Using recycled jars for decorating is great! Lots of good ideas here. C&T Publishing has lots of good stuff. I think the Mini Art Frame cards are an awesome idea, and the Quilt Builder Card Deck is awesome’,
I would love to have Kim Diehl’s new release, Simple Whatnots lll. I have several of her books and have made quilts from her books. Very well written and beautiful patterns.
Love the gold painted jars! Clever idea!!!
Love of Fat Quarter Quilts and The Ultimate Guide to Free-Motion Quilting by Angela Walters would be my choices- I’d need both!
I have a lot of precuts, so Playful Precut Quilts would be put to good use. Thanks for the giveaway and the terrific ideas for decorating with Mason Jars. Happy fall.
Kim Diehl for me, and I’ve also had my eye on the Barn Star Sampler book. Loving the canning jar theme this year!
These ideas for Mason jars are my favorites! I look for ideas, and yours are very nice looking, and easy to do!
These are fun, Carole. The fruit netting is especially brilliant — beats my old taping-a-grid method! And the trim on the sealing rim makes for a nice touch. Love the candle idea too!
Lots of fun new releases at C&T Publishing. I like this one: Learn About Pinecone Quilts with Betty Ford-Smith
The Periodic Table of Embroidery Stitches Poster looks like a lot of fun. I just love it. I really want that poster.
Sew Sustainable catches my eye!
Love the Mason Jars with the fall leaves.
Wonderful ideas here and they all look pretty. I think the book on Make Felt Flowers would be fun to use!
Carla from Arizona
I love star blocks so I like the look of 60 Fabulous Paper pieced Stars!
It pays to be patient, what a deal you can get on those books!
Great ideas Carole! I love the one with all the bling!
Jenna
Putting a net bag over the opening of a canning jar to hold flower stems is pure genius! Thanks so much.
I’m looking forward to making a quilt from Pinecone Quilts by Betty Ford-Smit that I just received and would love to get Tantalizing Table Toppers by Pat Sloan.
Thank you Carole and CT Publishing for this opportunity.
I like “Just two charm pack quilts”, lots of ideas!!
What great ideas with the mason jars. Will have to try the votive candles
I think my favorite new release is the 60 paper pieced stars book. I have such fun with paper piecing.
Thanks for all the good projects
More Playful Precut Quilts looks like fun to me!
Love your jars with the leaves modge-podged on!!! The Pat Sloan’s Tantalizing Table Toppers book appeals to me. I have made several of Pat’s patterns and she writes great directions. 🙂
I think I would go for Kim Diehl’s new book Simple Whatnots III. I love scrap quilts.
You’ve offered so many creative ways to decorate jars! I usually keep glass jars that have an interesting shape or are just right for small flower bouquets. Now I have some great ideas to dress them up! Thanks! One new C&T book I’d like is Pat Sloan’s Tantalizing Table Toppers…she’s always got awesome patterns!
Festive Fall Quilts looks like the book for me. Love the designs and colors on the cover. Thanks to CT Publishing for the giveaway and thank you Carole, for all those mason jar ideas. Things I’d never would of thought to do!
Keep hearing about the quilt builder card sets. They sound fun and practical
I have always been a fan of Kim Diehl, so the Simple Whatnots III would be my choice. Love your ideas on the jars.
Wow, what a bunch of great ideas! Where I live they don’t recycle glass and I hate throwing away empty candle jars so your ideas are inspiring. I never thought about painting jars. Genius.
I checked out the C&T site and “60 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars, 2nd Ed looks” interesting. Also the NY Beauty tote
Nice work with reusing. I would be interested in Essential Color Card Deck from C and T. Thanks for sharing!!
I will soon be ready for some Christmas reading so Christmas, She Wrote by Ann Hazelwood looks extremely interesting. I see it is also available as an ebook so that’s even better. Loved your plethora of Mason jar ideas!
What a great post! Thanks for the idea of using netting on a mason jar to hold flowers as well as the painting tips. One of my daughters sprayed the INSIDE of mason jars with a medium green spray paint and they turned out beautifully and looked just like jadeite.
Pine one Quilts looks interesting!
Home Sweet Home paper piecing interests me….Percy my doodle was a model for one of her patterns!