Handpainted Bluebird Mason Jar
Turn plain jars into decorative masterpieces with the Handpainted Bluebird Mason Jar. This DIY Mason jar idea is an intermediate level project that requires some precision with painting. After you're done with this Mason jar project, though, you will have a beautiful decoration that has a lovely bluebird on it for spring. This craft would be an amazing gift for a bird-lover or someone who would like a rustic yet cute decorative craft for their home. Bring the birds of spring into your house with this craft with Mason jars.
Primary TechniquePainting
SeasonSpring
Materials:
- FolkArt ® Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paints - Cinnamon, 2 oz.; Bark Brown, 2 oz.;
Thicket, 2 oz.; Ink Spot, 2 oz.; Medium Blue, 2 oz.; Fresh Foliage, 2 oz. - FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Chalk - Vintage Mustard, 8 oz.
- FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Tools - Sanding Foam Block
- Brush basin
- Foam plate
- Paper towels
- Large flat brush
- No. 12 Flat brush
- Rubbing alcohol
Instructions:
- Spread brown craft paper over the studio table offering a clean, dry crafting surface and then position your glass canning jars on the work surface. Next, gather some rubbing alcohol and a paper towel and wipe over the exterior of the glass canning jar to remove all dirt, dust, or grease film.
- Using a large flat brush, apply a basecoat of Vintage Mustard and allow it to dry.
- Paint the metal ring and lid insert and allow all three parts to thoroughly dry.
- Once dry, lightly sand to distress using a sanding foam block. You can see paint has been removed over the raised glass details as well as around the lid. The amount of distressing is determined by choice with either a lightly-distressed look or a heavily-distressed surface where more paint has been removed.
- Next, using the One Stroke painting technique, paint a bluebird using FolkArt Multi-Surface paints on the distressed Vintage Mustard jar. To begin, double load a No. 12 flat brush with Parchment and Bark Brown and paint two “C” strokes creating the left side of the bird’s head and then body.
- Double load the same brush with Parchment and Medium Blue. To the Medium Blue side of the brush, add just a small touch of Ink Spot. Then, paint the right side of the bird’s head and body.
- Keeping the brush double-loaded with Parchment and Medium Blue, next paint the bird’s tail feathers beginning at the feather tip and stroking into the bird’s body. Turn the jar upside down to make it easier to paint.
- Using the same double-loaded brush and same strokes, the bird’s wings are painted next.
- To that same double-loaded brush, add a touch more Parchment and paint a small “C” stroke on the bird’s head keeping the Parchment to the left. This will create the cheek!
- Using the same No. 12 flat brush, pick up Bark Brown and paint the tree branch keeping on the chisel edge of the brush.
- Basic One Stroke leaves are painted next. Double-load the same flat brush with Thicket and Fresh Foliage to paint leaves on the branch. Be sure to use the chisel edge to pull a vein into each leaf.
- Next, paint small clusters of blue flower blossoms. Double-load the same brush with Parchment and Medium Blue to paint the small flowers. Paint a Bark Brown beak and an Ink Spot dot eye!
