DIY Mason Jars: Thirty-Five Creative Crafts and Projects for the Classic Container

by Melissa Averinos

Stop jamming up your cupboards with empty Mason jars!

With DIY Mason Jars , you'll find everything you need to make one-of-a-kind creations with everyone's favorite jar. Featuring step-by-step instructions and four-color photographs, this book will kickstart your creativity with thirty-five imaginative projects that will add a pop of fun to any room. It also includes darling label designs that turn ordinary containers into whimsical centerpieces and gifts you won't be able to find anywhere else.

From the kitchen windowsill to your back porch, you'll be inspired to pep up your home with original crafts, like:

So whether you're looking for an adorable way to brighten up a room or the perfect little solution for your odds and ends, these Mason jar crafts will leave a lasting impression in any space!

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2013

About the author

Author of Small Stash Sewing: 24 Projects Using Designer Fat Quarters. Fabric designer, shopgirl, painter, Cape Codder, good listener, lover of pie, fan of unicorns.

Reviews

[Shelli · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eek. I really wanted to like this DIY Mason Jars: Thirty-Five Creative Crafts & Projects for the Classic Container since I love mason jars and have an extensive Pinterest board of mason jar crafts. This book is not only extreeeeeeemely basic, but the "projects" are not even really projects for mason jars, but more like uses for mason jars. For instance: Make some sun tea in one; it's a tea maker! Pot a succulent in one; it's a planter! Stick some labels on them; they're pantry jars! Paint one and it's a… painted mason jar! I wish I were being hyperbolic, but these are, in fact, the actual "projects" included in this book.

Unless you are completely uncreative and have no idea what to do with a mason jar other than make canned goods in them (another real project: Stick a straw in it; it's a beverage container!), you can safely skip this book.

[Corinnagoodwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

was super excited to get my hands on this book... but then the only good thing in it was "to mark lines on the jar to measure for salad dressing.

[NayDoubleU · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

Was looking for new things to try but honestly everything in here was pretty basic. Only cool/different thing was the pumpkin. If you dont have pintrest or know what it is this book is for you.

[Annette McIntyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preserving jars have many more uses around the home than just storing food and this book shoes some interesting projects for you to do with them.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ideas use jars to make decorations. Just one or two a practical DIY solution amongst them

[Ellen Spes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most suggestions are decorative and make them unable to use for canning.

[Anastaciaknits · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was terribly excited to see my library had an e-copy of this book that just came out a month ago - not bad for small town USA!

The geek in me loves Part One: Mason Miscellany, which includes a history of the humble mason jar and explains the difference between a canning jar and a mason jar.

The projects use mostly common household objects and the projects are presented with very straightfoward directions. There's various categories and each category starts out with a basic project - like a base for making your own salad dressing using a mason jar as your holder.

Projects include:
vintage ceiling light
Reed diffuser
Sprouting jars
Homespun soap dispenser
pincushion
cloud jars

The best part about this book is Melissa's witty charm which is evident throughout the book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

yea, it's gimmicky and I thought I didn't like it, but I'll remember and probably use some of these ideas. Mason jars are just useful and ubiquitous so I can definitely see myself pressing them into use in these ways. I liked the oil lamps, the essential oil difuser, and the food uses, ideas I would not have thought of myself (here in the South we called them Dixie cups). the sewing kit and firstaid kits would be cute gifts in the right situation. I thought the ideas got a little wan toward the end of the book and Mason jar decor doesn't thrill me either, but it seems to have been a major draw to others.

[Catrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things to do with a variety of sizes/styles of jars. Projects will appeal to all types of crafters (kids, shabby chic, industrial). Includes instructions for popular ideas likes soap dispensers and tumblers with straws; painted jars for many home uses (sparkle jar, first aid) and (my fav) industrial style lighting ideas. Much of this could be found on Pinterest, but this book would still be a great library/bookstore browse or gift. I loved it!

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was only okay. I was excited to order it from the library and especially interested in how she built the mason jar lights, but all that stuff she buys prefab - and I like to do things from scratch. I will be making the soap dispenser, though.
Directions are clear and concise and can at least give some good ideas. A great beginner book.

[Heather Pehnec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just marking this for later when I have more time for crafting. ha!

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly easy and simple projects.

[AJ]

I really liked a few of the projects and want to take a look at the book again but had to return it to the library.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that the author gives a recipe when using the jar for food.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't super impressed with this book. Most of the ideas seemed to be worthless or crap. There were a couple of cool lighting ideas, but that was about it. I wouldn't recommend this book.