Creating glue art on mason jars can be a delightful but surprisingly tricky craft. If you’re thinking of giving it a go, here are some tips and tricks I learned along the way.
1 Preparing Your Design
First, it’s important to know that freehanding your design with a glue gun is harder than it looks! I thought it would be a breeze, but I quickly discovered the challenge.
To help, I placed a piece of paper with my chosen design inside the mason jar, so I could trace the pattern with the glue on the outside. This little trick made the process much more manageable!
Here are the leaves that I used for my jars. The one on the left is pretty easy to get done neatly, but the one on the right is a bit more of a challenge.
2 Positioning the Jar
When working on your mason jar, laying it completely flat on the table can be tricky. I found that propping it up slightly on a washcloth helped keep it stable while allowing me to have better control over the glue application.
3 Working with the Glue Gun
The temperature of your glue gun can make a big difference. A hotter glue gun means the glue flows more easily, but it can also smudge or run more quickly.
If you do get any smudges, though, don’t worry. You can use a pencil or something else with a point to gently reshape the glue while it’s still warm. This makes it much easier to get the design just right.
4 Painting Your Mason Jar
Once the glue design is complete and dry, it’s time to paint. I chose a lovely rose gold spray paint for my jar, but you can use any color you like.
I applied two layers to ensure even coverage. It’s also a good idea to paint the inside of the jar. It just looks neater. The below image shows how it looks without painting the inside.
If the spray paint doesn’t reach every nook and cranny, you can use a paintbrush to touch up those spots. Just remember to clean your paintbrush quickly afterward, as spray paint can be tough to remove once it dries.
5 Final Touches
After your jar is fully painted and dry, give it a once-over to make sure everything looks perfect. If you need a bit more paint, you can always spray a little into the can’s cap and use it for touch-ups.
Once everything is set, you’ll have a beautifully decorated mason jar that’s perfect for home décor or as a handmade gift.
