CRAFTY CHICA: Glass Jar Craft Ideas

1. Tree in a jar. Earlier this month I had a whirlwind trip to Miami and spent an evening window shopping with my friend, Pearmama. We wandered into Anthropologie and I gasped when I saw these fun jar decorations. They're made from Mason jars, mini-jars and salt shakers. They're filled with faux snow and have a little object inside. No water, glycerin, etc. Pretty simple. Priced starting at $18, I knew I wanted to come home and make some.

2. Also spotted - these hanging glass dome ornaments! They look like little fish bowls turned upside down and glued to cardboard. I got all excited and realized...I've actually made and shared several jar crafts! Here are my versions and then I'll show you some others I found online and from my crafty amigas! I think we should all make jar crafts this season!

 

3. Bottle Picture Frame. This is a Starbucks Frapuccino jar. I removed the label and inserted a family photo with some other objects. I used rub-on letters and accents and then tied a little medal at the front.

 

4. Candle Jar Shrine. These little shrines, I assembled using glass candles holders (you can also use small juice glasses). I didn't only decorate the inside, but also on top too! Here are the project directions.

Photo by Cyndi Coon of Lovely Lula

5. Message in a Jar. Also this month, I helped organize the 3rd Annual Phoenix Craft Rave. My co-organizer, Cyndi Coon, hosted a DIY make-and-take project called "Message in a Jar." This was sooo cute, people loved it. This would be a great project for a girls night out craft or a wedding shower, etc. Here is a little video I recorded for you! (Pardon my shaky camera skills).

Photo by Jaimee  Rose

6. Bell jars! This is from another friend of mine, Jaimee Rose. She has a whole blog post all about bell jars! Very inspiring!

Photo by Jaimee Rose.

Her mom makes them every year and fills them with memory objects!

Photo by Taylor Swift.

7. Snowglobe in a Jar. Us crafties have been making these for years, but Taylor Swift gave them a new sense of popularity when she made these for her friends and posted it on her Facebook page last year. Need a tutorial? I have one!

Soooo...are you inspired to use jars n your crafting this season? What are you planning to make? Wouldn't it be fun to incorporate glass etching too? Which is your favorite jar craft? What else can you do with jars? Am I overloading you with questions?

xo!
Kathy :-)

Halloween Snow Globes

When I laid eyes on Martha Stewart's Baby Food Jar Snow Globes years ago, my crafty heart went all aflutter. I was always smitten on the idea and swore that one day when I had a baby I too would use my jars creatively. Well here we are years later and I'm ready for action. I typically make my own baby food, but I do keep a few jars around the house for meals out and on the go. Nothing says that all snow globes have to have a Christmas theme? What about Halloween? I thought this often slighted holiday deserved a snow globe of it's very own. Grab some empty jars and handful of other supplies and follow along with today's edition of I Love to Create.


SUPPLIES
Small Jars without labels
Liquid Fusion Glue
Decorative Halloween Ribbon
Glycerin
Tulip Fashion Glitter
Distilled Water
Small Halloween Trinkets
Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue


Finding just the right Halloween themed trinket to go inside your snow dome can be the trickiest part about this easy project. Michaels had a whole slew of figurines from their "Spooky Town Collection". I opted for a trick-or-treating pirate and Dracula.


Once you have chosen your figurine using Liquid Fusion Glue, which is water proof, attach your trinket to the lid of the jar. Allow to dry completely.


I could have left my jars plain, but why when decorative Halloween ribbon was on clearance? Using Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky GlueI covered the lid and attached fun ribbon. Not only does it give the snow globe a little more visual interest it also covers brand names like "Earth's Best" on the baby food jars.


Once all the glue is dry it is time to fill up your snow domes. Fill your jar almost completely full with distilled water, add a wee little bit of glycerin (I found mine on the soap aisle of Hobby Lobby) and a sprinkle of Tulip Fashion Glitter.


Screw your lid on tight. You could even add a little Liquid Fusion Glue to the rim to make sure it never comes unscrewed again. Tip your globe over and let it snow glittery faux blood on Drac and creepy black rain on the Trick-or-Treater!

Want more Halloween ideas? Check out all of Jennifer's other Halloween themed blog posts here and watch her series of Halloween videos for HGTV here.