I have a confession to make. Lately I’ve been having painted jar envy. I know it’s not right to covet what others have, but seriously, every time I see a beautifully painted Ball jar on Pinterest I want to reach through the computer or iPhone screen and snatch it for myself. But since I don’t want to pay for a new screen for any of my devices {and also because I probably shouldn’t steal…}, I did the next best thing and created my own. 😀 I had a bunch of smaller glass jars sitting around my house, so I grabbed a couple of them and got to work!
Here’s what I used to create these pretty little painted jars:
- Rubbing Alcohol & Cotton Balls
- Glass Jars
- Acrylic Paint & Paint Brush
- Nail File
First, I wanted to make sure my jars were really, really clean. Glass is a slippery surface, and if the paint was going to stick at all, I needed to remove all the grime. I used cotton balls and rubbing alcohol to wipe everything down so it was nice and shiny!
Next, I started painting! I painted the whole outside of the jars, being careful not to let any of the paint pool in the tiny crevices. I let the paint dry completely before doing a second coat. {If I would have tried to do a second coat before the first coat dried, it would have pulled off some of my paint. Not that i know that from experience or anything…}
Then came the hard part: I had to be patient. I’m not good at being patient, but I also wanted my jars to look pretty, so I let them dry overnight before using a nail file to “distress” them. I was afraid sandpaper would chip off too much of the paint, and the nail file actually ended up working perfectly!
The distressing totally makes it, right?! You can see the difference here– the right one is distressed; the left is not.
Next I added some baker’s twine for a touch of pink, popped in some ombre tissue paper flowers, and they were ready for display!
And since I was setting the jars up for pictures, I figured I should probably just make my whole coffee table look pretty while I was at it…
I am just loving my little owl friend. I was shocked when I found him on clearance at Target for 2 or 3 dollars. You’d better believe I snatched him up before anyone else could get to him! 😉
And while I was busy satisfying my need for painted glass jars, my super awesome Get Your DIY On co-hostesses were whipping up sweet projects of their own:
DIY Wood Plank Headboard by Mandy, The Hankful House
LOVE Scrabble Tiles by April, House by Hoff
DIY Starfish Stamped Pillow with Piping by Christy, Confessions of a Serial DIYer
Valentine’s Day Mantel by Krista, The Happy Housie
We are so excited to be hosting our monthly themed link party this Sunday, February 2nd at 7 pm EST! The theme will be “Simple Decor Projects We Love,” and I know you have one (or 100) of those in your archives, so come join the fun! Hope to see you there!
Pssssstttt… In case you missed it last week, right now I’m offering a FREE PDF to all of my newsletter subscribers with detailed screenshots and instructions on how to create your own adorable printables! If you already subscribe to our newsletter, you should have received this information already, so check your email! If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can do so here! {PDF is sent within an hour of subscribing. 🙂 }
Have you created any simple home decor lately?
I link up at these fun parties!
Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says
January 31, 2014 at 7:11 amThey look beautiful!
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:53 pmThank you so much, Megan! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Ashley @ 3littlegreenwoods says
January 31, 2014 at 7:42 amOkay so now I have jar envy! Got to make me some of these pretties!
~ Ashley 😉
Kim {Pinspired Home} says
January 31, 2014 at 8:27 amSo pretty! We have a ton of mason jars. But… we actually use almost all of them for canning in the summer and the fall. Maybe we can spare a few? 🙂
Ok, and now I have to ask: how long did your coffee table stay pretty? Your Caleb is very close to my kiddo’s age, and I know I can’t decorate anything within his reach because it gets moved, hidden, or destroyed. 😛 I’d love some tips in that department!
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:50 pmLol! I was fending off the boys the whole time I was taking these pictures! The light was just perfect on the coffee table that day, though, so I had to set it up there! When I want stuff to stay “styled” long-term, I have a couple spots that are out of their reach– the shelves that I show often, on top of the Expedit that holds all of their toys, and on top of my china cabinet. Maybe someday I’ll be able to have permanent decor on the coffee table, but that day has not arrived yet! 😀 Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend, Kim!
~Abby =)
Mandy Hank says
January 31, 2014 at 9:09 amAbby this is a great tutorial. I tried to paint some jars awhile back and it literally peeled right off- oops 🙁 These are super cute!!
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:47 pmThank you, Mandy! I was afraid of that, too, but it seems to be staying for now! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend, friend!
~Abby =)
[email protected] of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
January 31, 2014 at 9:58 amI want some too, now! I have been eyeing them around the blogosphere for a while now also, but yours really make me want some…they’re my favorite color! 🙂 Have a fantastic weekend! XO
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:47 pmAw, thank you friend! You are the queen of pretty painting projects, so I’m sure yours would be stunning! I hope you’re having a great weekend!
~Abby =)
Amy W says
January 31, 2014 at 10:44 amI love these, too! And the color you choose is just perfection! Thank you for sharing with us.
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:46 pmThank you so much, Amy! You are so sweet! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Carrie A. says
January 31, 2014 at 11:28 amI am IN love with how you’ve decorated your coffee table! Love the jars, too!
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:45 pmThank you so much, Carrie! You are the sweetest! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Amy @ Homey Oh My! says
January 31, 2014 at 11:46 amThey look SO good on your coffee table! And would even look great on your pink and aqua V-day display ;). So pretty, Abby!
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:45 pmI do seem to have a thing for aqua these days! I’ve even found myself wearing it more often, lol. Must be a phase! Thank you so much for your sweet words, Miss Amy! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Lisa - A Merry Mom says
January 31, 2014 at 11:49 amYour painted jars turned out great. Love your whole coffee table vignette!
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:44 pmThank you so much, Lisa! I’m so glad you stopped by! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Katie @ Made to be a Momma says
January 31, 2014 at 1:42 pmThese jars are soooo pretty! Love the blue with the pink!
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:43 pmThank you so much, my friend! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Krista @thehappyhousie says
January 31, 2014 at 2:14 pmSo pretty Abby! I LOVE the color (surprised?) and the distressing. They look adorable with the twine wrapped around the top. Pinned. Happy weekend!
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:43 pmYou are the queen of aqua! I always love the way you incorporate it! 😀 Thanks so much for the pin! Have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
Bridget says
January 31, 2014 at 5:17 pmDo you have a blog post about how to create the paper flowers? I’m looking for an easy paper flower project. (Love the jars, too, though!)
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:41 pmThanks, Bridget! You can find the tissue paper flower tutorial here: https://justagirlandherblog.com/tissue-paper-flower-tutorial-style-1/. The ones in the tutorial are just white, but it’s the same technique. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Cyndi says
January 31, 2014 at 5:48 pmNice photos, nice tutorial. Thank you.
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:39 pmThank you so much, Cyndi! I’m so glad you stopped by! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Jamie @ Anderson & Grant says
January 31, 2014 at 6:10 pmAdding LOVE was such a nice touch in the label section of the jar…..it’s the little details that make projects like this really special!
justagirlabby says
February 1, 2014 at 10:39 pmThank you so much, Jamie! You are the sweetest! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Sonnet @ SohoSonnet Creative Living says
February 2, 2014 at 12:03 pmThese are simply gorgeous. Great color and they seem pretty easy to make!! PS- I love your living room especially the owl 🙂
justagirlabby says
February 2, 2014 at 9:58 pmThank you so much, friend! You are the sweetest! Hope you’re having a great night!
~Abby =)
Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says
February 2, 2014 at 7:00 pmThese are so wonderfully beautiful and dainty. I love them, Abby!
justagirlabby says
February 2, 2014 at 9:50 pmThank you, Tasha! Hope you have a great week!
~Abby =)
Corey @ Tinysidekick says
February 2, 2014 at 11:43 pmI love these painted jars Abbey. I am throwing a wedding shower soon and something like this would be perfect!
justagirlabby says
February 5, 2014 at 8:26 amThank you so much, Corey! They’re super simple, too! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Marty Walden says
February 5, 2014 at 9:54 amYour project is beautiful and the post is done so well, Abby! I’m pinning and visiting from blogtalk today!
justagirlabby says
February 12, 2014 at 3:30 pmThank you, Marty! I’m so glad you stopped by! Thanks for the pin! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Heather {Woods of Bell Trees} says
February 5, 2014 at 12:35 pmThese are adorable! I thought at first that they were pricey vases!
justagirlabby says
February 12, 2014 at 3:30 pmThanks, Heather! I’m flattered! 😀 Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Virginia says
February 5, 2014 at 8:15 pmSo pretty! I love your jars.
justagirlabby says
February 12, 2014 at 3:27 pmThank you so much, Virginia! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Nici says
February 5, 2014 at 11:53 pmThese are so sweet. I love the addition of the ombre tissue paper flowers. I hope you’ll link this up to our All Things Thursday Blog Hop going on right now. Have a great week.
Blessings,
Nici
justagirlabby says
February 12, 2014 at 3:26 pmThank you so much, Nici! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Selene Galindo says
February 8, 2014 at 1:56 amThis is so pretty, Abby!!! Love the baker’s twine! It was the perfect touch!
justagirlabby says
February 12, 2014 at 3:17 pmThank you, Selene! You are the sweetest! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Katie @ Upcycled Treasures says
February 9, 2014 at 11:13 amThese are so pretty and I love the color you chose! I’ve had painted jar envy for quite some time too now, and can’t believe I haven’t painted any yet! It’s on my to do list so hopefully I will get to it sooner than later, especially after seeing yours 🙂
justagirlabby says
February 12, 2014 at 3:06 pmThank you, friend! I couldn’t believe I had waited so long either! It ended up being so simple! Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Abby =)
Julia @ FaveCrafts says
February 19, 2014 at 4:48 pmHi Abby,
What a cute project! I love it so much that I decided to feature it in our roundup of mason jar crafts! Check it out here: https://www.favecrafts.com/blog/fc/mason-jar-craft-ideas/
Have a great day!
justagirlabby says
February 21, 2014 at 9:51 pmThank you so much, Julia! I’m honored to be included! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Cathey DeRosa says
February 23, 2014 at 1:12 amI love the jars as well as every one else. Could you please let me know what kind of paint you used? You said “Acylics”, but there are quite a few kinds now. I’d appreciate it.
Thank you.
Cathey D.
justagirlabby says
February 23, 2014 at 2:10 pmThanks so much, Cathey! I just used the regular old Martha Stewart craft paint! 🙂 I hope that helps! Have a wonderful Sunday!
~Abby =)
angel says
March 19, 2014 at 7:40 amsooooooooooo pretty! i love the color you chose 🙂
Lauren @ The Thinking Closet says
March 23, 2014 at 12:01 amThese are so gosh darned gorgeous, Abby! I’m a sucker for all things mason jar…but seeing that pretty blue in conjunction with the pink baker’s twine and tissue paper flowers, well, it’s a match made in DIY heaven. Pinning!
justagirlabby says
March 31, 2014 at 11:39 pmThank you so much, my friend! You are the sweetest! Enjoy your week!
~Abby =)
Janet says
March 19, 2015 at 3:32 pmAbby, beautiful workmanship. I just saw this posted on the FaveCrafts website and most definitely will try it. BTW, would you know of an acrylic paint thinner? I can’t afford the Pebeo thinners and I wanted to know if this was something more inexpensive out there to use. Thank you so much……