How-to Pimp your Mason Jars

I have been using mason jars as storage in my studio for quite some time.  I love how sturdy they are.  I love that they are see-through, and mostly, I love the fact that I am reusing something that would otherwise be thrown in a landfill.   I've seen many ways to decorate your jars or reuse them and they are all fabulous. But, for me, a self-proclaimed paper addict, there is no other way to pimp up a mason jar than with some beautiful paper.  As much as I love these babies, there's something about the "please refrigerate after opening" or "use by *** date" that just puts a damper on their prettiness.  So, I decided to cover my lids with my secret stash of handmade pretties.  Here is how.

First things first.  You will need:

• your very own secret stash of paper
• scissors
• mod podge or any similar glue
• paint brush
• a work surface that can get messy
• circle dies, punches or anything that will help you make a decent circle (you can freehand if you're super fabulous) or you canuse one of these.
• a sharp object you can use to etch a line or a pencil 
• mason and canning jars and lids
• a well ventilated area, unless you want to get "happy" on Mod Podge fumes

So, I did two different types of jars.  I did canning jars (which have the lids with 2 pieces) and I did regular screw-top jars.  The steps are very similar for both with the exception that for the former I like to cover the inside of the lid with a different patterned paper so that it looks really finished (and it also covers any leftover sauce stains).

First you need to cut a circle larger than the lid.  If the lid has a lip you need to add the measurement of the lip plus an additional quarter inch or so, so that the paper covers the lip completely.  

Then you score (or pencil) around the edge of the lid.

Using the scored line as a guide, you then cut slits about a quarter of an inch 

apart around the circumference of the circle.

Next you cover the center of the circle generously with Mod Podge 

as well as the outside center of the jar lid.

Press the lid firmly onto the paper.  Flip it over and run your fingers around the entire edge 

and center to be sure that the surfaces touch and adhere to each other.

Now in small pieces, brush Mod Podge on to the side of the jar as well as to the inside of the paper.

(This is where it gets nice and messy and starts to feel like art class).

You want to do this clockwise and a bit at a time so you get a nice overlap 

and you don't wind up with a big mess

Here it is all overlapped

Now you want to seal that paper in so that it doesn't (ever) come loose.

Apply Mod Podge generously all over lid and let dry.

Here are the pics of the same process with the canning lid.  In this case you don't need 

such a big allowance for overlapping:

Since this lid is very indented you really need to rub the paper on to the lid and remove and space between the paper and the lid.

As a finishing I chose an alternate pattern to cover up the inside.

Seal it all up with Mod Podge on both sides. (Let it dry in between 

or your paper will get stuck to your surface)

Here are your pretties all dolled up!

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial!  

On a completely unrelated note, Martha Stewart is hosting a daily giveaway this month.  You can enter to win something great every day.  Here is the link.

Have a SWEET week!