DIY Stained Mason Jars Tutorial

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I have seen mason jars with this bluish tint all over the internet. The only problem is, I can’t seem to find them in stores! I decided to take matters into my own hands and dye them myself.

Here is how to stain a mason jar:

Supplies: You will need a mason jar (I found mine at a craft store for $2), Mod Podge, food coloring, a paper plate and spoon, waxed paper and a baking sheet.

Before you begin, preheat your oven to 200° F.

Step 1: Mix 2 tablespoons of water and 4 tablespoons of Mod Podge together on your paper plate. Next, add as many drops of food coloring you want until you reach your desired shade (I used 5 drops of blue food coloring for mine).

Step 2: Pour all of the water and Mod Podge mixture into your mason jar. Move your jar around making sure to coat the whole inside of the jar.

Step 3: Pour all of the water and Mod Podge mixture out of your jar, making sure to coat the mouth of the jar. Wipe the outside edge of your jar for any excess mixture on the outside. Be sure to only have a thin layer on the inside of your jar, otherwise it won’t have an even color in the end.

Step 4: Place the jar upside down on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Put it in the oven for three minutes.

Step 5: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and turn the jar upright. Wipe rim carefully with a paper towel to remove excess water and Mod Podge mixture, then return the jar (upright) to the oven. Bake until the color is clear and beautiful, about 30-40 minutes.

You’re done!

Add a ribbon or flowers to your jar for some extra flair!

***Do not store anything you plan on eating in these jars, because the Mod Podge makes it unsafe! You can use water in them for plants.***

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Questions & Reviews

monsterscircus says:

What a Nice tutorial! It looks so great! Really fantastic, and love the blue colour! Thanks for sharing it and have a great Day and a beautiful week
The Genesis Emporium says:

What temp did you use in the oven? Thanks. They are very pretty.
jayne says:

Great tutorial - thanks!
Renee Ault says:

I have made these myself, and I just love them!! I used Elmer's glue instead of the mod podge and I didn't even put them in the oven...they air dry just as well. I have also seen this brushed on the outside of the glass instead of coating the inside...that way the jar is still food safe. Just some extra tips I thought I would share. I made a lime green jar and a pink one...my next project will be aqua...aqua seems to be the big color right now...and I am really starting to love it!!!
tina picazo says:

The tempurature of the oven is stated as 200 degrees.
Too bad you cant use them for food or beverages...how about if you do this same process to the outer glass?
The Ellis' says:

Hi Tina!

One reader said they have done it to the outside of the jars and it worked great! You will have to let us know if you try it!
The Ellis' says:

Hi!

Heat your over to 200 degrees. Thanks!
Laura @ Mrs. in the Making says:

Best tutorial for this I've seen so far! Thanks!! I have a few of the blue Ball jars - they quit making them in the 50s. I bought mine at an antique store for a friend's bridal tea, but they were (gasp) about $8 per jar!!! Staining them yourself seems like a way more affordable option!

Fun fact, if you ever do come by the antique jars, you can date them by examining the imprint. Apparently some collectors are really serious about this, so it's easy to find online. One of mine is from the 1910s! Who knew?
Style Sisters says:

Come link up to Centerpiece Wed and share this idea with us. These look amazing!
Karin
Tania says:

Pretty pretty, I will have to try this.

Thanks for sharing:)
Unknown says:

Your blue jars you paid 8$ for are actually worth alot more if they really are cobalt blue jars,
Maureen Fuller says:

I'm wondering if the colored jars can be used for candles, or does is Mod Podge coating flammable? If so, when the color treatment goes on the outside of the jar, does it rub or wash off?
Six Sisters says:

Oh boy..... I have not used them for candles. Mod Podge is not flammable but I am not sure what would happen. I haven't put the color treatment on the outside so I am not sure if it would rub off or anything. Sorry I am not more help! -Six Sisters
a76a52da-5f28-11e2-970c-000bcdcb471e says:

You couldn't find them in stores because the blue ones are vintage..
melinda says:

How is the coating holding up in terms of chipping and/or water immersion, i.e. flowers with water in it? I want to make some food safe ones with the color on the outside and give them as gifts, but have no idea how well they'd hold up. I know you haven't done the outside, but maybe I can get an idea by how the inside is holding up. Thanks
zuzanna mackin says:

This comment has been removed by the author.
Six Sisters says:

We have only stored fake flowers in them and put them in a window sill, so we haven't tested it with water. :( Sorry we aren't more help to you!
Six Sisters says:

Parchment paper would work fine!
Alida says:

This came in my email box this morning!
They are only a limited time however:
http://www.freshpreservingstore.com/ball-heritage-collection-pint-jar-6-pc-1-pt/shop/595451/?CCAID=fpnwstne00410aq&s=s0060221305s&mid=1419896&rid=60221305
sherrie says:

I have made two of these and they both have runs in them one I drained until it didn't drip at all and the other I just poured out the excess moderately barely dripping any suggestions on how to avoid runs
Madeline Carlson says:

I am staining jars yellow for my sunflower wedding in September, planning to use as candle holders for the patio, so we did a test run and they work GREAT! Beautiful and easy!
Tiffany says:

Hi. I made these tonight, but my jars ended up with a lot of goop around the bottom ring on the inside. Do I need to bake them longer? Thanks.
Six Sisters says:

Just need to let more of the glue mixture to come out! You can leave it upside-down on a paper towel for a few minutes to let more of it drain out.
Kristen Frankel says:

Hey, I love this! I want to use it for jars I've been collecting and thought about placing strands of lights in each of them connected together. Is that safe? Can the heat of the bulb stay inside the jars for a long time without anything bad happening!? Thanks for the help! Kristen
Cyd says:

I have never tried lights in them. Mod Podge isn't flammable so it might be ok! Sorry I'm not more help!
Kay says:

Did you stain the outside or inside to use for candles. I would like to do the same for my retirement party in September. Do you have a picture of a finished one with a sunflower. Would love to see it!
kate says:

does this make your house stink
Cyd says:

We really didn't have too much of a stinky smell. You could do them outside or in your garage.
Cyd says:

Not much of a stinky smell from the oven.
Karolin says:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about stained mason jars. Regards My webpage - kumlama
ashley says:

These bottles are not waterproof. If you leave water in them for several days the glue inside the bottles will come away from the sides and come off. Also when water is used, the appearance of them will look like a milky consistancy with whatever color you used. Once you get the water out and dry them again they don't look too bad, but just a thought if you want to use them for vases with real flowers.
alice says:

can you make a light out of these does the heat from light over time hurt them
annaliese says:

Just wondering?filling them with water doesn't make the color come off?
Cyd says:

These are not waterproof. You will not want to fill them with water.
Karen Minor says:

Love this. First time I tried this I messed up a couple of jars. Not having enough time to wait for the clean up, I boiled water & put dish soap in the jars waited 20 minutes. Then with a tooth brush loosened the glue from the whole jar & everything came out slick nothing down the drain.
Jenn P says:

Just did 30 jars for quincenera and they came out gorgeous! Put water/deco beads in them and now they look awful. The water rehydrates the glue and now I have funky polka dots that vein out. Drying doesn't make it look better. It would look cool if these were in black or red for halloween. Wished I had known not to put anything water related in them before i filled them last night. We set up decorations tonight. Just wanted to pass along a helpful hint.
Mor says:

I bought some bail jars. When I put the mixture in, it wouldn't stick at all. Is there some coatings on certain jars? How would I remove the coating or make the mixture stick to the glass?
Julie Herman says:

I assume you can do the same method with clear vases?
Elyse says:

Hi Julie! I think that would work just fine!
Elyse says:

Hi Mor, I have no idea! I have never run into that problem. I am so sorry about that! You may be able to clean the glass with rubbing alcohol to try and get any films off the jar, but I am not positive what else would work. I am so sorry about that!
Courteney says:

I used this tutorial to create awesome vintage mason jar lamps! This is by far the best mason jar staining tutorial I've seen. http://craftingwithcourt.blogspot.com/
Laura says:

Hi! I think this is a great idea, but I am looking to color the out side of the jars. Can this method be used for that as well? If not, do you know where I can find tutorials for that? I love the idea of staining the jars, but I plan to put stuff like lotion, salves, etc. into the jar. The Mod Podge is baked on, but I would be afraid it would leach into the products. Can you help?
Becky says:

Love this, so very nice. However it does not hold up to water. I wanted to use these for a bridal shower with real flowers in it but all the coloring came off as soon as water hit it:( Very nice for decorative though!
Elyse says:

Hey Alice! I have never tried it, so I'm not sure! Another reader said that she made them into lamps and they work great! Sorry I'm not more help!
Elyse says:

Hey Sherrie! I am so sorry about that! I would maybe just leave the jars upside-down for a longer period of time to make the mod podge layer as thin as possible inside the jar.
Paulette Mesiona says:

How did you make the pink tinted mason jar.
Cyd says:

Just use red food coloring instead of the blue.
Sarah says:

Mode podge is water soluble so you cannot add water!!! Found out the hard way. It completely dissolves the glue and dye. Waste of time. But they are lovely otherwise.
Tammywood says:

Thank you for your great tutorial. I had wanted to know the best way to do that. I hope that mine turn out as pretty as yours are .2/18/15 Tammy Wood,
Linda says:

Mine came out with streaks. What do you think I did wrong? I followed the directions exactly as written. Any clues?
Sandy says:

I want to make these with my grandkids. BUT we want to make them then place battery powered little candles in them and put them outside. IF we paint the outside will we lose our color?
Emily Crowder says:

Will this break regular glass, like a drinking glass, at this temp?
Jodi says:

What type of Mod Podge did you use to get the clear finish?
Cyd says:

We used Modge Podge gloss lustre.
Teena says:

I made these following the directions. For 5 Tbsp Mod Podge, I had to use 40 drops of food coloring to get a strong color. I ended up baking them for an hour before the translucent came. The bad part about the whole process, around the inside rim of the jar is gloppy and looks terrible. I let them drain upside down for 30 min before baking in the oven. The jars themselves came out great with good color, but not sure what to do about the rims. I had intended on making these into Luminaries.
Sandy Laster says:

Can this be used on outdoor garden art spheres?
Melissa turnmire says:

Im making amber jars....test run of 2 jars wasnt happy with darkness.....can i let them cool and repeat for darker color
Cyd says:

Sure, you can repeat for a darker color.
Dani says:

I tried this but my jars came out with little bubbles all over the sides. I'm not sure what I did wrong..
Jay says:

how much food coloring?trying to come up with near cobalt color.
Carrie Haberkorn says:

I have little bubbles all over mine, with two different batches. First batch I thought I may have use too much Mod Podge. I also thought I may not have drained the excess off well enough. With my second batch I used less Mod Podge and set and turned the jars upside down for almost two hours elicited with a couple crafting sticks. Still have bubbles all over. Any ideas?
Leacey says:

Are you able to wash it off or soak it insomething to redo the jar if you didnt like the turn out?
Kim says:

You can put drinking glasses in the oven, but the oven needs to be cold and then set it to 200 degrees. Also, it is dishwasher safe.