Crafted DIY: Silhouette Mason Jars

I love mason jars!  They have such an old-fashioned feel to them and they represent a past era, a time when we canned all of our food (why can't we go back to this?).  Mason jars are making a comeback and they are commonly seen as decor at weddings and events.  I cannot get enough of this trend.  I quickly get tired of seeing things like mustaches on a stick at weddings (really this is the best we can come up with people?) but not mason jars...they are timeless to me.  I decided to incorporate used mason jars into a project for a DIY Contest posted on Ruffled.  To make the jars more unique, I painted silhouettes on them.  There are endless decor possibilities with these painted jars and I believe they make a beautiful, yet simple, statement.  Also, they are relatively easy to achieve (no special skills required).  Here is how you can make your own painted mason jars:

What you'll need:

- mason jars

- paint (I got sample sizes at Home Depot of the Behr Coy Pink 140A-2 and Behr Botanical Tint 480A-2 )

- paint sponges and/or brushes

- Avery sticker project paper

- printer paper & double stick tape (if you don't have Avery sticker paper)

- x-acto knife or scissors

- multiple types of ribbon and lace for decorating

- tags for labeling and decorating

Instructions:

Step 1: Figure out which images or text you plan on painting onto your mason jars and graphically arrange them on your computer using Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Word, etc.  Measure your mason jars and size your images/text accordingly.  I tried to not exceed 2”-3” (length & width) but it all depends on the size of your mason jars and the look you want to achieve.

Step 2: Print out your images/text onto Avery sticker project paper.  If you don’t have this paper, you can print on regular printer paper and just double-stick tape the image to the jars.  Cut out your images/text either as a silhouette or as a stencil.  I used an x-acto knife because it works better with finer details but scissors would work also.  Stick the image/text onto the jars.

Step 3: Paint the mason jars and allow them to properly dry.  I let them sit overnight.  You may decide to paint a second coat.

Step 4: Once the jars are completely dry, remove the stickers.  If some of the paint has seeped in under the edges of the sticker and dried, just use the x-acto knife to scrape away at the paint.  I had to clean up a few edges but the knife quickly does the job.

Step 5: Adorn your jars with ribbons or lace.  I added round tags for the names.  You could accessorize your jars in numerous ways, in whatever colors or themes go with your event.

Here are some pictures showing the painting process:

I had a lot of fun with this project and I loved how my jars turned out.  I decided to do a little styled photoshoot to show off my work.  Here are some of those pictures:

And this is a save-the-date idea.  How cute would it be to receive this in the mail filled with some little treats?  

Later today I will be posting more photos from the mason jar shoot. 

And the results...

So here are the results of my fabric staining.  I am really happy with the results.  I don't think the fabric looks "dirty" at all.  I was really shocked by the results too.  I figured the coffee would produce the deepest color but I was definitely wrong.  The black tea was much more powerful.  You always hear about how coffee stains teeth so badly but after doing this experiment, I think tea needs a bad rap too.  Plus side to all of this, my fabric now smells lovely, especially the tea-stained one.

I am no expert, clearly I figured this all out hours ago, but this is all you need to do to replicate the look:

- tea bags, I used Trader Joe's Mango Black Tea (it was the only black tea that I had) - I put four tea bags into a smaller mason jar filled with water

- instant coffee, I put about 2 tbs. of instant coffee mix into a mason jar of water

I put tea bags and instant coffee into the mason jars and then filled them with boiling water.  I let the fabric sit in the liquid for an hour.  I did not remove the tea bags and left them in with the fabric for the hour.  Afterwards, remove the fabric from the jars and rinse with cold water...apparently this helps lock in the color according to other websites.  Wring out the water and let dry.  

You too can have dirty fabric in just a few easy steps! 

Something is a brewin'

I'm doing an experiment right now, very 4th grade science class.  I am coffee & tea-staining fabric for a project idea I am brainstorming.  I've seen examples of stained stuff and I think it looks fantastic, sort of an antiquated look.  Those who aren't as intrigued by this art form would probably say, "Why would I want to make my white fabric look funky and dirty?"  Point taken and yes, I may just make my fabric funky and dirty but I am hoping it will have a nice warm hue that is a slight contrast from the white.  I will write a follow-up post later today showing the results and my thoughts on fabric staining. 

Crafty Purple Garland

Over the past few days I have been working on a fabric pom pom garland.  I have been wanting to make this since I saw the tutorial on the OnceWed blog here.  It turned out to be pretty easy and very fun and because it is so cute, I decided to gift it to my friend Elysse (read this girl's blog...she's the funniest!).  Isn't she lucky?  This first garland is purple in honor of Elysse...this girl loves her purple.  No seriously, LOVES it...like it is half of her closet.  Our closets definitely are on opposite ends of the color spectrum.  Mine is full of pastels: yellows, whites, aquas, and lavenders.  Hers is full of darker, deeper colors: purples, teals, dark blues, and blacks.  Despite our color differences, we get along fine and agree on most other things.  I think she will definitely agree with me on the cuteness of this garland.  

I wanted to add my own personal touch to the garland, to make it different from the one I saw on OnceWed.  I added buttons!  I was inspired by the photoshoot done by Jessica Claire and coordinated by Amy of Weddingchicks.  See the fabulous photos here.  This shoot was just amazing and the use of all the buttons was different and adorable.  If this was my bridal shower I would be in crafty, button heaven.  I have a ton of old buttons so I added some white ones to my garland.  Here is my version of the pom pom garland complete with buttons!!

Enjoy Elysse!

My boys!

Today I got to spend some time with my boys, three of my favorite people, and I couldn't be happier.  Now that we have graduated, we don't get to see each other everyday and for me, that has been a strange adjustment.  But the four of us have been through so much together that when we do get together, even if we've been parted for months, it feels like old times.  The same old jokes get thrown around the table even though we've said them a thousand times before.  And that is comforting because even though those jokes are lame, they are our jokes and I love hearing them.  Some of the best memories of my life were shared with these three guys and even though life will take each of us in different directions, I know that we will always share those memories and that common bond.

I'm not sure when the four of us will be together again.  Probably not for five months or so because my one friend is leaving to go to India for that time.  And the other two live far away, one in San Francisco and the other in New York.  But I know that when we do get back together, it will feel just like old times, just like today.  And I will be happy! 

These are my boys.  And I miss them already.