Turn Basic Glass Jars Into Colorful Decor With This Stunning DIY

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

A basic glass jar can become a stunning decorative piece on a window ledge, or it liven up your fridge with a storage container that is functional and beautiful. Decorating glass jars, such as Mason Jars, with paint is nothing new (grade schoolers of yore did this project in art class!), but this DIY adds a twist with stained glass art.

Tiktok user Cameron & Sadie takes a boring glass jar and DIYs it into a colorful art piece that shines in the sun. She cleverly prints out the design she wants on a piece of paper and inserts it into the glass container. Then she uses a gold outliner to trace the designs on the glass. This DIYer paints two jars; one image is of large flowers, the other a fun mix of fruit. The raised gold outline gives the impression of stained glass, and makes filling in the remaining colors easy. She finishes the project by placing the jars in the oven to seal in the paint. The results are a stained-glass look that reflects the sunlight on her counter in bright colors.

This is a project that's great for those who love to paint, but who may not have the time or talent to draw designs on their own. Like a coloring book or paint-by-numbers kit, tracing and filling in the designs with paint is an easy way to be creative and do it yourself.

Painting on jars requires a clean surface. If you want a certain size (or simply want to get painting without cleaning), glass jars and canisters can be found in arts and craft stores, as well as in the kitchen supplies aisle at big box stores and online. For those recycling their jars, the first step is washing the jar to remove any leftover odor. Washing thoroughly with soap and water should get most of it, but for stubborn stains, soak the jar in a white vinegar rinse. Remove the labels from jars by scrubbing, or try soaking in vegetable oil to help get rid of glue adhesive.

The right type of paint you use matters for this project. For the shining stained glass look, go straight to stained glass paint and raised paint for the outline. Other paints will work on glass, but they will be thicker and less see-through in the sunlight. Most craft acrylic paints will adhere to glass like pickle jars, but look for paints that specifically include glass in their usage listing. Stained glass paint will include instructions for baking the final design in the oven or instruct on curing times. There are also alternatives that give the same effect without baking. For example, products such as this HOMY ARTY Glass Paint kit on Amazon do not require heat to give the same finished look.

This project can be used for seasonal decor. Make a smiling Jack-o-lantern for Halloween, paint stars and snowman for the winter holiday season, or add bunnies and eggs in spring. The size of your jar will determine how large you print your desired design; a large canister may hold a standard 8 by 10 page of printer paper, but smaller jars will require adjusting the size of your print space and cutting the paper to fit. Insert your design, and get painting!