Mason Jar Christmas Craft – Lighted Dog Vase

For the dog lover on your Christmas list or anytime of the year. Easy Mason Jar Christmas Craft  is a fun and fuzzy gift or homemade addition to your Christmas decor. Great way to recycle used mason jars into a Christmas decoration.

Most of the materials are probably already lurking in your craft closet or a quick trip to craft store.  Turn a mason jar into a cute dog mason jar vase during the day and transform the vase into a lighted vase at night in a few crafty steps.

This is an adult or older child mason jar craft as the stenciling does require steady hands, but an older crafty child can definitely help and be very involved in this mason jar craft.

How To Make Mason Jar Christmas Craft

Materials

One small mason jar

Black acrylic paint

White latex paint or spray paint

Clip art /Silhouette of favorite dog

Foam paint brush

Copy Paper

Craft glue or glue stick

Battery operated tea lights

Directions

1. Search the internet for your favorite dog silhouette. Type in dog breed and silhouette and your selections will appear. Download the image, size the image to   for a 16 ounce mason jar.
2. Cut out the dog silhouette.
3. Paint the inside of the mason jar (see tutorial). Let dry.
4. Place the dog silhouette onto the front of the mason jar and center the location. Each mason jar can be slightly different depending upon the manufacturer and if there is raised writing on the jar.
5. The surface does not need to be flat. It is easier to glue the dog silhouette onto a smooth side, but not necessary either. I had jars with raised lines around the entire jar and it was not problem.
6. With craft glue or a glue stick (a glue stick really is enough glue), gently glue the dog silhouette onto the mason jar.
7. Lightly glue! This is temporary and the dog silhouette will be removed in the near future.
8. Mix your black (or any color desired except white) acrylic paint. The thickness of the paint is determined by preference. I add a few drops of water to the acrylic paint to make it easier to paint the outside of the mason jar.
9. Using a foam brush paint the entire outside of the mason jar EXCEPT the interior of the dog silhouette.
10. This is just like stenciling except on a mason jar with paint.
11. Carefully apply the paint around the edges of the dog silhouette. I do this by placing the foam brush on the actual paper dog silhouette and brushing outwards. This helps the paint not seep into the edge of the silhouette.
12. Why I use a foam brush? Number one I want to be able to throw the brush away once done and number two the texture of the foam brush plus the paint onto a glass surface works very well.
13. After the painting of the outside of the jar has been completed then gently lift off the dog silhouette.
14. Do not let the paint dry too long before removing the paper dog silhouette. Approximately 10 minutes is long enough for the paint to set and the silhouette can be safely removed from the mason jar.
15. Carefully remove the paper dog (if some of the paint has seeped through the edges of the dog silhouette there are no worries. This can and will be corrected later.)
16. Let dry. Step away. Let fully dry! I know I am impatient too.
17. Now check the edges of the dog “window” on the mason jar. If paint went astray and the edges are not clean then simply take a fingernail or tweezers or craft tool and scrap off the extra paint.
18. I like this set of crafting tweezers as they are all purpose for crafting and it amazing the different ways I have used these for crafting and DIY projects.
19. Add Lights to the Mason jar with flameless tea lights or twinkle lights.
20. Finished!

How To Paint The Inside Of Mason Jar

Painting the inside of a mason jar is not difficult.  I have three ways I like to paint the inside of a mason jar depending upon the project and the materials being used.

For this lighted mason jar Christmas craft I used leftover interior white paint. You absolutely can use whatever paint or spray paint that may be hanging out in your house of craft stash.

During the day this mason jar dog is a vase, but at night I wanted to light up the dog so I used the heavier interior latex paint to paint the inside of the mason jar. Learn my three techniques >> click here >> all are easy to do.

Mason Jar Christmas Crafts As Gifts

We love our dogs. Period. With all of our hearts! I love receiving homemade Christmas gifts and this homemade mason jar dog vase can be as homemade or handmade as desired.

Add the favorite flowers of the gift recipient (and if you live in a cold weather state then flowers are always welcome at Christmas!). The mason jar dog vase is dual purpose as the lighted tea candle and the flowers both work; do not fill the vase with water, simply hide a plastic bottle in the vase for the flowers and include the tea light or vice versa.

Make A Mason Jar Lid Christmas Tree

Mason jar lids and socks seem to have alot in common: the pairs get separated never to be found again. Continue to upcycle mason jar lids into a mason jar lid Christmas Tree.

This is a very easy Christmas craft and perfect for the littles to participate. The only materials needed are mason jar lids, self stick jewels and invisible thread. That’s it! Three materials and a Christmas decoration or Christmas Tree ornament is made.

More Mason Jar Crafts

Paper Mache Mason Jar Snowman (doubles as a snowman and Christmas treat gift)

Let It Snow! DIY Mason Jar Snowman

DIY Lighted Reindeer Mason Jar Craft