How To Paint Inside Of Mason Jars
Affiliate links may be used in this post. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure policy here
Love Mason Jar Crafts! Mason jars are so versatile for crafts! They make the perfect homemade vase or a mason jar lighted centerpiece. A question I frequently receive is, “How did you do that?”
“That” meaning how to make the mason jar glow? Or “How to make the paint inside the the mason jar smooth?” Or “How to stencil a mason jar and illuminate the mason jar?”
The light is not the key, but the paint is definitely the key to making a mason jar glow. Applying paint inside of mason jars is not difficult, but does take a smidge of patience to achieve a smooth finish.
How To Paint Inside Of Mason Jars
Painting mason jars is not difficult, but patience is a plus when painting and definitely the patience to let the mason jar dry completely.
The painting of mason jars for crafts is usually just the first step and serves as the base for the mason jar craft so it is important all paint for the the mason jar craft dries completely (I know I am repeating, but this is very crucial to a successful mason jar craft!)
Three Ways To Paint Inside Of Mason Jars
One! Easy and quick.
Use spray paint. You will probably need to paint the jar two times if you desire a solid painted finish.
The bonus with spray paint is that spray paint is easy to use and dries quickly. But as mentioned above usually two coats are necessary to achieve 100 percent coverage. A time saving to is to use spray paint plus primer which provide a thicker coverage so only one coat of paint is needed.
The Second Way To Paint The Inside Of A Mason Jar
Use acrylic paint plus foam brush and a paint brush! The dollar store is a great resource for paint and brushes.
The acrylic paint can be used straight from the bottle or the color and strength of the paint can be adjusted by using paint and water.
I use a mixture of foam brushes and paint brushes to paint the mason jar. It can take more time to obtain a smooth finish with the paint as paint and glass and gravity do come into the equation.
The Third Way To Paint The Inside Of A Mason Jar
My favorite way to paint the inside of a mason jar for crafts is to use latex paint.
To paint the inside of the mason jar I pour indoor latex paint into the mason jar and swirl the paint around the jar. Once covered I turn the jar upside down to dry on a paper plate.
After a few minutes gravity will bring the excess paint to the bottom of the jar, I lift up the jar and move the jar to dry further; this helps reduce the amount of paint pooling in the lip of the jar.
Which method do I prefer to paint the inside of a mason jar? I prefer methods 1 and 3 for different reasons. Method One with spray paint is very quick and dries quickly.
If time is an issue then using spray paint will be the quickest. Spray paint also comes in a huge selection of colors which can be customized to the mason jar craft.
The Method I Use to Illuminate A Mason Jar
I prefer method three if the mason jar craft will be illuminated. The latex paint coats the inside the mason jar with a heavier coating and this really improves the glow of the mason jar.
Tea lights or flame less candles really work well to light up the mason jar.
For safety reasons I do not use real candles to illuminate a mason jar.
If I am going to stencil the outside of a mason jar for an illuminated jar, I use method 2 and 3.
First I use method three using latex paint to paint the inside of the mason jar.
Then I use method two with brushes when stenciling a design on the outside of a mason jar. Using brushes allows greater control of the paint which is necessary to achieve the stencil design adhering to the outside of the mason jar.
After the stencil is removed the only step left is to illuminate the mason jar. Learn how to make these easy Football Mason Jars for game day and tailgating parties. So easy and fun!
Where To Find Or Purchase Mason Jars?
Of course the first step to painting a mason jar for holiday mason jar crafts is the mason jar! Where to find or purchase mason jars?
Ask your friends and neighbors! You would be surprised the number of unwanted mason jars hiding in the shelves. Many have ‘retired’ from canning their fruits and vegetables, but kept the mason jars and are happy to donate.
Thrift stores
Dollar Store
If looking for a mini or small mason jar or a special size of mason jar then the opportunities are endless and Online offers a huge variety of sizes
Local independent hardware store
Home goods stores (especially in the summer and fall)
Garage Sales
Farmer Markets
Holiday Mason Jar Craft Ideas
Halloween Googly Eye Mason Jar
Favorite Christmas Dog Mason Jars
Football Mason Jars