For the ultimate in DIY crafts, it’s hard to out do the classic mason jar. Whether you’re creating a centerpiece for a hosted dinner party, fashioning the perfect candle display for the mantle, or crafting an adorable holder for craft supplies, the mason jar is here to pull it all together.

You can stick with the rustic look or elevate your jar with special finishes and embellishments.

Mason Jar crafts for adults

For adult crafters, mason jars are the perfect way to make ideas come alive while using items you likely already have on hand. You can customize your displays, whether it’s a tablescape or home organization, with jars of various sizes.

• Flower arrangement - The options to create a vase from a mason jar are endless. You can keep things simple and let the glass bring out the natural beauty of the flowers. Adding a touch of paint embellishment on the rim can also establish a theme for your decor. You get to decide which colors serve your palette to go with your interior decor or outdoor dinner party. 
• Map decoupage - Use beautiful paper and glue to decoupage a design on the outside of your mason jar. You can use vintage maps to create a travel-inspired design. Using an atlas will also give you the transformation to provide unique lines.
• Paint holiday figures - Transform a mason jar into Santa, a snowman, or a reindeer with a little paint. These can be put on display with your holiday decor or gifted to a friend who needs some festive cheer.
• Pantry storage - Keep your dry goods and spices on display with clean mason jar storage solutions. You can add tags or stickers to identify using a pen or a sharpie marker for those evergreen ingredients you often use in the kitchen. 

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• Display keepsakes - Turn your vacation memories into a tiny world on display. Mason jars are excellent ways to keep sand, shells, rock, or other natural items collected during your travels. You can also put ticket stubs, matchbooks, keys, or other fun items that will remind you of your adventures.
• Float candles - Add water to a mason jar, then let delicate floating candles perch on top. Gather a few together on your table for an enchanting display.  Tea candles provide the perfect light to enhance the ambience in any situation. 
• Painted mason jars - Add any type of paint to transform a simple mason jar into a fun craft. Play around with the finish to make it glossy, metallic, or even distressed. These jars can be used to display items, for storage, or as vases or candleholders. Personal touches of paint require little thought to expose vibrant depth or create organic aesthetics.

Mason Jar crafts for kids

Even young kids (and the young at heart) can get into crafting with fun mason jar DIY projects. Embrace themes, silliness, and creativity to see what your imagination will dream up. Kids can take an afternoon to soak up the sun while enjoying these DIY ideas all in the setting of the home. 

• Spruce up your sippy cup - Mason jars with lids are the perfect solution to elevate sippy cups. Add fun fabric with a hole for a straw to make themed party drinks. Provide some painted glue as texture or rhinestones to match your favorite Stanley. 
• Make a dinosaur habitat - Create a mini world inside a mason jar with moss, rocks, and dinosaur play figures. Your kids can customize their own creations to tell a story of their dinosaurs’ lives. Add a battery-powered light to transform it into a nightlight.
• Mason jar fairy garden - With their clear sides, mason jars make the perfect places for delicate fairy gardens. Look for accessories at the garden store or help your kids use their imaginations to make their own DIY fairy garden decor at home. You can even use some of your herbs, rocks, or succulents to display the fairy garden. 
• DIY snow globe - Why buy a snow globe when you can make your own and let your kids create their own wintery vision? Help your kids glue down their scene on the inside of the lid, add it to a mason jar filled with water and “snow,” then turn it upside down to enjoy the winter wonderland.

• Glowing pumpkins - If you want to skip carving a pumpkin but still want the ambiance of a jack o lantern, make one out of a mason jar using black paint or stickers. Create a face, then add glow sticks or flameless candles inside the jar to illuminate your DIY jack o lantern.
• Create a gratitude tree - Mason jars are the perfect base to hold long branches. Invite your kids to write things they are thankful for on leaves made of craft paper (or actual leaves for a more natural look), then hang them on the tree to enjoy. This makes a fun interactive centerpiece on a holiday table.
• Tissue paper mason jar lanterns - Adding tissue paper to the inside of your mason jar is a fun way to experiment with color. Overlap small pieces to create a custom design, then glue everything in place. Let your child add a flameless candle to illuminate the room, sharing the warmth of each color as it broadcasts through the room.

DIY Mason Jar gifts

Mason jars are the perfect way to transform a simple gift into a one-of-a-kind treasure. Add ribbon, paper, and other embellishments to put your own personal spin on things that the gift recipient is sure to love.

• Sugar scrub - Whip up a homemade sugar scrub (or save time with a store-bought option, we won’t tell). Package it in a mason jar complete with a cute tag, handheld scoop, and some ribbon to match the scent.  This would be a perfect idea for a bridal shower or a thoughtful gift as a party favor. 
• Date night jar - Want something special to share with your special someone? Print or handwrite date night ideas on special slips of paper or on popsicle sticks. Present them in a decorated mason jar to pull out when you need inspiration for your next adventure.
• Gift a mug cake - Gather all of the dry ingredients for your favorite mug cake in the jar. Print the recipe on adorable cardstock and attach it to the jar. All the recipient needs to do is add wet ingredients, cook, and enjoy.
• DIY hot cocoa - This spin on the classic mason jar food gift includes everything your giftee needs to make a delicious cup of hot cocoa. This is a perfect gift to whip up in a big batch for teachers or neighbors for the holidays. Add extras like marshmallows or peppermint sticks to make this gift extra special.

• Make a drink set - Add paint and embellishments to the outside of the jar to transform it into an adorable set of drinking glasses. You can make them themed, such as lemons for lemonade or mint for tea. You can also etch initials onto each jar to personalize your gift.
• Meal kits - Place ingredients in a few mason jars to create a breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert kit. Gather all of the jars together in a basket, along with themed plates, utensils, and any cooking supplies. This makes a great gift for young adults or newlyweds starting their own homes.

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Crafting the perfect DIY mason jar is easy and can bring a touch of customized style to your table, bookshelf, countertop, or any other place you choose to display it. Whether you’re transforming a mason jar into something new on your own or enjoying it as a shared activity, these ideas will take your jar from a simple glass to a one-of-a-kind piece of art.