Step Aside, Door Knobs: There's A Stylish Way To Transform Old Pickle Jars With Paint

There's a good chance that after you finished a jar of pickles, you felt compelled to repurpose that sturdy glass jar. If some time has passed and it's still sitting empty on your countertop or in the recycling bin, maybe you just need a little inspiration. There's a slew of upcycling ideas out there, including transforming an old pickle jar into an apothecary-style jar using a cabinet door knob. But if you don't have the wherewithal to search for the right door-knob size and shape, along with other embellishments, why not paint it? TikTok creator createtoencourage did just that, meticulously hand-painting a design reminiscent of mandala dot art on the glass. 

There are a few things you should know before you paint a glass jar. First, you need to use paints that will adhere to glass. These include acrylic enamel, multi-surface acrylic (different from all-purpose or craft acrylic), certain solvent- or oil-based paints, and specialty glass paints. Second, depending on your chosen artwork, you may want to use soft synthetic brushes, as stiffer brushes can create visible streaks. (Consider oil-based paint markers if you're uncomfortable wielding a brush.) Third, to make your artwork last, finish with a clear acrylic spray sealer, polyurethane, or varnish, or heat-set the painted pickle jar in the oven. Google the type of paint you're using to find the appropriate method.

Wash the jar and deodorize any lingering odors before you begin. You can do this by rubbing the jar's interior with a homemade baking soda paste (which is also a great DIY household cleaner, by the way), letting it sit overnight, and rinsing it out the next day. In the meantime, look for the artwork you want to copy or use as a starting point. Prime the glass by wiping down the exterior with white vinegar or rubbing alcohol and letting it dry. Then, let your inner Picasso out. If you don't feel confident about your artistic abilities, tape a print-out of your selected artwork to the inside of the jar and "trace" it with paint.

@createtoencourage

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♬ Inspiring Emotional Piano – Metrow Ar

By leaving the rest of the jar unpainted, createtoencourage rendered it a stylish vessel where she could still easily see its contents. This can work great with items that look decorative when left exposed, such as colorful binder clips or white beads you use for crafting. You can also DIY a reed diffuser with it (or, alternatively, use it to hold potpourri). If you prefer, you can hide or hint at what's inside by first covering the jar completely in an opaque paint color of your choice or a frosted-glass spray paint. And while the mandala dot art is handsome, you can choose a different design if it doesn't suit your decor. The easiest artwork to replicate might be vector graphics, line drawings, patterns, and lettering.