Make Your Own Blue Glass Jars Tutorial
Submitted By A Happy Place Called Home
No, I’m not having crazy preggo cravings (cuz I’m not preggo)…and no, I haven’t lost my mind either! I just happened to make some candles out of some saved up jars that used to be in the fridge…holding food.
Honestly, most of these jars would typically wind up in the recycling…but I finally got smart. You see, there have been times when I’ve said to myself, “self, that’s a cute project that involves a glass jar!” But then I realize that I don’t have any glass jars.
On one occassion (cough, cough, hint, bridal shower) I even bought some mason jars because I didn’t have any on hand. Boy was that silly! After seeing the stash I’d collected in just a few weeks, I’m hoping that I’ve learned to go green and put those containers to new use, through one craft or another.
This project was something that I’ve been dye-ing to try! LOL! I crack myself up!
I’d heard it was possible to dye glass different colors using glue and food coloring, but I wanted to give it a test run.
Honestly, the most difficult part of this project was getting the stinkin’ labels off of the jars. I couldn’t find my trusty Goo Gone, but I found soaking the jars in warm water to be helpful.
Once they were soaked, I peeled off what I could, and scrubbed with soap and water to remove the rest of the sticky gunk from the jars.
Then I went all out and spent a whopping $.50 on some school glue.
To get some color, I used a few drops of blue food coloring and a hint of green food coloring. This created an aqua color, and in case you haven’t noticed, I happen to be in love with aqua!
After one coat, the glass had a nice soft tint, but I wanted to go for something with a bit more pop.
The second coat was just what I was looking for. I loved the color and the level of transparency! These photos were taken when the glue was still wet…
…and these were taken once the glue had dried….
One word…L.O.V.E!
This blue glass project was so easy, so cheap, and the results are so fun! I can think of so many fun things to do with this, but for this photo shoot, I just threw some candles in.
I tried to get some shots from different times of the day so that you could see the color in different lighting. I loved how the color appeared soft in strong light, but more vibrant in darker light. They looked pretty natural to me, but what do you think?
Granted, there were a few spots where I didn’t catch the air-bubbles or the drips, but I never sweat the small stuff when I try a project out for the first time.
I learned that I need to wait a bit longer in between coats so that the glue can dry completely first, but you might remember from this project that waiting patiently has never been one of my strong suits.
Grand total on this project…$.50, and a few hours. A great project for some weekend craftiness on a tight budget!
So here’s what I learned:
- Keep food jars! It’s green and fun! This is just one of many crafts you can do with them.
- Patience is a virtue. Wait longer in between coats.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff. Projects don’t have to be perfect all of the time. In fact, in many cases, imperfection creates an aged or weathered look.
- It is possible to craft for less than $1.00. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. Use what you have around the house.
- This idea could be used to make cute gifts. Fill the jars with bath salts, or even snacks. The glue is on the outside of the jar, so it won’t contaminate any food items!
So tell me, what would you do with these jars? What color would you paint them? I think I might try some red and orange ones next considering fall is just around the corner. I’m so glad I tried this!
This project was contributed by one of our fabulous readers! We love to share your projects with this great blogging community. So, if you have projects from kitchen renovation ideas to small bathroom remodels, overhauled and repurposed furniture, spray paint updates you name it please send it in! Thanks for reading Remodelaholic!Other fun DIY projects HERE:
Cassity Kmetzsch started Remodelaholic after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in Interior Design. Remodelaholic is the place to share her love for knocking out walls, and building everything back up again to not only add function but beauty to her home. Together with her husband Justin, they have remodeled 6 homes and are working on a seventh. She is a mother of four amazing girls. Making a house a home is her favorite hobby.
Hi: GooGone is sold at WalMart and when you put a bit on a label off it comes. Your labels will come off faster with googone than vinegar but googone leaves an oily residue which washes off easily with soap and water, vinegar you just rinse off. Your jars are beautiful. You are a very smart lady. Have a blessed day.
Hi, I’m peruse other DIY recipes for tinted glasses and they all involved baking the glass. Do you need to do that in your recipe?
Great tutorial – love the idea for a kids craft on Mothers Day! P.S. Instead of using Goo Gone – if you rub peanut butter on a sticky surface it will take the residue off, then just wash with soap and water! Much cheaper.
True, and any type of oil vegetable or canola usually works too!
wow wow.. this is beyond terrific.. thank you sooooooooooooo much.. I found this post doing a google search.. Your jars are beautiful and you saved me 100’s of dollars with it.. I have glass lamps and large jars that I can now make just like the ones I was going to have to spend a fortune for..
Many Thanks from:
155 Dream Lane
Sonny Gianetti
Ok…I got hooked on doing this too. My first jar experiment – pickle jar. Which way did you paint the color on…up and down or around? It looks like you did around from the photos of the drying ones.
I looked up so many different ways to do this it’s confusing. I read ingredients like yours. I read others that involve basically a glass “paint” enamel, which is what I got to try.
I’ve read that if you don’t BAKE them, the color will peel off and that you can’t wash them. Your’s weren’t baked but it dont appear that that peeling is a problem. Can you put them in the dishwasher?
Since I finished mine a bit ago this morning…mine dried some and then it is sitting in a 350 degree oven to “set”.
I’m waiting to see what happens next before I do on to others! 🙂
Thanks!