Mod Podge & Glitter Mason Jars

What am I doing this Super Bowl weekend? Mod Podging, of course!

In particular, I am dressing mason jars in gold glitter. I love the simple, rustic look of a mason jar and I appreciate how functional they are. This type of jar has been around since the 1800s and can be used to store food, homemade sauces and preserves, used as a cup to drink from, candle holder, pen holder, money jar–the possibilities are endless.

I recommend having a few small and large jars in the pantry just in case. You can buy them or you can repurpose pasta sauce and jam jars.

For this project I purchased a few of the classic Kerr and Ball jars from Michaels. They were fairly inexpensive (about $1.49 for small clear Kerr to $2.49 for large clear Kerr jar and $15.00 for a box of six antique blue-tinted Ball jars) and the best part of shopping at Michaels is you rarely have to pay full price.

If you sign up for their email sales circular or download their free app, you will receive at least one %40 off one regular item coupon (among others) every week. Sometimes they include coupons on your receipt–so make sure to check your receipt before you file to toss it! Essentially there is no need to pay full price at Michaels.

If you do not have a Michaels or local craft/kitchen supply store, check online and you can probably find a good deal there.

Okay, so I am new to Mod Podge, the amazing water-base glue and sealant. This stuff is not Elmer’s glue, folks, although it is easy for young people to use as well. I’ve heard of it but never thought I would need it until I saw pictures of beautiful, shimmery glittered jars. I immediately bought myself some jars and a bottle of Gloss finish Mod Podge and got to work.

Now I am hooked!

I didn’t know where to start, so my sister sent me a link to this incredible Mod Podging Pro: Mod Podge Rocks Blog. This blog is filled to the brim with tips, tutorials and DIY inspiration. You can also check out Pinterest and YouTube for some great guides.

Below are some tips on how you can Mod Podge and glitter your jars (cups, bowls, picture frames or whatever you want!). These make precious center pieces and gifts, too!

Proceed with caution: This DIY project is messy, sparkly and addictive!

What You Will Need:

• 1 bottle of Gloss finish Mod Podge
• 1 medium and 1 small sponge brush (regular paint brush is optional, although it might be easier to re-use and dispose sponges)
• Glitter (I used fine gold glitter from Martha Stewart Crafts)
• Painter’s tape if you want to create lines or angles
• Any item that could use some sparkle
• Old newspaper or magazine to catch excess glitter and rest wet brushes

Whether you are adding glitter to the inside or outside of the jar, first apply a generous, even layer of the Mod Podge.  If you are adding glitter to the inside, you can pour some Mod Podge first, rotate the jar to spread it and then use the sponge brush to smooth it out.

You can also try dampening the sponge tip for a smoother application.

Once you have added the Mod Podge to the desired area, tap plenty of glitter all over and rotate or move the jar side to side to ensure glitter comes in contact with the glue. You do not need to tap off the excess glitter unless you want a very light coat.

One thing to note is a thin layer of Mod Podge can dry fairly quickly, so try to work at a faster pace if you are covering a large area in one application. Otherwise, you can glue and glitter one area first and then finish the rest at another time.

Let the glue dry, as directed in the instructions. Once the glue has dried, you can apply another top coat of Mod Podge to work as a sealant.

Pin Point: How to Upgrade Your Bobby Pins With Nail Polish!

It’s time for an upgrade. Banish boring bobby pins and embrace one-of-a-kind style. I will show you how to personalize these hair essentials…with nail polish.

Personalizing bobby pins (or any hair accessory for that matter) is so easy that I have actually been doing this since middle school!

All you have to do is paint your bobby pins with nail polish, add any embellishment you want with super glue and voilà! You have instant updated hair flair. (On the flip side: Use the longer tip of the bobby pin as a nail dotter/nail art tool.)

This is a great, inexpensive way to revamp old pins or create a custom look. This DIY tutorial is simple and goof-proof enough for children to do as well.

What you will need:

• A piece of paper or thin card board to secure bobby pins and catch excess paint
• As many bobby pins as your heart desires
• Your favorite nail polishes (My fave right now is anything from Julep. The more variety, the better!)
• Any embellishment you want. (I like to use rhinestones (new or ones that have fallen off other things) or broken pieces of jewelry)
• Super glue to adhere embellishments (optional)

Steps:

• Slide bobby pins onto paper or cardboard, flat side facing you. The wavy side should be worn underneath the hair, facing the scalp. The bumps are what grab the hair so the pin will stay put!
• Line bobby pins up at least half an inch apart (to avoid pins sticking together).
• Select the nail polish color you want and make sure the paint is not dripping off the brush.
• Gently sweep the color along the flat side of the bobby pin. If you like, you can create multi-colored designs.
• Once the bobby pins are painted, let them dry for about five minutes. You do not need to seal the paint but feel free to use a top coat if desired.
• If you wish to add embellishments, wait for the nail polish to dry completely. Apply the super glue (I prefer the gel formula) to the embellishment first and then press it on to the flat side of the bobby pin. Allow at least three minutes for the super glue to dry.

Julep Colors: Winona, Eva, Valerie, Oscar

Perfect Match:

I bought these gold and ivory bobby pins a while ago from H&M and transformed them into little match sticks by adding a some red (Julep color Sheila) to the tips!:

*You can try different types of paint if you have them handy. I use nail polish because I have loads of colors to choose from, they dry quickly (you could literally do this project anywhere, on the go) and it’s been my tried and true method for nearly 20 years. Wow, that sounds like a long time!

*For glitter/translucent shimmer polishes, you might want to paint a base coat with a complementing color to help make the finish more vibrant.

*Try updating office supplies and other accessories with nail polish (i.e. Color code keys, makeup brushes or paint plain paper clips and thumb tacks). Yes, I have used bobby pins as substitute paper clips and ear bud clips!  

*You can even create a red bottom tape dispenser like I did below:

You can find this tape dispenser from Staples.