I don’t get crafty often, but when I do, it gets real.
My mom and I cleaned out a closet in our bonus room last week, and I found all sorts of old treasures from my childhood. One such treasure was a box of my seashell collection from our numerous trips to the beach. I dug through the box, just for old time’s sake, and quickly decided I couldn’t throw all of them away. I picked out some of the prettier shells and set them aside; I’d figure out what to do with them later.
I’m a big fan of framing things; it’s an easy way to get cute decorations for my apartment. I found two cheap shadow box frames at Michael’s and thought that’d be a good way to hang on to my shells without throwing them in another box, only to be forgotten and found again ten years later.
I love making my friends’ birthday presents; it’s cost efficient, and it lets me be artistic and creative. I have a strange love for mason jars–must be the Southern in me–but they usually need some decorating, especially if they’re going to be gifted.
A friend of mine recently turned 21, so I figured, what better birthday present than a pretty mason jar from which to enjoy her favorite drinks? My original plan was to etch a monogram onto the jar, but I got another idea that would be a little prettier, and definitely more colorful and shinier.
(Side note: Molly, if you’re reading this, enjoy the sneak peak!)
I found the mason jar and supplies–Mod Podge, glitter, and ribbon–at Michael’s, all for about $11. A 3-oz bottle of etching cream alone cost $12…definitely saved some money with this one!
Always wash the jar before you begin. Working with clean materials is key!
I freehanded an M (my friend’s initial; you can do any design you want) onto baking parchment paper and used a razor to cut it out. This is a lot more difficult than it sounds! Then I very carefully taped the stencil onto the back, smooth side of the jar. Make sure it’s as flat as possible, and tape down any corners or parts that might roll or fold.
Spread Mod Podge over the stencil, making sure the edges of the paper don’t fold or roll or get torn in the process. I applied a pretty liberal coat to mine…gotta make sure the glitter will stick!
I let that dry for about 10-15 minutes, and then applied a second, much lighter layer of Mod Podge to seal the glitter in place. I sprinkled a tiny bit more glitter over top, just to cover up any holes. Then let it dry.
And, a few hours later…the final product:
The ribbon adds a cute touch, and you can fill the jar with any kind of goodies: nail polish, candy, whatever works!
Happy crafting!
