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    Home » DIY Projects

    Tinted Glass Jars for a Beautiful Centerpiece

    April 6, 2022 by Patti Estep 2 Comments

    Jump to How-to Card

    Learn how easy it is to make tinted glass jars from the recycling bin and create a beautiful table arrangement for any occasion.

    Daffodils and greenery in a group of tinted glass jars creating a pretty centerpiece on the dining room table.

    Spring is here and that is a time for celebration. Easter and Mother's Day are two such days where you may find yourself in need of a pretty centerpiece. I've seen this fun technique of creating tinted mason jars for many years so I decided to try it and make a fun and colorful table centerpiece for Easter.

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    Several glass jars from food such as an olive jar and a jelly jar.

    This is a great project for old glass jars. For some reason, our town no longer accepts glass in the recycling bin. There is a place nearby where we can take glass but that means we collect them at home until the box is full. So I had plenty to pick from.

    How to Remove Label from Glass Jars

    The hardest part is removing the labels. After trying a few ways I found soaking them in a bowl of hot water takes the majority of the label.

    A glass jar on a washcloth with a paste of baking soda and water.

    However, you are still left with a glue residue. A paste of baking soda and water left on the jar for 1/2 hour seemed to do the trick.

    A clean glass jar on a washcloth.

    How to Tint Glass Jars

    Now that you have a shiny clean jar you can begin to tint it in your favorite color.

    A paper plate with a mixture of Mod Podge and neon food coloring next to a sponge brush.

    I used McCormick Neon food coloring. Any kind of food coloring will work but this one gives you some really nice rich colors. Stir together eight drops of this liquid food coloring to one heaping teaspoon of Mod Podge. I found on the food coloring box directions to make additional colors such as turquoise by mixing blue and green together.

    Different colored tinted glass jars on a baking sheet.

    Then simply paint the glue mixture onto the outside of a clean glass jar with even strokes. You can stick a finger or two into the jar to help hold it while you paint with your other hand.

    This is the opposite from the process of creating my DIY gazing balls. For that project you pour the colored glue mixture inside of the glass. That would be great except that I wanted to use these glasses as vases and I was pretty sure that the water would ruin the subtle tint.

    In addition to using these tinted glass jars as vases you could use them to hold candies or small tealight candles.

    Tinted glass jars on a baking sheet from the oven

    Afterward, you need to bake the jars in a low oven (approx 200 degrees) to set the glue and help remove the streaks. Place them on some parchment to protect the baking sheet. I tried wax paper but it did stick a little on the bottom of the glass. However, it was pretty easy to remove.

    A grouping of tinted glass jars on a wooden tray with daffodils an greenery inside.

    The end result is this fun and colorful grouping on our dining room table. Since I used several colors for the jars I used only one type of flower and some green filler inside each jar. Fresh daffodils from the garden at no additional cost made this a very easy and inexpensive centerpiece for our table.

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    More Glass Crafts

    • Stained Glass Bottle Art
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    Tinted glass jars in a group with daffodils and greenery.
    Print
    4 from 3 votes

    How to Tint Glass Jars

    Learn how to tint glass jars and use them as a grouping of vases to create a beautiful centerpiece.
    Prep Time30 mins
    Active Time1 hr
    Total Time1 hr 30 mins
    Course: Flower Crafts/Decor
    Yield: 1 or more
    Author: Patti Estep
    Cost: $10

    Equipment

    • Sponge paintbrush
    • Parchment paper
    • baking sheet
    • Oven

    Materials

    • Old recycled glass jars
    • Food coloring I used Neon
    • Mod Podge

    Instructions

    • Remove label and clean jar.
    • Mix 1 heaping teaspoon of Mod Podge with 8 drops of food coloring.
    • Use a sponge paintbrush to carefully paint the outside of the jar.
    • Place the jar on a baking tray that has been lined with parchment paper.
    • Bake the jar in a 200 degree oven for 25 minutes.
    • Allow the jar(s) to cool.
    • Group jars on a board on a table.
    • Fill with water and use a single flower type to create a beautiful table centerpiece.

    Notes

    This Mod Podge is not waterproof or permanent. You could spray the jars with polyurethane for a more permanent solution. There is also a Mod Podge variety that is dishwasher safe that you can try. You could even invest in glass paints that are specifically made for painting on glass.

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jane

      May 19, 2022 at 4:20 am

      Now, I do not have to throw away my jars. The steps are easy to follow. Thanks for sharing.

      https://wordpress.com/view/mjcreation942891377.wordpress.com

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        May 19, 2022 at 11:08 am

        So glad you like them Jane.

        Reply

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