3 Ways: Distressed Autumn Mason Jars

It's no surprise that I have an obsession with distressed mason jars. Here's my super easy & affordable take on how to paint & style them for the Fall season :) I find that each one brings a different light & tone into the space it occupies. The beiges & browns add a coziness & home-y feeling while the more golden & cream tones brighten up the room. So if you're indecisive as to which one you should do, ask yourself what the room/space needs. No matter what you choose - beiges, cream, & browns go along with so many different colors that you won't have to worry about whether or not it will match the color scheme in your home.

Before you start painting your mason jars, first remember to clean them with soap and water. Wipe them down to dry and then apply rubbing alcohol on the outside of each jar with a cotton ball. This will ensure that all dirt and oils have been wiped away so that the paint will adhere to the glass surface. To distress, I used 150 fine grit sandpaper for each tutorial listed below.

#1: Halloween Mason Jar

Paint used:

Wheat used - Hobby Lobby $3.00 each:

 

Apply 2 coats of orange paint to a clean mason jar. I mixed equal parts Terra Cotta & Orange Spice.

When that has dried, apply 1 coat of Burnt Umber and let dry. Distress with sandpaper. As you sand, you will begin to see the orange color peak through Burnt Umber! Add some twine & wheat and you are done :)

I placed mine on my kitchen counter, next to my basket of lotions :)

#2: Beige & Brown Mason Jar

I have an entire blog post detailing how I painted this mason jar here >> http://jessicarosehomedecor.blogspot.com/2015/06/distressing-tutorial-easy-cheap-how-to-make-anything-look-antique.html 

Wheat used - Hobby Lobby $3.00:

After painting & distressing, add twine & the brown wheat, and you are done! I placed this arrangement in my bedroom. The brown tones make the bedroom feel so comfy & home-y :)

If you are curious about the Pottery Barn-inspired glass window, I have also done a tutorial on it as well. They were made using pictures frames from the Dollar Store! LINK HERE >> http://jessicarosehomedecor.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-to-diy-rustic-window-dollar-store-picture-frames.html

#3 Cream & Golden Mason Jar
Paint used:

Wheat used:

Apply 1 coat of White paint. Ley dry. Then apply 2 coats of Parchment. Using White as the base coat brightens up Parchment. When that has also dried, distress with sandpaper, add twine & wheat, and you are done!

I decided to place this on my kitchen bar :) The golden & cream tones really brighten up my living room!

 Add an heirloom pumpkin for a pop of color ;)

And there you have it - 3 different ways to paint & style mason jars for the Fall season!

Classic Christmas Wreath Tutorial

There are three holiday decorations essential to the embodiment of the Christmas spirit - the tree, the garland, and the doorway wreath. This DIY is my take on a classic Christmas wreath - nothing over the top, too colorful, or too glittery. Just simple, clean, fluid, & soft - with a tiny extra something. I wanted it to say: A cozy, loving home is here :) You will need the following materials:

Wreath: $5.00 (Hobby Lobby); Artificial Snow: $2.50 (Hobby Lobby); Ornament Balls: $1.00 (Dollar Tree), Ribbon: $4.00 (Michael's); Silver Bell Ornaments: $3.00 (Wal*Mart); Pine Cones: various sizes; Glue Gun; Ornament Wire

First, coat your wreath with the snow. Follow the instructions listed on the bottle & take the appropriate precautions. I did mine one layer at a time, letting each layer dry for 1-2 hours. I did a total of 3 layers and let it completely dry for 24 hours. Layer to your desire. Mine turned out as shown:

Next, glue your pine cones to your wreath with your glue gun.  Helpful tip: Arrange the pine cones FIRST and then glue them down :) Also, gluing the pine cones right-side up & upside-down help to give the piece texture & dimension.

Don't forget to leave a gap at the bottom of your wreath. This is where the ribbon & bow will be placed.

Using the ornament wire, secure your ornament balls and silver bell pieces to the wreath. I alternated between the satin & glitter finishes.

 Close-up:

Take your ribbon & simply place it in-between the pine cone clusters.

Tie a ribbon and you are finished! 

 The neutral, creamy tones make this such a versatile piece. Hang it anywhere in your home...

 ...or outside :)

I honestly can't believe that there is only a week left till Christmas. If you're trying to hold on to the last leg of the holiday season for as long as possible, this DIY will do the trick - and it cost me no more than $15 bucks! Follow me on Instagram @jrosehomedecor and hashtag your recreations as #jrosehomedecor. See you in the New Year!

xx,
Jessica

2 Simple Ways to Add a Touch of Holiday Spirit to Any Room!

The big Christmas statement pieces are easy to tackle - the tree, the garland along the staircase, the stockings hung with care along the fireplace, the front door wreath....but what about those empty nooks & crannies that if left bare are just an eyesore? I give you two easy ways to add a touch of the holiday spirit in any room. The best part - it's ridiculously simple & inexpensive to achieve, and you don't have to take them down after New Years! It's the perfect Saturday project :)

#1 - Decorative Glass Vase Filler

 You will need the following materials:

Small to medium-sized pine cones ($2.50), artificial Christmas stem ($3.99), Winter berries ($0.74), Glass Vase ($5.00), Wire Cutters --> all items found at Michael's on sale and/or with coupon.

Simply trim off pieces of the Winter stem & berries using your wire cutters and fill up the vase to your liking!

 

Voila!

 As you can tell, I did not select your typical holiday-themed material or colors on purpose. I chose more neutral, true-to-Winter colors and textures because it allows me to use it all season long as opposed to changing it out after Christmas or New Years.

#2 - Pillar Candles & Wine Glass Filler

You will need the following materials (minus the cute cat):

Pillar candles $3.00 altogether from Michael's; long stem candle & glass candle holder each $1.00 from Dollar Store; cuddly cat - priceless.

Take your long stem candle and place atop the wine bottle or beer bomber opening. Then light the candle and simply let it melt to your desired height. Tip: select a bottle in which the label has old-looking calligraphy or little hints of the same color as the candle.

Next, take the medium & large pillar candles and secure the burlap around it with either tape or a pin. Also place a second long stem candle into the glass candle holder.

Add some little Christmas accents for extra cuteness & you're finished! :)

 

 

 Altogether these two DIY's cost me no more than $20.00 and took no more than an hour to complete. Re-create them and hashtag it as #jrosehomedecor on Instagram!

xx,
Jessica