DIY Summer Crafts

DIY

SUMMER CRAFTS

by Candace Williams

Whether you call the South home by birth or by choice, chances are you have developed an unexplained appreciation for the Mason jar. The famous Ball Mason jar in particular. Perhaps it is the way history, form, function and elegance all merge into one single vessel. From its creation in the mid 1800’s designed to safely preserve food, the Mason jar has become the inspiration for countless creative uses today. In this article, read about a few summer craft ideas centered on the timeless Mason jar. Mason jars come in various sizes and can easily be found online or in retail stores. While Ball Mason jars are the more popular brand, other brands are available and will work just as well.

FRUIT INSPIRED COCKTAIL GLASSES

First on the DIY list is fruit inspired cocktail glasses. These whimsical glasses add a little sunshine to your summer cocktail. Decide which fruit you will use to inspire your glasses and purchase the appropriate acrylic paints, varnish and paint brushes.

Step one: Apply two coats of the prominent color or colors of your chosen fruit and let them dry. For example, if your design is inspired by pineapples, you might want to paint your entire jar yellow.

Step two: Add designs to your jar and let them dry. In sticking with the pineapple theme, you may consider adding a green band around the top of the glass to mimic the leaves on top of the pineapple and using brown paint to add the spikes seen on the skin of the pineapple.

Step three: Seal with varnish and let them dry.

Make these super adorable watermelon mason jar drinking glasses with mason jars, green twine, and black paint! Simply wrap the bottoms of the jars with green twine, adhering the twine to the back of the jars with hot glue. Then paint or draw black seeds onto the jars and fill the glasses with a pink drink!

MASON JAR LUMINARIES

Next up, Mason jar luminaries. To create these beauties all you need is clear silicone caulk and glass gems, which are found in your local craft or dollar store. The gems are available in a variety of colors including clear, blue and green.

Step one: Apply clear silicone caulk on the flat surface of the glass gems one at a time and place them on your Mason jar. You may place the gems side by side all over the jar or in a random pattern if you prefer

Step two: Allow the gems to thoroughly dry for a day or two

Step three: Place a tea light inside - battery operated tea lights are perfectly acceptable - and just like that, your summer luminary is complete and sure to add style and beauty to your outside living space.

SUMMER VASES

Our final craft idea, easy summer vases. For this you will need burlap, a strip of fabric, a spool of raffia, and an adhesive such as the clear silicone caulk we used to make the luminaries. Your fabric might be in a checkered pattern, floral pattern, solid color such as black, or whatever your heart desires.

Step one: Cut the burlap ribbon and fabric to fit the circumference of the jar in the width you would like it to cover the jar. You will want to cut the fabric to a smaller width.

Step two: Add your adhesive to the back of the burlap and affix it to the jar and do the same with the fabric affixing it to the burlap.

Step three: Finish it off by tying a raffia bow around your jar. Fill your vase with fresh summer flowers to create a lovely summer centerpiece.

You don’t have to be particularly crafty to successfully pull off any of these pretty and simple projects so we hope you will take the leap. Happy crafting!

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