DIY Floral Mason Jar Vase Idea

Mason jars make beautiful vases or centerpieces and this garden-inspired DIY Floral Mason Jar Vase Idea is so easy to create. You don’t need to know how to paint florals to achieve the sweet decorations on this mason jar craft!

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Mason jars are a wonderful blank canvas for all kinds of crafts and home décor ideas. Decorating a mason jar to use as a storage canister, vase, or centerpiece is easy and fun.

For this floral mason jar vase I used a quart jar, white chalk paint, and paper napkins! Yep, paper napkins. No complicated painting, just a pair of sharp scissors and some Mod Podge will do the trick.

What makes this technique so great is that you can buy napkins with complex designs, cut them out, and create unique artwork–without feeling like you have to have an art degree in painting. This project checks the box for an easy & relaxing craft!

Use the finished jar for a pretty Mother’s Day gift, a vase, pencil holder, centerpiece, or anything else you like!

What You Need to Make This Craft

Mason Jars – Use any quart-size glass jar/mason jar. You could also recycle glass jars from food products (pasta sauce, jams, etc.).

Chalk Paint – Chalk Paint/Chalk Style Paints are what I suggest for painting mason jars. The paints adhere well and leave a matte finish. My go-to white chalk paint is usually Rust-Oleum Chalked in Linen White, but these examples used Country Chic’s chalk style paint in Crinoline.

Paper Napkins – Choose a design that has smaller elements you can cut out. You can also use a full pattern design, but applying an entire napkin sometimes ends in a wrinkly finish. The smaller cut-outs tend to give a more professional look.

Mod Podge Matte – Or you can use any similar decoupage medium.

Sharp Scissors – For cutting the napkins.

Paintbrushes – For the chalk paint and the matte decoupage medium.

(Optional) Clear Matte Spray Paint – For sealing (alternatively, the finished jar can be coated with a complete layer of the Mod Podge).

Where to find cute napkins? I keep an eye out when I visit Marshalls/HomeGoods/TJMaxx. Also, gift shops and craft stores like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby. Target sometimes has pretty paper napkins and Amazon and Etsy have lots too.

Here’s Some Cute Napkins:

How to Make This DIY Floral Mason Jar Vase Idea

Paint the Jars

You can use recycled glass jars or standard mason jars for this project. I find that either a smooth glass jar or one with the raised emblem/decorations works just fine. Just a matter of preference.

I have a whole post on how to paint mason jars, but for this project I suggest applying two to three coats of white chalk paint to quart-size jars (other sizes work too). Be sure to wait the complete dry time between coats. No need to seal the paint quite yet.

Quick Tip: Paint your jar a different base color to coordinate or contrast with different napkin designs.

Prep the Napkins

While the paint dries, prep the napkins. Most napkins seem to be made from three layers. Peel off the back (usually just a plain white/color) of the napkin to start.

Now, using a pair of small sharp scissors, cut out the individual pieces you plan to use. I roughly cut each element and then I go back and trim close to the edges.

If you are using a napkin with a white background and applying it to a white-painted jar it’s ok to leave a little bit of the white napkin around the design as you cut it out.

After you trim the edges of the cut-outs, you might notice another plain white layer of napkin beginning to pull away from the printed side. Discard this layer. You could pull this layer away before cutting, but that makes it challenging to cut the delicate pieces.

Apply the Images to the Jar

Now, grab some Mod Podge Matte. Use a paintbrush to apply a little where you plan to stick the first image from the napkin. Apply the image and paint over it with more Mod Podge. Repeat to cover the vase.

The Mod Podge (even though it’s a matte finish) left some shine on the jar. To avoid a patchy look, coat the entire jar with Mod Podge when finished or use a clear spray paint (matte) to coat.

Top with a spray painted ring of the jar lid (glittery or metallic is fun!) or leave as-is. Fill with faux florals. If you’d like to fill with water and real flowers, I do suggest using a sturdy clear top coat for added protection.

How to Use this for Party or Shower Craft

This would be a great craft for parties. However, if you’d like to use this craft idea for a party, bridal shower, or something similar, you’ll likely want to paint the jars ahead of time. You could spray paint them (use a matte finish paint) to make the process a little faster.

Then, for your party, offer a variety of paper napkins, plenty of scissors, and show everyone how to separate the napkins and cut out their chosen designs. Then, offer plenty of paintbrushes, small bottles of Mod Podge (or pour small amounts from a larger jar onto paper plates) and a painted glass jar for each guest to decorate.

The Mod Podge dries pretty quickly, so guests can put a top coat on their pieces and then let them dry while the party continues. A great project for both adults and older kids!

More Mason Jar Ideas

• Mason Jar “Postage Stamp” Pencil Holder with Washi Tape
• Office Survival Kit Mason Jar Gift
• Pink Dotted Mason Jar Vase

Craft with me! If you try this tutorial, tag me on Instagram or use the hashtag #BellewoodCottageCrafts. Watch my videos on YouTube and follow along on Pinterest for more ideas like this one!