Last Update: 15 Sept 2020

How to Paint Mason Jars?

James Kelly

Hi! This is James. I'm a professional writer and working on this field for a long time. Basically I love to write about everything related to tools, diy and home improvement. All my writings speak for itself as I'm passionate about this. I love to explore new things as well as new places whenever I get free time. You'll never find me free for this reason!

Turning all your empty jars into usable support resembles a big victory for the environment. Recycling the mason jars is now on trend with plenty of options. And you may want to color up the appeal to emphasize the décor. Our tips from how to paint mason jars will help you to prep the jars perfectly.

Of course, removal of metal lid & rubber seal mostly gets the job done. But not everything settles down with quick turnover. Certain applications require a colorful patch to bring out the actual art. And the cheapest way to achieve the goal comes with painting. You need to get all the involved facts to avoid poor surface outlook.

Paints to Use on Jars

Among all the varieties, you can consider 3 particular paint types for glass. You’re to use acrylic enamel, marked acrylics & specialized solvent-based paints. In simple words, acrylic craft paint is the ultimate option in hand. The choice differs in terms of numerous influencing factors.

There are specified paints in the market for coloring glassy surfaces. It’s rather suitable to handle adversity. The glass paints deliberately create a unique reverse appeal to last for years. Moisture, sunlight, UV radiation – nothing stands out to damage the chemical.

Not to mention, you can also apply regular latex paints. But the ordinary composition works well on porous surfaces like walls. It barely sticks to the smooth glass surfaces against humidity or other damages. You’ll have to seal the painted surface to keep it intact all along.

Chalk paint is another option to take into account. Many painting enthusiasts still prefer the type of inducing further character. But the paint easily peels off the surface, barely possessing any adhesive property. You’ll have to add something to stick with the jar surroundings.

Initial Cleaning is Essential

Regardless of the jar condition, you’ll have to clean the whole item. Anything tiny, negligible, or insignificant can mess with your painting process. Even if you’re not set to paint the inside, you can’t compromise with its cleanliness.

Materials/Tools: Rubbing Alcohol, Cotton, Mild Detergent

Clean the mason jar with soapy water in the first place. Use warm water to fill the kitchen sink. Then you should add some dish detergent to the water to make up bubbles. Keep the glassware in submerged condition to lightly scrub the surface. Take a towel to take out visible water drops & leave it on the rack for drying.
But it’s somewhat difficult to take out all the dirt, grime, oil & soap at once. Even the slightest residual can cause delayed drying of paint. Get rubbing alcohol to saturate a reasonably sized cotton ball. Rub the entire jar surface, including the inside portion as well. Don’t miss to treat the undulated rims or base with alcohol.
Rinse the treated mason jar with warm water only. Don’t use anything else like detergents or other cleansing agents. You better hold the ware into running water to take off the alcoholic residual. Ensure even cleaning from inside out before placing it on a tea towel. Allow the glass dry naturally; don’t forget to inspect closely.

How to Paint Mason Jars Perfectly

Painted glassware adds a pleasing touch of matching color to your home. It barely requires any special expertise unless you plan to introduce some design. There are different methods to colorize your empty mason jars. Each of the popular ones seems very friendly for homeowners or hobbyists.

You can paint either the exterior or interior, even both for decorative appeal. There is brush-on as well as spray paint to turn your dream into reality. Different processes are there to induce your preferred design, shape, or pattern on the paint.

Not all the methods are equal in terms of accuracy, finish, outlook & simplicity. Almost every occasional DIYers go for either brush-on or spray paint. For the best part, easy tricks will hold your dream all the way. That’s why we emphasized the popular means to help you with the painting.

Brushing the Surfaces

Applying the coats using brush lets you have a better finishing accuracy. As it happens, brushing acrylic paint is the most popular way to colorize mason jars. It certainly takes your time, but end up delivering satisfactory aesthetics. One particular benefit concern with available range for usable colors. Of course, you can even make custom colors according to your preference. There are a wide variety of paintbrushes to accommodate your demands.

Materials/Tools: Jars, Paint, Foam Brush/Paint Brush, Cardboard, Sandpaper

You’ll have to prep & test the paint mix before going for its application. It’s essential for changing the thickness or appeal of the painted surface.
Now submerge the foam or paintbrush into the paint or lighted mix. Gently rub the brush against the tub surrounding to take off extra paints.
Cover your working surface with any thick preventive cardboard piece. Place the cleaned jar upside down on the protective board.
Start applying the very first coat on the exterior surface with even strokes. Maintain the same directional vertical strokes from the very beginning.
Try to apply an even amount of paint across the whole surface. It’s quite important from your side to avoid thicker or thinner patching.
Leave the jar for 24 hours for allowing the first coat to dry. Well-ventilation of your place is essential to skip the occurrence of larger strips.
The first application is likely to end up creating a horrible look. But there’s more to get on with the painting to reach the finishing point.
Introduce the 2nd layer of paint coat, just like the very first time. Once again, let the whole paint layers to dry for at least 24 hours or so.
Once you pass the primary layering, it’s time to apply decisive coats. Apply the 3rd & even more layers to get the decorative look from outside.
Attend all the raised portions from wording along with jar edges. Cut down a small squared portion of sandpaper to rub the targeted areas.
Sandpaper spec is likely to differ based on jar type, texting irregularity & personal expertise. Popular forms mostly include 80-grit, 120-grit & 220-grit.
Light rubbing on the surface should accomplish the distressing task. You may consider trying out variations to judge the approximate result.
Let the paint dry for at least 24 hours again to attain the finishing appeal. Wipe the entire surface using a clean cloth to take out sticky dust.

Spraying the Exterior

Sprayable cans hold the liquid composition to spit out under pressure. It’s indeed the fastest means to paint the surface. Also, it requires less time to dry ahead of immediate use. You can save time & effort to a great extent right there. Its application lets you attend a uniform, even a coat with no brushstroke issues. Not to mention, you can cover narrower edges with its pressed paint beam. High gloss or satin finish for any glassware easily comes from paint spray.

Materials/Tools: Jars, Spray, Tape/Vinyl, Tarp/Cardboard Box

Gently shake the spray paint to ensure a uniform composition throughout. It also resists on-act separation to add up an even coat.
Keep the whole set of jars on the tarp or cardboard box. It’ll protect the underlying surface from paint. Place the jars at a convenient distance to avoid the accidental spray.
Make a slow start by moving it forward to spray off the glass. Maintain a gentle pace from beginning to prevent paint runs or bubbles.
Apply the coat in a regular pattern, like – left to right or top to bottom. Watch out the intended patterns to skip the pooling of paints.
Cover the whole exterior in a one-directional pace. You can apply several coats as well. It’ll help with the overall coverage & color evenness.
You may want some design strips or color combo for your décor. That’s where you can use painter tape or removable vinyl to add variation.
Cut out the required number of preferred shapes on vinyl or tape. Make sure that the sticky cover won’t peel off the projected paints.
Place all the removable shapes on dry & clean exterior surfaces. Continue to paint around the shapes to induce the integrated design of your choice.
Let the applied coat of paint dry for a certain time after completion. Now start peeling off all the linked shapes from your glassware carefully.

Coloring the Inside

Till now, we covered only the external jar surface. You may consider coloring the inside to enjoy further décor. Interior painting can allow your mason jar to shine bright. Applying the paint for the inner surface is easy. But the job certainly requires a smidge of patience to attend the bonus for its appeal. There are three popular means to accomplish the task sitting at home.

Materials/Tools: Acrylic/Spray/Food Paint, Cardboard, White School/PVA Glue, Stirring Rod

Applying Spray Paint

It’s indeed the easiest way to get the desired output. The composition even dries rather quickly, saving the space for other tasks. You’ll have to apply several coats to reach a solid uniformity. The process is pretty simple with a large opening for mason jars. Of course, you’ll find it difficult to cover the base through tiny orifices.

Coating Acrylic Paint

You have to pour the paint mix inside the intended jar. Fill about ½” or 1.3cm of the depth with liquid. Don’t get distorted over accuracy; it’s easy to add or remove extra portions. Twirl the jar for allowing the paint to spread over the interior surface. Keep a gentle pace in turning the jar, maintaining a steady upright position.

Now place the jar in upside down on the previously worked-on protective surface. It’ll help to take put all the dripping paints. But don’t leave the jar for long to become adhesive enough to stick with the surface. Moving the glassware around every 15 minutes will ensure a secure spattering. Let the jar dry overnight in an upright position.

Tinting Any Food Color

Applying food coloring agents can get you fainter appeal. You need to pour the chemicals right into the jar. Add up some white school or PVA glue with sufficient water to stir the mix. Gently twist the jar to make turns for coating the entire surface. Cover the entire inside before placing the glass on a towel/paper to drain out the excess liquid.

Getting the Paint Ready

There’s nothing to do with spray paints to get custom output. You can keep combining one with the others to check the colors out. But acrylic paint offers you the versatility of stimulating different combos, shades & intensity. And it’s essential to mix the ingredients in the right proportion to have the perfect composition.

Always try to use plastic cups to have the paint ready. Pots with a large opening can help you to lift the paint with ease. It also enables you to store the brushes safely on a break or pause. There are reusable cups available to use for painting crafts.

You can mix two different colors in 1:1 proportion to get a particular shade. Also, you can keep the actual color intact to add a few drops of other paint. It’ll either darken or lighten the intensity, based on the color combination.

For food coloring, you should consider a tablespoon of water. The number of drops will decide the approximate shading of tint. As it happens, 20 drops will induce a fainter tint whereas 40 drops can generate medium tint. About 60 drops are about to produce an acceptably dark tint.

Repurposing Lids with Colorful Paint

The basic part is the jar itself to use for various purposes. You have nothing to turn back on the removed lids either. Apply the paint on lid surfaces in similar steps mentioned for glassware.

But the painting may seem difficult, no thanks to the tiny size. Still, your DIY project reaches maximum yield with the lids. You can put out designed labels, shaped cookies & different other uses.

Sealing the Applied Coat

Even for the jars, you should think of applying paint sealants. It’s an underrated but important trick towards how to paint mason jars. Likewise, the additional job will make the finish to withstand against all rigors. And you’ll definitely have a shinier outlook from top to bottom. You can obviously seal the coat through oven basking. But still, lots of occasional craftsmen prefer a spray or brush-on sealants. Both types share sufficient similarities to keep them identical from different angles.

Several sealants generate toxic fumes with strong smells upon release. You’ll have to choose a well-ventilated space to apply the chemical.
Almost all individual options come with certain instructions for use. Take a good look at the manual every time before putting it into use.
Carefully apply light layers of the sealants on the jar surface. Try to cover the entire portion with a gentle back-&-forth motion.
Maintain a reasonable distance to keep yourself away from direct contact. Also, avoid applying the chemical on certain spots for long.
Leave each applied layer for drying prior to re-coat for a specified time. Create several coats on the paint, at least 3 to have the best performance.
Keeping the treated projects undisturbed for 24 hours simply attains the objective. It’ll help with preventing future fading away/chipping off.

Waterproofing the Painted Glass

One common application of vintage jars concerns with flowering vase. Colored jar is indeed a pretty beautiful match with the blooming petals. But water contact eventually makes the paint to fall off. Therefore, it’s definitely a good idea to waterproof the surface paint. Different commercial methods are to adopt to resist water intrusion. But you can perform the undermentioned process by yourself.

Mix a sufficient amount of acetone-based nail polish remover with paint. It’ll help the composition to attend thinner consistency.
Now color the glass from inside out using the lighted mixture. Let the paint dry for certain periods to reach uniform intensity.
It’s time to bake the painted glassware at 350°F for at least 30 minutes. Place it on an aluminum foil sheet or parchment paper.
Always use a cold oven to cure any sort of glassware. Hot/preheated oven is likely to cause the glass to break or irreparable crack.

Curing the Paint to Last Lifetime

It’s indeed necessary to cure your projected jars prior to use. Otherwise, detrition of topmost layers of is likely to occur on cleanup. You can go either baking or air-drying methods to cure the paint.

Baking the Jars

The method comprises the heating processes using a cold oven. 30-minute baking at 350°F will cure the applied coats.

Air-Drying the Jars

Unlike the technical tactics, you can go old school to cure the paint. It’ll take about 21 days to dry out the coats for usage.

Is It Necessary to Apply Primer on Jars?

The simple answer to this baffling question ends up in a no. Glass surfaces are incredibly smooth to hold ordinary paint. The glossy finish can even barely hold the specialized paints as well. Therefore, glass paint often requires the application of primer prior to painting. But you can deliberately skip the part with mason jars. Common jars go rather well with the aforementioned steps.

Additional Tips to Keep in Mind

Curing alone can’t help the jar to retain the applied paint. Certain tricks will get the job done perfectly. You should follow the rules to ensure lifetime stickiness of applied colors.

Avoid heavy back-&-forth brushstrokes/vigorous shake.
Don’t go for microwave systems to cure the coatings.
Let the jar dry for at least 72 hours before first cleaning.
Air-cured jars are completely unsafe with a dishwasher.
Dishwasher use can even distort the baked glassware.
Best to adopt hand-washing through warm soapy water.

Removal of Painting Streaks

Finished paint can get cloudy due to various circumstances. Of course, you’re to expect streaks after drying the 1st & 2nd coat. But following the steps properly can eliminate the issue with an additional coating. After cleanup, the jars may tend to look foggy to indicate another cycle.

Dishwasher often triggers the issue with different types of glassware. Therefore, you better stop taking out the dirt using a dishwasher. If the streaks disappear, you already got the solution. Otherwise, you’ll have to take distortion in paint composition into account. Whatever happens, don’t go for a common household solution involving chemical agents.

Consider Safety Precautions

Paints are indeed coloring agents with a wide range of chemical ingredients. It’s important to get the risk factors clearly. You need to pull out all the DIY painting jobs in an open space. And it means sufficient ventilation, airflow & light. Wear face masks to prevent inhaling any hazardous or toxic portion. In the least, cover the nose & mouth with a handkerchief or similar clothing. Don’t forget the eyewear to ensure optimum safety for your sight.

There are limitless possibilities with painted mason jars ahead of recycling. You have nothing to worry about common applications like vase or pen-stand. But the facts get to start complex when you decide to preserve or serve the food. Toxicity from paint will eventually enter your system to cause a harmful effect. Therefore, you need to make the choice carefully with paint in this regard.

How to Paint Mason Jars

Final Verdict

It requires no time to put the transparent jars in action. But spending slight labor can get you superb beauty in the end. You just have to look into the possibilities all over. And getting the points from how to paint mason jars certainly eases the objective.

All the combinations & patterns make it difficult to put into implementation. Meanwhile, the process is incredibly simple in terms of effort. You don’t have to go for any curbside recycling program there. Start encouraging beauty while saving the environment.