Valentines Decorated Jars Tutorial

Hello my Creative Friends,

I hope you are all Well. In Today’s Tutorial I will show you how I Re-Purposed Food Jars into D.I.Y. Valentines Decor. They are a Beginner Friendly, Budget Friendly Craft to make and they can be Displayed all Year Round and not just for Valentines Day.

Preparing the Jars for Crafting

I rinsed out 3 Jars and their Lids. The 2 smaller Jars were Jam Jars and the bigger Jar had a Pasta Sauce in it.

I soaked the clean Jars in the Sink with warm water and washing-up-liquid for an hour. This softens the label and makes it easier to peel off. I then removed the label, rinsed and dried each of the the Jars.

Here are the 3 Jars after being washed, dried and their labels removed.

Priming the Lids

I removed the Lids from the Jars.

I put a Sheet of Baking Paper on the Table to protect it while I’m Painting. I put the 3 Lids on the Baking Paper as well as my ‘Acrylic White Gesso’ and a small flat Sponge with handle.

I applied 2 Layers of the Gesso to each of the Lids with the Sponge, leaving an hour drying time between layers.

The Gesso primes the Lids, removes the shiny, colourful pattern. It provides a tooth like texture and makes it easier to apply Paint to the surface.

This is how the Lids look after being Primed.

Painting the Valentines Jars Silver

I got the 2 smaller Jars, the primed Lid from the bigger Jar, my Silver Acrylic Paint and another Sponge with handle.

I poured some of the Silver Paint into a Tub. I put the Jars upside down on the Baking Paper.

I Painted the Lid first with the Sponge. I dipped the Sponge into the Paint, dabbed the excess Paint into another part of the tub and then dabbed it onto the Lid until it had one even coat of Paint.

I then Painted the Jars. I started with the base of each Jar. I dabbed Paint on it with the Sponge until it was covered.

I then put my hand into the Jar to Paint all around the outer Jar easily; I just moved my hand inside the Jar when I needed to move onto the next section of the Jar. I didn’t have to touch the outer Jar and get fingerprints on the Paint.

I worked quickly with the Paint and Sponge. I slightly overlapped Paint on the section I had just finished to avoid harsh lines or marks from the sponge on the area I was just after painting.

When I had one even layer applied with the Sponge I slowly removed my hand and used my other hand to hold the tip of the Jar each Side and carefully placed it back down on the Table. I repeated this process with the second Jar.

This is how the 2 Jars and Lid looked after the first coat of Paint.

Making the Heart Template for the Jar

I got my Heart Template from my Craft Supplies. They are Cookie Cutters but I use them for Crafting instead.

I traced around the Heart Shape with a Pencil onto some Lace Patterned Paper I had in my Stash.

I cut around the markings with a small sharp scissors.

I put Pritt Stick on the back of the Lace Patterned Heart.

I attached it to the bigger Jar.

Painting the Valentines Jar Pink

I mixed ‘White’ Acrylic Paint with ‘Dusty Rose’ Acrylic Paint in a Bowl to make a lighter Pink shade.

I turned the Baking Paper around so that the Silver Paint could be drying on the Jars and Lid, it prevented me moving them while they were still wet.

I put the Bowl on the Baking Paper as well as the 2 Lids from the Smaller Jars and the bigger Jar turned upside down. I got another Sponge with handle.

I Painted the Lids with the Pink Paint and Sponge.

I then Painted the Jar the same way as the smaller Jars. I dabbed the Paint around and slightly on the Heart to ensure Paint would be even around the Template of the Heart on the Jar.

Finishing the Painting Process

The Lids only needed one more layer of Paint.

I applied 2 more layers of Silver Paint to the Jars leaving an hour between each layer.

I also applied 2 more layers of Pink Paint to the bigger Jar.

Removing the Paper Heart

The next day after all the Paint was fully Dry, I began to peel back the Heart Template from the Pink Jar.

It was easy to remove.

I cleaned away the Pritt Stick marks with a Baby Wipe and dried it with a Sheet of Kitchen Paper.

This is how the Jar looks with the Heart Template cleaned.

I put the Lids back on the Jars to see how they were coming along.

Writing the Sentiments onto the Valentines Jars

I got my ‘White uni POSCA Acrylic Paint Pen 0.7mm’.

I wrote ‘xoxo’ onto the smaller Jar with the Paint Pen.

I wrote ‘LOVE’ onto the other small Jar with the Paint Pen.

Decorating the Pink Lids

I got my ‘Clear Gemstone Stickers’.

I cut out strips of the Gemstones to make it easier to apply them.

I removed the Gemstone Strip from the Clear backing and applied it to the mid-section of the Pink Lid. I added more gemstones until the Lid was covered.

I added a thicker layer to the ‘LOVE’ letters with the Paint Pen. This Completed my first Valentines Jar.

I applied another layer of the Paint Pen to the ‘xoxo’. This Completed my second Valentines Jar.

Decorating the Silver Lid

I got a White Foam Flower from my Supplies.

I attached it to the center of the Silver Lid with my Hot Glue Gun.

Finishing Touches to the Pink Valentines Jar

I applied the Clear Gemstones around the border of the Heart on the Jar.

A side view of the Gemstones around the Heart.

I put a Colour Changing LED T-Light into the Pink Jar.

This Completed my final Valentines Jar.

The 3 Decorated Jars together.

A view of the Painted Lids.

The Valentines Jars on Display.

The Jars in the evening with the LED Light switched on.

The Final Image of the Valentines Jars.

Conclusion

I love the outcome of this Valentines Craft and how my used Food Jars were given a new lease of life. It’s amazing what Paint and a few Accessories can do to completely change Household Items you would normally throw in the Bin.

I really like the fact that the Jars can be Displayed all Year long. The Seasons can come and go so fast and you might not want to Decorate for every Occasion. I love using neutral Colours to Save constantly Putting Up and Down of Seasonal Decor every few Weeks or months.

These Jars would be the perfect addition to any Room in the Home especially the Bedroom or Living Room. The Colour Changing Lights provide Cosy evening vibes.

If you would like more Valentines or Romantic Decor Inspiration check out a previous Tutorial I have made; Heart Display Bowls.

I hope you will try Painting some Jars and putting your own Spin on them. If you do attempt them let me know how it went and if you enjoyed it.

Thank You so much for taking the Time to Read my Blog.

Always Grateful,

T.D.C.

xoxox