Mercury Glass Mason Jar DIY Tutorial
In this post you’ll learn my favorite mercury glass Mason jar diy. These Mason jars are not only functional but beautiful and are inspired by vintage mercury glass. Perfect to use as candle holders for Christmas and to give as gifts!
We all love candles, and displaying them in a Mason jar just makes them shimmer and shine all the more!
Add a bit of aged silvering and you have something really special and inexpensive to put up on the mantel…or make a few and display on a sideboard or create a centerpiece on your dining table.
I’ve done this technique for several years now and you can use this to turn picture frames or windows into mirrors as well. It works beautifully, as you can see in this post – How To Make A Mirror From A Picture Frame
How To Turn A Mason Jar Into A Mercury Glass Looking Jar
SUPPLIES:
- Clear Mason jars…these are new from the craft store
- Can of Krylon’s Looking Glass Spray Paint
- Black acrylic craft paint
- Sponge pieces
- Flat cotton puffs (like you use for your make up removal) Paper Towels
Optional:
- Gold and/silver acrylic craft paint
- Spray bottle with mixture of 1/2 white vinegar to 1/2 water Spray sealer
Apply the Krylon Looking Glass Paint in four to five even coats of spray to your glass piece. For the bottles that I have shown I did the process on the outside…as working inside the bottles would have been impossible. You will want to work in a well ventilated area or outdoors if you can…it’s stinky and messy. Allow to dry just for a minute or so in between thin coats of spray…the spray dries very quickly!
With your sponge rub off areas of the paint where you want the piece of glass to look distressed. Since these are jars you will be doing that on the outside of the jar where the painting was done. Dab cotton puff into black acrylic craft paint and start sponging on the areas where paint was removed.
Use a spray mister with some white vinegar or diluted white vinegar with water and spray on the glass paint while still not completely dry. This will produce little droplets and I like that look.
Optional but recommended: Allow 24 hours to dry and then spray with a clear sealer to protect your piece.
I have also used gold and copper spray paint …so this is an option if you want to try.
Use with battery operated candles if safety is a concern. They make fabulous homemade gifts during the holiday season!
PIN THIS POST TO REFER TO LATER!
First published in 2015 and updated in 2020
Beautiful idea! It looks so natural! I love it!
Jennelise
Those are beautiful Janet!Thank you so much for sharing this technique!
xx
Anne
Love it!!! I hope it's okay that I pinned this:)
LOVING THE JAR'S AND EVERYTHING , SO AMAZING DOLL
These are stunning! I love how they sparkle with candle light! Hugs, Leena
I would like to try this. BUT, I give my daughter all my Mason-type jars; she reuses them to can great things in! AND I want some more salsa, pickles, and spiced pears! I will have to find some other jars!!!!
How did you get the lid to look so antique? I do love these jars.
Hi Connie! I used the same technique on the lids. Probably should have mentioned that in the post.
Oh gosh…haha! Good luck in finding some more jars Kathy!
Really pretty
Thanks Ann…fun and easy!