Ombre. Distressed. Mason Jars. Those three things create the perfect trifecta. If I could rewind to a year ago, I would have had these flooding my wedding scene. Not only are these inexpensive to make, but they are seriously easy. Plus, they are a perfect decor piece. Simply add fresh flowers for a chic look anywhere in your home.
What You'll Need:
Mason Jars...Try searching at your local Goodwill, thrift shops, and garage sales. I was able to snag some for only .69 cents. They are also available at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, and many other chain stores.
Paint...For this particular batch I used acrylic, however wall paint from Home Depot or Lowe's works as well. What's even cooler? Get a perfect match with your home decor color theme by taking in an item for them to color match. You can get a small sample jar for usually under $2. I do find that acrylic works better and is easier to work with.
**This tutorial aims to achieve an ombre effect. If you are planning on doing ombre, you will need to buy 2 bottles of your darkest ombre shade and then 2 bottles of white. If not, just choose your colors and buy 1 bottle for each jar.
Sanding Block...I prefer a coarser grit, however a fine grit will work.
Paint Brush...I used a basic art brush, but a small foam brush works really well. I recommend buying 3. If not, just make sure to rinse your brush out and dry between colors.
Finishing Clear-Coat...I used a Clear Polyurethane Spray, but be sure to make sure it will not yellow or leave a funky coloring on your finished jars. Some sprays will say this on their label so keep an eye out. This does NOT make the jars waterproof or dishwasher safe. It simply gives a nice semi-protective finish and makes the jars wipe-able. You can score this at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, or JoAnns at 40-50% off with an online coupon which makes for a sweet deal!
And here we go...
Prep your jars. Wash them and make sure they are dry.
Because I only purchased one shade of color paint, I must create my ombre shades. I did this rather than buy 3 different shades of green because I wanted them to be in the same color family. To achieve the varying levels of ombre, just add white paint. Paper plates are great because they contain the mess well and make for an easy clean-up. My first shade was only the color paint (green), the second shade was my color paint mixed with a little white, and then my third shade was my color paint mixed with a lot of white. This is something you can play around with until you reach your desired shades. Mix up more than enough because you do not want to run out and have to try and match the shade exactly. Now that would stink. Not doing ombre? No worries, you can skip this step:)
Paint is prepped and we are ready to get this show on the road! Paint one coat. Let dry for at least a few hours. If you do not wait long enough before doing the second coat, your first layer will peel off and make lumps of paint on your jar. Yuck! You may want to cover your paint to prevent it from drying out. If you used a paper plate, you can place the plate in a large freezer baggie.
After they are completely dry. Paint on a second coat.
A third coat may be applied if needed.
**Optional: You can also paint the insides of the jar black or gray to add more contrast or leave them clear.
After painted with 2 coats.
It's time to distress! Use your sanding block to gently sand away areas on your jar. Start with a little. If you go "sanding happy" at first and accidentally sand away too much, it is going to be hard to fix it, whereas if you start small, you can always add more. TIP: Hard fingernail files work well too and allow for more precision.
After being sanded and distressed.
Almost done! This step needs to be done outside for proper ventilation. This stuff smells! Carefully, spray one jar at a time with your chosen clear coat. Read the label for proper directions. Avoid doing this on a day that is super hot or has high humidity as it will make the jars sticky, even when dry. Yes, I have done this before and it ruined my jar. Boo! This step is actually optional. If you chose not to, you can leave the jars with the matte finish it has after your final coat. Just remember, you will not be able to wet wipe it down to clean.
Left- No clear coat
Right- Glossy clear coat
And there you have it.. A perfect decor piece to add to your home. These even make adorable cutlery holders for cook-outs or parties!
The best part is that once you know how to do this technique, you can use it on any glassware items! Pieces with texture work best, like the vase below.
Want the chance to WIN the set featured on this post? Simply follow and comment on this post and one winner will be chosen at random!
And I couldn't help but share a picture I snapped of my little handsome hunk while making these:) You know, just chewing on those newly discovered hands.
I'd love to see your creations!
Enjoy,
Amber
