Home Stories A to Z

Creating beauty out of chaos and sharing my home decor stories

Mason Jar Picture Frame Vase

Upcycle a mason jar into an affordable and thoughtful gift using supplies you most likely have on hand! This makes a great DIY gift!

painted mason jar vase

This post originally appeared on the blog several years ago and I recreated the project just for fun today!

…………………………………………………………………………………..

I am a Lowes Creative Ideas Blogger and each month we are issued a project challenge…should we choose to accept it! For March, we were tasked with showing off Pantone’s Radiant Orchid paint by Valspar. I recently shared with you 3 Tips on Decorating with Radiant Orchid. It’s a BOLD color and it’s definitely not for everyone. For this project, I wanted to create something in Radiant Orchid that would be easy to replicate, appeal to many, and scream YAY SPRING! I came up with a simple Mason Jar Picture Frame Vase. I think this would make a fantastic Mother’s Day gift, don’t you? It’s simple enough that kids can do most of the steps themselves with just a little adult supervision.

How to make a mason jar vase and frame

Supplies Needed for Mason Jar Picture Vase

For this project you will need the following:

Press Play for Video Tutorial

Step 1: Place vinyl or painter’s tape over jar and paint.

To create your picture frame window on your jar, place vinyl or painter’s tape on the area that you don’t want painted. I used my Silhouette machine to cut out a decorative square in black vinyl. There were some gaps in my vinyl, so I filled them with painter’s tape. If you don’t own a Silhouette, you could create a square using painter’s tape and decorative edge scissors. Paint the outside of the jar and immediately remove your sticker. You do not want to wait until the paint is dry or else it will be difficult to remove your sticker.

mason jar picture vase

Step 2: Cut a picture to size and attach to jar with painter’s tape.

I tried out a few different pictures before deciding on the one I liked best. I sized my pictures in a Word document and then just printed them off on my laser printer. The painter’s tape allows you to easily change out the picture.

mason jar picture

 

Step 3: “Distress” the lettering on the jar.

This is an optional step. I like the look of the lettering and pictures on mason jars and wanted it to show more clearly. I took a metal file and scraped off the paint where I wanted the lettering to show.

How to distress painted mason jars

Here you can see what the back of the jar looks like with the paint scraped off of the lettering.

mason jar vase in radiant orchid

Step 4: Seal the outside of the painted jar with clear spray paint.

The paint will easily scrape off of the jar if it is not sealed. To add durability to the paint, spray it with a clear spray paint.

Seal painted mason jar with spray enamel.

Step 5: Place paper cup inside jar to hold flowers.

Your picture will be ruined if you fill the inside of the jar with water. Place a paper cup inside the jar, fill the cup with water, and place your flowers in the cup. I used a foam cup and had to cut off the lip of the cup in order for it to fit but it worked great.

How to make a mason jar vase and frame

Alternatively, you can place an LED candle inside the jar for a different effect! Enjoy!

Mason Jar Picture Frame Candle

You can also fill the jar with epsom salts or a sugar scrub!

paintd mason jar gift

Or just fill the jar with your loved one’s favorite candy for a thoughtful and inexpensive gift!

painted mason jar gift idea

*Note: Some of you are having difficulty finding the right mason jars. Use Golden Harvest mason jars which do not have writing on both sides. Click here for an affiliate link to the jars on Amazon.

Share this:

Sharing is caring!

Comments

  3. Erin says

    I love mason jar crafts! Great project idea. I included this in a ten best photo ideas for Father’s Day gifts blog post that links back to your tutorial and blog.

    • Beth says

      I’ve found it works best with brush on acrylic paints or latex paint. People tend to get impatient with spray paint and it doesn’t cure properly to the glass. If you are patient and can do very light coats with plenty of dry time between the coats and then allow it to cure overnight it should work.

  5. Brooke says

    Hi! This is such a cute idea. I’m wondering if you think I could use acrylic paint and a workable fixatif to seal it? Let me know. Thanks!

  7. Felicia says

    Lovely idea for Mom! I liked it so much I added a link to this page on my blog. I love the recessed look of the photograph – very unique.

    • Beth says

      Hi Heather, you can choose whatever size you’d like for this project. I used a 16 oz (pint-sized) jar.

      • Sheila says

        The pint size mason jars have lettering on one side and fruit on the other. Will I still be able to do this project? We’re doing this in my daycare as a Mother’s Day gift.

        • Beth says

          No. You need jars that only have something embossed on one side otherwise your frame area will have fruit or writing over the kids’ faces. I recommend going to Walmart to see what’s available. You can buy online on Amazon (http://amzn.to/23xpch4) but they don’t always show you the back of the jar. Ball jars sometimes have embossed fruit on the back and sometimes are plain.

  9. Dawna says

    What about putting mod podge on inside of jar, covering photo? Would it protect the photo so the jar could be filled with water, skipping the cup?

    • Beth says

      I haven’t tried it but Mod Podge does make a dishwasher safe and an outdoor version that might work. Let me know if you try it and if it works!

  10. Valerie says

    how do you prevent the picture from getting “wet” if you put water in the mason jar? Love this mason jar idea!

    • Beth says

      Thanks so much Valerie! In the tutorial and in the pictures I address this. You use a foam cup inside the jar.

  11. darcymae says

    Can you tell me what the secret is to getting paint on that thick in one coat? A certain kind of brush? Technique? What?! I’ve been trying to replicate this but it’s taking several coats of paint to get coverage like you have and by the time that is accomplished the vinyl won’t come off nicely. HELP!

    • Beth says

      I’m so sorry it’s not working well. I think I used a Purdy paint brush and I don’t remember doing more than one coat, but maybe I did two. You could also just use spray paint.

    • Beth says

      Fabric spray paint typically contains softeners in the paint so that the coating is more flexible and won’t crack when bent. It wouldn’t be my first choice to spray on glass, but I’ve never tried it before so can’t speak to whether or not it works/holds up.

      • Diane says

        Thanks much for the reply. Will give it a dry run tomorrow and will advise.
        Appreciate the quick reply and have a great day!
        :>>
        Diane

  13. Carla Enriquez says

    I love this idea! I was trying to email it to myself and am having issues. I want to use this for my daughter’s quincenera, as table decorations and families can take them home if they want!! Please email me this article!

    Thanks!
    Carla Enriquez

  14. heather says

    I am making 5 of these as mothers day gifts. Cant wait to see how they come out!

  15. Christie WhiteHi says

    Hi,
    I am just wondering. Is the picture on the inside of the jar or outside? How is the picture adhering to the jar?

    Thanks

    • Beth says

      Hi Christie, If you look at the pictures in step 2 you will see that I have cut out a picture of my boys and placed painter’s tape (sticky side up) on the top of the picture. Place the picture inside the jar. The rest of the directions should be clear. Thanks!

  17. Stephani says

    i am interested in how you became a “Lowe’s Creative Blogger” and what the job is like…

    • Beth says

      Hi Stephani, Several years ago (3 or 4) Lowes’ PR company that managed the Lowes Creative Ideas Magazine chose me and 30 (or so) other bloggers to participate in the program. Just a few months ago, they changed how the program works so I no longer have monthly challenges. It was wonderful working with them, and I loved having a monthly project that “forced” me to think outside the box!

      • Fawn says

        This is such a cute idea! Thanks for posting! Do you spray the photo area with clear paint as well?

        • Beth says

          Hi Fawn, yes, I just sprayed the entire jar including the picture area with the clear paint.

          • Beth says

            I think I made mine just under 3 inches but it will depend on the size of your jar. Measure the area you want your picture to be placed and size your tape/vinyl and picture accordingly.

        • Beth says

          Hi Steph, I’m not really sure. I guess it would all depend on what you have on hand already and whether or not you were buying supplies for a group. I would guess you could do it for about $2.50 per jar? But I’m totally guessing here.

  22. Amber says

    This is absolutely precious! We are having a party for my grandmother’s 90th birthday next week and just tonight my mom and I were talking about how to incorporate mason jars and pictures! Well, there ya go! Super cute idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I cannot wait to try it!
    ~Amber

Trackbacks

  18. […] Mason jars are always coming handy for the art and craft projects and here they have been used so indicatively to serve as a cute and adorable picture frame and all you have to do is just paint a mason jar and then add a picture to its center with the help of a vinyl shape. Complete directions here homestoriesatoz […]

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content on this website, the information is made available without warranty of any kind. Home Stories A to Z accepts no responsibility or liability, whether direct or indirect, as to the currency or accuracy of the information, nor any consequence of its uses. This website is not intended to substitute the advice of a professional. This website frequently uses affiliate links. Here is our full Privacy Policy.