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!

DIY Rustic Autumn Wreath UNDER $10!

For today's DIY, I wanted to create something not seen very often in homes or craft stores. My goal was to encompass all your classic, autumnal characteristics, but with a twist - a vertical twist. This tutorial goes beyond your typical circular wreath for this time of year and it is SO simple! My inspiration was this grapevine wreath I found at Hobby Lobby - I'd never seen anything like it! It adds such a perfect rustic-feel to any room :)

You will need the following materials:
Assorted mini pumpkins, acorns, and pine cones - leftover craft materials
Ornament Wire - $0.99 (Wal*Mart)
Wire Cutters
Hot glue gun
Grapevine wreath, shown above - $3.99 full price, $2.39 with coupon (Hobby Lobby)

Maple Leaf Bouquet - $5.99 full price, $2.99 sale price (Michaels)

Wheat Bouquet - $4.99 full price, $2.49 sale price (Michaels)

The materials I found at Michaels were 50% off & I also applied a '25% off your entire purchase' coupon, thus making this project ridiculously inexpensive!

Taking your wire cutters, cut your maple leaves leaving a 1/2 inch stem. Secure them to the front-bottom section with ornament wire. Securing the wire should look like this:

Be sure to leave the back portion of the wreath empty. I did 2 diamond-shaped patterns on the left and right sides & filled in the middle as I saw fit, but you can do as you wish. 

Left Side

Right Side

When the leaf placement is to your liking, go ahead and add mini-pine cones, pumpkins, and acorns using your glue gun.

Next, secure the wheat pieces along the top back of the wreath with ornament wire. Be sure to intermix various hues of brown & beige and stagger them a little. Doing this will add length, foliage, & dimension - it is the most crucial step. Not doing so will leave it falling flat to the eye. 

Back View

Up-Close

Add twine to the back to act as a mount and you are finished!
Hang on a wall in any room for the perfect touch of rustic-bliss;)

If you re-create this DIY, please leave a photo in the comment section below - I'd love to see them! 

Harvest-Inspired Rustic Wheat Tin - Under $10!

Every year around the best time of year (second to Christmas), my in-laws come to visit from Southern California. For them it's a chance to escape the 100 degree heat waves, smoggy air, and that horrendous 91 freeway traffic to actually experience a season other than hot-summer or cold-summer ;) It's a week filled with amazing weather, Fall colors, fly fishing, craft beer, Oktoberfest, autumnal candles & teas, pumpkin patches, and most importantly good quality family time. I want my home to feel cozy and seasonal for my family. So whenever the day of their arrival starts to get a little closer, my Fall decor inspiration is in hyper-drive and I become this crafting maniac for a solid 3-4 weeks.  When you take the concept that's in your head, make it with your hands, and have it bring life into your home, no matter what the room - that is the awe-inspiring moment that drives my creativity.

Today's DIY decor can be used in any room in your home & it is so inexpensive and easy! You will need the following items to complete this project:

FloralCraft Dry Foam - Link Here
Brown moss - $1.00 - Dollar Store
Wheat bushels - $6.99 Full Price; $4.19 with coupon - Michael's
Small bronze bucket - $2.99 Full Price; $1.79 with coupon - Michael's
Box cutter
Wire cutters

The piece that inspired this project were the beige and brown wheat bouquets I found at Michael's. You could use one particular color over the other, but using them altogether gives the decor piece the most dimension so that it doesn't fall flat to the eye.

Using your box cutter blade, you will first  take a piece of dry foam and cut it to the same diameter as the bronze tin. Then, slice the corners off a little bit at a time until it fits snug in the tin.

You don't want the foam to move around too much in the tin or else placing the wheat pieces will be difficult.

 Next comes the wheat. You can use wire cutters, the same box cutters, or any scissors you have handy. Cut them into small, medium, and long lengths.

You will be placing the wheat into the dry foam like so:

For the best dimension, place the longest pieces of wheat along the back third, medium length pieces in the middle third, and shorter pieces in the front as depicted below:

Long pieces in back

Middle pieces next

Short pieces in front

Be sure to intermix the colors for a lush, natural look! Now it's time to cover up that dry foam! Take your moss and simply cover up the perimeter and the spaces in between the wheat pieces :) 

 Don't forget to cover the center...

  ...And voila! 

Add some accessories to accompany the main piece and your easy, simple, & cheap Harvest-Inspired Wheat Tin is now complete! 

Happy Fall everyone! If you re-create this DIY, please leave a photo in the comment section below - I'd love to see them! See you in my next tutorial!