How To Paint Mason Jars - Making Manzanita

There are so many ways to use mason jars for home decor. This tutorial shows you how to paint mason jars with acrylic craft paint. Once you're done you'll have adorable colorful mason jars to decorate your home.

Do you have a few mason jars sitting around your house? Maybe they are being used as a vase for some flowers right now or possibly drinking glasses (that’s what we do in our house).

I am going to show you how to paint mason jars and when we’re done you’ll feel confident about how to transform a plain mason jar into a colorful piece of decor with just some simple craft paint!

Table of Contents

• How To Paint Mason Jars: Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Supplies needed:
  • Step 1. Clean your mason jar with rubbing alcohol.
  • Step 2. Paint mason jar.
  • Step 3. Continue adding more coats of paint
  • Step 3. Distress the mason jar.
  • Step 4. Enjoy your painted mason jars!
• Ways to use painted mason jars around your house

This guide on how to paint mason jars contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t wholeheartedly recommend anyway! Read my full disclosure here.

How To Paint Mason Jars: Step-by-Step Instructions

Supplies needed:

• Mason jar
• Acrylic craft paint
• Rubbing alcohol
• Foam brush
• Cotton pad or cotton ball
• 220 grit sandpaper

Step 1. Clean your mason jar with rubbing alcohol.

I just use a cotton pad to spread rubbing alcohol all over the mason jar. This will remove any oils or other grim and help the paint to adhere.

You only need to clean the outside of the mason jar with rubbing alcohol.

Step 2. Paint mason jar.

Yep, it’s really that simple.

I usually do three coats of acrylic craft paint using a foam brush.

You may need more or less paint depending on your paint color and preferences. Be sure to let the paint fully dry in between coats.

Another tip: don’t do a lot of back-and-forth brushing or you’ll notice the paint start to peel off of the mason jar. Just get the paint on there with the foam brush and don’t do much else. Just let it dry rather than going back and forth with the brush.

Step 3. Continue adding more coats of paint

I included this picture above so you don’t give up if you get one coat on! Yes, it’s probably going to look horrible for AT LEAST the first two coats (as seen above). Depending on your paint color, you may even need more than 3 coats.

Can you use another type of paint?

I’ve always used acrylic craft paint to paint mason jars. I know others that have used chalk paint too, but craft paint is much more affordable so I’ll stick with it because it works great.

Step 3. Distress the mason jar.

I use a fine 220 grit sandpaper and focus the raised areas of text and design on the mason jar. I love the look of the distressed painted mason jar!

Step 4. Enjoy your painted mason jars!

You can use the painted mason jars for so many uses around your house!

Ways to use painted mason jars around your house

Here are some ideas on ways to use painted mason jars in your home:

• Vase for fresh or faux flowers
• Kitchen utensil holder
• Succulent planter
• Start your own indoor herb garden in mason jars
• Attach them to a wall or wood sign for the wall
• Soap dispenser
• Hold your craft supplies
• Hold doggie treats
• Bathroom storage
• Make a lamp
• Mason jar tissue holder
• Make a candle
• Office organization
• Start a piggy bank for a rainy day fund

Painting mason jars can be pretty addicting! It is such a simple way to create a unique piece of decor for your home…I actually could have probably just summed this whole guide on how to paint mason jars to three words: clean, paint, distress!

It was fun to choose some colorful spring tones for these ones to brighten things up around our house.

I ended up using these painted mason jars in an adorable little farmhouse crate and used it as a centerpiece. Check out the full tutorial for this farmhouse style crate centerpiece here!

Related – Other DIY Projects using just supplies I already had on hand (you probably do too!):

• Cardboard Roll Mini Album
• Family Picture Book for Baby
• Pallet Wood Side Table With Rustic Style
• Clothespin Magnets with Washi Tape

If you love painting projects like these painted mason jars, be sure to check out these other DIY projects with paint: