Painted Ball Jar Tutorial

For several years now I have had a fascination with Ball jars. I don't know what the attraction really is since I have never canned in my life! I just find them so interesting...with all their vintage appeal and usefulness.

Well, as you all know I have been painting them recently...I have posted about it a couple times and I promise this should be the last time! As I was painting my last couple jars I decided to do a brief tutorial..since it is so easy and even kids could do it!

First of all I gather my supplies...

I add a bit of Plaster of Paris mixed with water to almost any paint. I mix just enough to use on my project in a small bowl.

I start out by painting the bottoms of the jars and then let them dry.

You can speed up drying with a hair dryer if you are in a hurry.

This is the first coat

I usually put on 2 coats with a look like this (below)

 

 

On the red jar I used my Mother's paint sample jar from when she painted her kitchen. It is a semi-gloss. I discovered that I always use flat paint for a reason--the semi-gloss was a lot harder for me to work with.

I use regular sand paper to sand around the jar details. You could use a sanding block or whatever you prefer. I found the semi gloss chipped off a little easier than I like. Possibly I should have added more Plaster of Paris to it. The blue acrylic paint worked beautifully.

After sanding I added a piece of torn fabric and I painted a little daisy on it for fun. For those of you more talented you could paint something really cute on it.

I made this one for my Mom...filled with some white daffodils and other flowers from my garden. It looks so cute in her kitchen.

I added some torn eyelet to the handle on the jar I made for me...and another little daisy :)

I have seen tutorials online where people paint brown underneath and then a color on top. Then they sand down to let the brown show. I don't do it that way--I like the glass to show thru. I have also seen some people spray paint them--something I may try as spray paint is so easy to use.

I found this image on Facebook that shows you how to tell how old your Ball jars are. I find this so interesting!

 

Also, did you know there are some new blue Ball jars now coming out for the 100th anniversary Ball Heritage collection celebration? I want to get a case for sure. I know you can get them at Ace Hardware for $10.99 for a case of six. 

I would never paint a blue jar...love the blue!

I am off to work on pulling some weeds in the yard--though I may get a little wet the weeds are extra easy to pull right now!

I am delighted with everything blooming in my yard...including my white lilacs. Yay!

Thanks for visiting!