Got one empty jar and an hour before dinner? That’s all these 14 quick mason jar crafts need. Each one starts with a plain canning jar and a short supply list, usually a can of spray paint, a bottle of Mod Podge, a string of fairy lights or a few dollars of hardware store bits, and most are finished before the kettle cools. You’ll find painted baseball jars and shiny gold jars for the shelf, a tumbler with a straw lid, a glitter night light for a kid’s room, a sea glass mosaic candle jar and a soft blue tinted jar set. A few DIY JOY originals with step by step videos are in the mix too, including a pressed flower lantern and a Santa jar that doubles as a gift. Tip: wipe every jar with rubbing alcohol first, because paint and glue grab clean glass so much better. Find even more ideas on the mason jar crafts hub.
1. DIY Mason Jar Diffuser
A DIY mason jar diffuser is a baking soda air freshener with a pretty cut metal lid. Trace the jar’s flat seal onto a sheet of decorative perforated aluminum, then cut just inside the line with metal snips. Wear gloves, since those cut edges are sharp. Fill the jar partway with baking soda and stir in your favorite essential oil, about 30 to 40 drops per cup. Swap the new metal disc in for the seal, screw on the band and you’re done. It soaks up odors near a litter box or in a closet, and costs next to nothing if the scraps are on hand.
Get the full tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
2. Box Tops Mason Jar
A Box Tops mason jar keeps those little school fundraiser clippings in one spot instead of lost in a drawer. The trick is a coin slot lid, the same one used for mason jar piggy banks. Brush two coats of multi-surface paint on the jar, letting the first dry completely before the second. A light sanding afterward gives it a distressed look if you like. Cut the words in glitter vinyl on a cutting machine and press them on with transfer tape. Ribbon trim at the neck finishes it, and it can live by the recycling bin so clipping is easy.
Get the full tutorial at A Pumpkin And A Princess.
3. Mason Jar Nightlight
A mason jar nightlight is so easy the kids can make their own. Small jars work best, though a baby food or pickle jar does the job too. Stir a little food coloring and extra fine glitter into Mod Podge, then paint the inside of the jar with the tinted mix. For a speckled look, dab Mod Podge on in spots, sprinkle glitter over it and repeat. Once dry, set a battery tealight in the lid and screw the jar on upside down so the lid becomes the base. It glows softly all night and costs about the same as a store nightlight.
Get the full tutorial at Mod Podge Rocks.
4. Mason Jar Fairy Lights With Pressed Flowers
Mason jar fairy lights with pressed flowers glow like a little garden after dark. Clean the jar well and let it dry, then play with your flowers and leaves on the outside until you love the layout. Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the glass, press a flower on and brush more over the top, working in small sections so the glue stays wet. Thin petals and leaves work best because light passes through them. A second coat seals everything. Drop in a string of fairy lights, add the lid and tie on a jute bow.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
5. Glittering Gem Mason Jars
Glittering gem mason jars throw sparkly light patterns across a room. Cover a jar in flat glass gems, gluing each one with a glass and bead glue made for the job. Clear silicone caulk works too, but it gives a different, chunkier look. The key is patience: let the glue cure fully before you handle the jar or leave it out in heat or cold, and the gems won’t budge. Top it with a solar light lid, which can be made for about a dollar each. Set it in a sunny window by day and watch it glow by night.
Get the full tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
6. Easy DIY Fairy Jar Lanterns
Easy DIY fairy jar lanterns give off a soft, cozy glow that’s perfect for a bedside table. Print a fairy silhouette, or trees, mushrooms or a little house, onto cardstock and cut it out. Paint the inside of the jar with white acrylic or primer, keeping the coat thin enough for light to pass through. Tuck fake moss or crumpled tissue in the bottom, then hot glue the silhouette to the inside of the glass with a few leaves. Drop in a tealight or fairy lights, then wrap twine around the neck with leaves glued on.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
7. DIY Mason Jar Glow Lights
DIY mason jar glow lights soak up light during the day and shimmer after dark. All you need is glow in the dark paint, glitter and any clean jar. A few paint colors make the effect more magical, and craft stores and big box stores both stock it in small jars or tubes. Dab the paint inside the jar in dots and swirls, add glitter, then set it in the sun to charge. It doesn’t need to be perfect to look great. Kids love making these for backyard cookouts, and they’re fun teen room or dorm decor too.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
8. DIY Mason Jar Drinking Cup
A DIY mason jar drinking cup turns a canning jar into a to-go tumbler with a straw lid. Anchor a metal lid with a few nails around the edge, then drill a hole in the center with a 1/2 inch spade bit. Press in a rubber grommet, about 5/8 inch outside and 3/8 inch inside, so the straw fits snugly and doesn’t scratch. Screw on the band and slide in a glass or stainless steel straw. A pint and a half jar fits most cup holders. Add a fabric sleeve before pouring anything hot.
Get the full tutorial at Traditional Cooking School by GNOWFGLINS.
9. DIY Painted Baseball Mason Jars
DIY painted baseball mason jars make cute utensil caddies for a ball themed party or a baby shower. Wash pint jars, then wipe them with rubbing alcohol. Paint them white with a multi-surface craft paint, one light coat at a time, and let each coat dry overnight. Rushing the second coat makes the paint peel right off, and three coats give full coverage. Draw curved red seams down each side with a paint pen, adding little arrow stitches. Sand lightly over the raised lettering for a worn look, then tie on a jute bow.
Get the full tutorial at two purple couches.
10. DIY Santa Chocolate Jar
A DIY Santa chocolate jar is a last minute Christmas gift that comes together fast. Measure across the mason jar lid and trim a regular Santa hat to that width, then hot glue the seam closed and glue the pom pom back on top. For the belt buckle, cut a small gold EVA foam rectangle with two slots and thread black ribbon through. Wrap the belt around the jar, pull it tight and glue the end. Fill it with chocolates, close the lid and pop the hat on. No sewing needed, and small jars work too.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
11. Thumbprint Sunflower Mason Jar
A thumbprint sunflower mason jar is a sweet craft to make with kids, messy fingers and all. Start with a jar painted and distressed in white. Dip a finger in brown acrylic and press a dot in the center, then wash up. Dip again in yellow and press petals all around the brown center, letting little thumbs do the work. If you like, add tiny green seeds to the center with a fine brush. Let it dry for 24 hours, then spray on a matte clear coat. Fill it with real sunflowers for a cheerful vase.
Get the full tutorial at Mason Jar Crafts Love.
12. Gold Mason Jars
Gold mason jars might be the fastest glam upgrade on this list. A metallic gold spray paint does all the work. Shake the can a lot before you start and between passes to keep the paint mixed. Spray in steady side to side sweeps, left to right and back again. With metallic gold, one full coat is the trick, since layering several thin coats can dull the shine. Skip a clear sealer too, as it can discolor the gold. Fill them with carnations and line them down a table for a bridal shower.
Get the full tutorial at Mason Jar Crafts Love.
13. Mosaic Mason Jar
A mosaic mason jar looks like sea glass treasure but uses craft store glass pieces from the vase filler aisle. Skip the glue gun here, since there are too many little pieces and too many chances to burn your fingers. A quick drying all purpose epoxy holds better. Work in one section at a time: dry fit the pieces first, glue them down, let them set, then turn the jar and repeat. It looks lovely in daylight, and even better on a summer night with a candle glowing inside.
Get the full tutorial at Mason Jar Crafts Love.
14. Ombre Tinted Mason Jars
Ombre tinted mason jars are one of the simplest ways to get colored glass at home. A tint applied inside clear jars gives them a soft, sea glass look, and lining up light to dark shades builds that ombre effect. Match the colors to the occasion: one shade for a wedding table with flowers or flameless candles, red and blue with clear for July 4th, red and green for Christmas. A rainbow set makes fun barbecue utensil holders. Once tinted, fill them with stems, candles or treats.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
