Mason jars are one of the cutest ways to share treats or small gifts with friends. Try these tips and tricks for simple ways to decorate mason jars for gifts, or reuse those jars laying around the house! With just a few supplies, and a little time, these ideas can add a thoughtful touch to any jar. Simple enough for your kiddos to help!
When it comes to sharing treats or small gifts with neighbors and friends, I like to reuse jars and add a few simple things to spruce them up. Mason jars are always adorable, but I tend to use leftover jars from jam or apple butter! A good wash in hot soapy water will help remove the labels.
When it comes to gifting, I think that any extra effort made is thoughtful. Maybe you work with your children to add stickers or make a homemade card. Maybe you take the time to write a thoughtful note, or add a ribbon. A simple extra step can go a long way.
I believe that if we want our children to be thoughtful, and empathetic adults, we need to actively show them what that looks like. Gifting is a tangible way to practice this with our kids. So, when I am preparing a gift for someone, I try to involve my kids in the process as much as possible. I want them to understand the importance of giving to others, especially in a time of need.
What I like about these ideas, is that the items are found around my house, making this accessible and affordable. I can put something special together for a friend without a trip to the store, or any money spent.
Let’s check out a few ways I like to decorate mason jars for gifts!
How to Decorate Mason Jars for Gifts:
- Paint jar lids
- Add ribbon
- Attach a handmade note
- Use leftover fabric for lids
- Add a tag
- Decorate with small pendant
Paint Jar Lids
Painting the lids of your jars is a simple way to decorate them, and it’s something your kids can do. I like to give each of my kids several lids and let them paint away!
Painting lids also allows you to coordinate with the seasons. You can take a simple jar and make it into a holiday or seasonal gift! In the photo above, you can see we used bright blue, yellow, and pink for sharing spring snacks with friends. I have a post about seasonal gifts using mason jars here.
What paint to use on mason jar lids?
When it comes to painting mason jar lids, use an acrylic based paint. We have used some other paints that we had on hand, and they simply did not work. We had some “kids paint” that just got flakey and fell off. Acrylic paint is thicker, and creates a nice, finished color!
Add Ribbon:
I usually have ribbon with my craft supplies, and it’s a great addition to any jar. You can buy themed ribbon or seasonal ribbon to match your gift. I also keep leftover fabric scraps around, and they make for cute ribbon as well!
Ribbon is also a great opportunity to practice some simple embroidery stitches. It only takes a few minutes to add a heart, letter, or design to your ribbon.
A fun bonus idea: sometimes, we step it up a notch, and include stamped ribbon. I choose a solid color, and let my kids stamp patterns on the ribbon. (You can make simple stamps out of sponges, or use round paint brushes as “stamps.” My kids love this!)
Attach a Handmade Note:
A simple way to decorate mason jars is with a note. (And your “words of affirmation” people will love this touch!) When it comes to attaching a note to your jar, there are two ways I do this:
- Simply use a hole punch in your note and attach it to the jar’s ribbon.
- Use your note as “wallpaper” for your jar.
How to make your own cards at home?
There are dozens of ways to make a card at home, but I usually stick to the same process, so my kids can help.
We make “magic” watercolor cards. All you need is a blank card (thick cardstock works best), a white crayon, and watercolors.
I draw something on the front of the card with white crayon. This could be words like, “thank you” or “happy birthday” or a picture, depending on the occasion.
I then let my kids paint! They think it’s fun to watch the design appear, and I find that watercolor tends to be consistently beautiful.
You can also use watercolor creations to cut homemade tags like I talk about below.
Use Leftover Fabric for Lid:
This idea is a so cute, and a great way to use up any leftover fabric. It can also add a festive touch for holiday presents. Simply place a leftover square of fabric on top of your glass mason jar, then tighten the sealing ring.
If you have noticed any of my embroidery posts, or you like to sew, this would also be a great time to add some simple stitches to your fabric.
Add a Tag :
A simple tag is a great way to decorate mason jars for gifts. Even scrap piece of paper would make for a cute tag! Just cut in the shape you want, then hole punch. We use our “magic” watercolor pages I talked about before for this too!
Add a Pendant:
Does anyone else save small trinkets or items and never use them? Use them as gift pendants on your gifts! Just tie a small ribbon around or through it, and you have a cute pendant on your mason jar. I found these adorable strawberry buttons (pictured above) at a garage sale, and made them into little pendants for my strawberry lemonade jars. I now keep buttons around to spruce up my jars!
Other posts like this:
- Unique Mason jar gift ideas
- Amazing Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
- The Best Homemade Granola
- Homemade Snack Mix
Have any suggestions on how you decorate mason jars for gifts? Comment below, or tag me on Instagram @homesweetharps
I loved this when you did one for me. Loved it!
I’m so glad! Love and miss you friend!